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US 5,396,571 AGranted
Coupling device and method for improved transfer efficiency of light energy from a laser source into optical fibers
AssigneeTrimedyne, Inc.
InventorsVahid Saadatmanesh, Marvin P. Loeb
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Abstract
Optical coupling devices for an improved coupling efficiency of light energy, without damage to the optical components, are disclosed. An optical system divides an input beam of light energy into two or more output beams of lesser energy, each of which is focused toward a focal point in space. Individual optical fibers are positioned with their proximal end faces at the focal points of each of the lesser output beams. Means for dividing the light energy and aligning the components are disclosed.
Claims17
A device for optically coupling light energy which comprises:
- a. a housing defining an input port for a beam of light energy and a plurality of lesser beam output ports, wherein each of said lesser beam output ports includes a female connector means to which a male optical fiber connector means is detachably coupled;
- b. an optical means, retained within the housing, for dividing the beam of light energy into a plurality of lesser beams, each of the lesser beams being directed to a separate focal point;
- c. a plurality of optical fibers having respective proximal end faces, and at least one proximal end face of one of said optical fibers being positioned at about the focal point of one of said lesser beams defining an incident beam cone of acceptance for said one of the lesser beams;
- d. an open beam path defined by the housing between the optical means and the proximal end faces of the optical fibers;
- and
- e. means for adjusting the position of each male connector means so that the end face of the optical fiber therein can be positioned at the focal point of one of the incident lesser beams.
3 more elements
A coherent light source to optical fiber coupling system which comprises:
- a. a housing;
- b. a multi-segmented lens, retained within the housing, for dividing a beam of light energy from a coherent light source into a plurality of lesser beams of light energy about an optical axis, each lesser beam being focused toward a point in space;
- c. a number of optical fibers substantially equal to the number of segments of the multi-segmented lens, said optical fibers together providing an array of substantially coplanar fiber optic end faces about said optical axis at a predetermined distance from said multi-segmented lens, each of said end faces being positioned at about the focal point of one of said lesser beams of light energy, each of the proximal end faces of said optical fibers defining an incident beam cone of acceptance for one of the lesser beams;
- and,
- d. an open beam path, defined by the housing, along a medium having an index of refraction not greater than about 1.34;
- said beam path existing between the multi-segmented lens and the proximal end faces of the optical fibers.
3 more elements
A coherent light source-to-optical fiber coupling system which comprises:
- a. a housing;
- b. a multi-faceted lens, retained within the housing, for dividing a beam of light energy from a coherent light source into a plurality of lesser beams about an optical axis;
- c. a number of optical fibers substantially equal to the number of distal facets of the multi-faceted lens, said optical fibers together providing an array of substantially coplanar fiber optic end faces about said optical axis at a substantially fixed distance from said multi-faceted lens, each of said end faces being positioned at the focal point of one of said lesser beams of light energy, each of the proximal end faces of said optical fibers defining an incident beam cone of acceptance for one of the lesser beams;
- and
- d. an open beam path, defined by the housing, along a medium with an index of refraction not greater than about 1.34;
- said beam path existing between the multi-faceted lens and the proximal end faces of the optical fibers.
3 more elements
A coherent light source to optical fiber coupling system which comprises:
- a. a housing;
- b. a multi-segmented mirror, retained within the housing, each segment of which has a proximal surface to divide the beam of light energy into a plurality of lesser beams;
- c. a number of optical fibers substantially equal to the number of segments of the multi-segmented mirror, each of said optical fibers having an end face positioned at about the focal point of one of said lesser beams of light energy, each of the end faces of said optical fibers defining an incident beam cone of acceptance for one of the lesser beams;
- and
- d. an open beam path, defined by the housing, along a medium with an index of refraction not greater than about 1.34;
- said beam path existing between the multi-segmented mirror and the proximal end faces of the optical fibers.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.