US 2003/0228098 A1 · Optical beam generating and shaping device

Abstract

A beam generating and shaping device, for use in a free-space optical communication system provides increased uniformity in the distribution of optical radiation power, both at the output of the device and the aperture of the receiving terminal. A source provides optical radiation bearing communication information, and an optical coupler introduces radiation from the source into a multimode optical fiber, for example at an inclined angle, so as to launch a number of modes within the fiber. A mode mixer engages a portion of the multimode optical fiber. An exemplary mode mixer consists essentially of a single clamp, providing micro-bending of the fiber. An optical antenna is coupled to the cross-section formed by the distal end of the multimode optical fiber, for example, via an auxiliary lens to provide increase in output radiation beam divergence. The telescope transmits radiation emitted from the distal end of the multimode optical fiber over a free-space optical link towards the receive aperture.

Claims30

Dependent claims

An optical beam generating and shaping device, comprising

a radiation source,
a multimode optical fiber,
means coupled to the radiation source for launching a radiation beam having extended angular spectrum into a first cross-section of the fiber,
mode mixing means for providing energy exchange between modes and therefore multiplication of modes initially excited in the fiber, and
a telescope optically coupled to second cross-section of the fiber and providing required concentration of optical radiation output from the fiber at a receive aperture of a remote receive terminal.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical beam generating and shaping device

Life of this patent

Optical beam generating and shaping device

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims30