1. A passive coupler that has three ports, i.e., a three-port star coupler. 2. In fiber optic systems, a coupler that (a) connects three ports, (b) operates in such a manner that (i) optical power into any one port can be distributed to the other two or (ii) optical power into any two ports can be combined and sent out on the third, and (c) may be combined with another similar coupler to form a single unit for input and output signals in both directions of propagation. Synonyms bifurcation connector,  T-coupler. See also connection,  coupler,  coupling,  fiber optic system,  input,  nonreflective star coupler,  operation,  optical power,  optical signal,  output,  passive device,  port,  propagation,  reflective star coupler,  signal,  star coupler,  unit. Refer to Fig. T-1.

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