Sapphire-based delivery tip for optic fiber
AssigneeAMS Research Corporation
InventorVenkatapuram S. Sudarshanam
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Abstract
An article of manufacture is provided that includes an optic fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding the core and a sapphire tube bonded to the optic fiber. A total internal reflection surface is positioned such that light guided within the core of the optic fiber reflects off the total internal reflection surface and through the sapphire tube. In other embodiments, a sapphire rod having a total internal reflection surface is fused to an optic fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding the core. A glass coating is present on the exterior surface of portions of the sapphire rod such that the glass coating defines an opening that exposes portions of the sapphire rod where light exits the sapphire rod after reflecting off the total internal reflection surface.
Claims39
An article of manufacture comprising:
- an optic fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding the core;
- a sapphire tube bonded to the optic fiber;
- a coreless rod that is fused to at least the core of the optic fiber;
- a total internal reflection surface positioned such that light guided within the core of the optic fiber reflects off the total internal reflection surface and through the sapphire tube, wherein the total internal reflection surface is formed on the coreless rod.
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An article of manufacture, the article comprising:
- an optic fiber comprising a core and a cladding surrounding the core;
- a sapphire rod, fused to the core of the optic fiber and having a total internal reflection surface;
- and
- a glass coating on the exterior surface of portions of the sapphire rod such that the glass coating defines an opening that exposes portions of the sapphire rod where light exits the sapphire rod after reflecting off the total internal reflection surface.
A method comprising:
- inserting an optic fiber into an interior of a sapphire tube;
- bonding the optic fiber to the sapphire tube;
- forming a total internal reflection surface after bonding the optic fiber to the sapphire tube such that light guided by the optic fiber reflects off the total internal reflection surface and out through the sapphire tube.
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A method comprising:
- forming a total internal reflection surface on a sapphire rod;
- forming a glass layer on the exterior of the sapphire rod such that an opening in the glass layer is present;
- and
- bonding the sapphire rod to an optic fiber.
A method comprising:
- filling a sapphire tube with molten glass;
- cooling the glass-filled sapphire tube;
- forming a total internal reflection surface on the glass-filled sapphire tube;
- and
- bonding the glass-filled sapphire tube to an optic fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.