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US 11,298,185 B2Granted
Optical fiber with modified distal end
AssigneeLEONI Kabel GmbH
InventorsAngelina Bogatzki, Patrick Stock
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An Optical fiber with modified distal end and related methods are provided. The optical fiber extends from a proximal end portion to a distal end portion and includes a core, a cladding, a coating, and an optional jacket. The distal end portion comprises a portion with an enlarged outer diameter.
Claims31
An optical fiber, comprising:
- a core;
- and
- a cladding disposed on the core;
- wherein the optical fiber extends from a distal portion to a proximal portion along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, and
- wherein the distal portion comprises:
- a first section;
- a second section;
- and
- a distal tip,
- wherein the first section extends lengthwise along the longitudinal axis between the proximal portion and the second section, the second section extends from the first section lengthwise between the first section and the distal tip, and the proximal portion has an outer diameter, D1, that is substantially constant over a length of the proximal portion along the longitudinal axis greater than a length along the longitudinal axis extending over the first section, the second section, and the distal tip, and
- wherein at least one of the first section and the second section comprises a maximal outer diameter, D2, of the distal portion that is greater than the outer diameter, D1, of the proximal portion and is greater than the outer diameter of the distal tip;
- wherein the distal tip comprises a curved portion and a planar portion, the planar portion being orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber and comprising an end face of the optical fiber, the curved portion extending from the planar portion to the second section and having a magnitude of curvature different from a magnitude of curvature of a portion of the second section that extends from and is adjacent to the curved portion;
- and
- wherein the optical fiber is configured such that when light is coupled into the optical fiber via the proximal position, the light is guided through the core along the longitudinal axis toward the distal portion and is focused as the light exits the planar portion of the distal tip, the light emitted from the distal tip thereby being concentrated.
11 more elements
An optical fiber, comprising:
- a core;
- and
- a cladding disposed on the core;
- wherein the optical fiber extends from a distal portion to a proximal portion along a longitudinal axis of the optical fiber, and
- wherein the distal portion comprises:
- a first section;
- a second section;
- and
- a distal tip,
- wherein the first section extends lengthwise along the longitudinal axis between the proximal portion and the second section, the second section extends from the first section lengthwise between the first section and the distal tip, and the proximal portion has an outer diameter, D1, that is substantially constant over a length of the proximal portion along the longitudinal axis greater than a length along the longitudinal axis extending over the first section, the second section, and the distal tip,
- wherein at least one of the first section and the second section comprises a maximal outer diameter, D2, of the distal portion that is greater than the outer diameter, D1, of the proximal portion and is greater than the outer diameter of the distal tip,
- wherein the first section has an outer diameter that increases along at least a part of its length, along the longitudinal axis, from the proximal portion to the second section, to result in the maximal outer diameter D2, and
- wherein the second section has (i) an outer diameter that decreases along at least a part of its length, along the longitudinal axis, from the first section to the distal tip, and (ii) a maximum outer diameter equal to D2, wherein the decrease in diameter along the longitudinal axis of the second section includes a decrease from D2 to approximately D1, and wherein the second section comprises:
- a first portion having an outer diameter that decreases from D2 to approximately D1 along the longitudinal axis in a direction from the first section to the distal tip;
- and
- a second portion extending from the first portion along a given length of the longitudinal axis between the first portion and the distal tip and having an outer diameter of approximately D1 along the entire given length.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.