Selective numerical aperture cladding light stripper
AssigneeLumentum Operations LLC
InventorsMichael Lovelady, Richard D. Faulhaber, Jeff Gregg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In some implementations, a cladding light stripper includes an optical fiber that includes a core and an exterior cladding, and a light removal component. The exterior cladding of the optical fiber circumferentially surrounds the core of the optical fiber. The exterior cladding includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion. The intermediate portion is bidirectionally tapered. The light removal component is disposed on one or more regions of a central section of the intermediate portion.
Claims20
A cladding light stripper, comprising:
- an optical fiber that includes a core and an exterior cladding;
- and
- a light removal component, wherein:
- the exterior cladding circumferentially surrounds the core of the optical fiber,
- the exterior cladding includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion,
- the intermediate portion is bidirectionally tapered,
- the light removal component is disposed on one or more regions of a central section of the intermediate portion,
- cladding light is to propagate within the exterior cladding,
- a maximum numerical aperture (NA) associated with a threshold percentage of the cladding light within the first portion is greater than a maximum selected NA, and
- a maximum NA associated with the threshold percentage of the cladding light within the second portion is less than or equal to the maximum selected NA.
A cladding light stripper, comprising:
- an optical fiber;
- and
- a light removal component, wherein:
- an exterior cladding of the optical fiber surrounds a core of the optical fiber,
- the exterior cladding includes a first portion, a second portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion,
- the intermediate portion includes a first section that is tapered, a second section that is reverse-tapered, and a central section disposed between the first portion and the second portion,
- the light removal component is disposed on one or more regions of the central section of the intermediate portion,
- cladding light is to propagate within the exterior cladding,
- a maximum numerical aperture (NA) associated with a threshold percentage of the cladding light within the first portion is greater than a maximum selected NA, and
- a maximum NA associated with the threshold percentage of the cladding light within the second portion is less than or equal to the maximum selected NA.
A cladding light stripper, comprising:
- an optical fiber;
- and
- a light removal component, wherein:
- an intermediate portion of an exterior cladding of the optical fiber includes a first section that is tapered and a second section that is tapered,
- the light removal component is disposed on one or more regions of a non-tapered section of the intermediate portion,
- cladding light is to propagate within the exterior cladding,
- a maximum numerical aperture (NA) associated with a threshold percentage of the cladding light within a first portion of the exterior cladding is greater than a maximum selected NA,
- a maximum NA associated with the threshold percentage of the cladding light within a second portion of the exterior cladding is less than or equal to the maximum selected NA, and
- wherein the intermediate portion is between the first portion and the second portion.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.