Method of multiplexing transmission chanels in a step-index optical fibre and device for carrying out the method

摘要

An optical multiplexer wherein a plurality of channels are formed in a step index optical fiber by groups of light rays which propagate along the fibre by consecutive total reflections at the core/cladding interface. The rays are grouped depending on their angle with the fibre axis so that for each channel, at any point of the fibre, the rays of a given group are situated between two cones whose common apex is formed by that point and which are rotationally symmetrical about a common axis parallel to the fibre axis. The cones define the portion of the angular aperture relating to each channel. The aperture portions relating to all the channels are moreover juxtaposed. A multi-axial optical system directs each of a plurality of light signals along a region defined by the cones so as to inject the light signal into the aperture portion of the associated channel for each channel at the fibre input and reception means which are specific of the aperture portion of said channel at the output.