Apparatus and method for coupling laser energy into small core fibers
OwnerJoe D. Browninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fiber optic connector for coupling focused radiant energy from a laser to a fiber optic conductor includes a secondary transmission path and one or more reflectors and/or heat sinks for deflecting errant radiant energy to a location where it be safely dissipated. In addition, coupling of the radiant energy to the cladding of the fiber is minimized by stripping or at least partially removing the cladding to reduce the amount of cladding in the area that extends to the focal plane of the radiant energy source.
Claims21
Apparatus for coupling focused radiant energy from a radiant energy source to a primary optical system, comprising:
- a reflector surrounding the primary optical system and set back from a focal plane of the focused radiant energy so as to divert radiant energy that fails to couple with the primary optical system along a secondary transmission path to a location where the radiant energy is safely dissipated.
Apparatus for coupling focused radiant energy from a laser to an optical fiber, wherein a cladding of said optical fiber is at least partially removed at a distal end of said optical fiber to reduce exposure of the cladding to said radiant energy, and thereby minimize coupling between the radiant energy and the cladding.
A method of coupling focused radiant energy to an optical fiber, comprising the steps of:
- transferring radiant energy from a focused source by directing a focused region of the source to a predetermined plane;
- conducting a portion of the focused radiant energy incident on the plane along a first path;
- conducting a remaining portion of the focused radiant energy incident on the plane along a second path;
- reversing the direction of the remaining portion at a predetermined location, and
- directing the remaining portion back toward the focused source.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.