Waveguide fiber optical coupler
AssigneeMitsui Petrochemical Industries, Ltd.
InventorKoichi Haruta
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The device is constructed by an optical waveguide having an incident port for receiving incidence of energy lights from plural systems, an inner reflection surface which is a closed surface provided from the incident port to the rear thereof and an irradiation port formed on the rear end part of the inner reflection surface for irradiating the energy lights and an optical fiber disposed on the rear side of this optical waveguide for receiving incidence of the energy lights irradiated from this irradiation port. Thus, it is possible to couple energy lights from plural systems in single focus without needing any precise arrangement of optical elements.
Claims27
A fiber optical coupler, comprising:
- a plurality of first optical fibers;
- a first lens for converging respective energy lights irradiated from said first optical fibers;
- an optical waveguide, including a cavity having a circular cross-section for receiving said converged energy lights, a reflection surface surrounding said cavity, and apertures provided at both ends of said cavity;
- a second lens for converging energy lights irradiated from said optical waveguide;
- and
- a second optical fiber for receiving said converged energy lights from said second lens.
A method for coupling plural energy lights comprising the steps of:
- providing plural energy lights from plural systems;
- receiving the plural energy lights with an optical waveguide;
- coupling the plural energy lights with the optical waveguide;
- converging the coupled energy light from the optical waveguide with a lens;
- and
- receiving the output of the lens with an optical fiber.
A fiber optical coupler, comprising:
- an optical waveguide having a front and rear portion, including;
- at least one incident port formed on the front portion for receiving plural energy lights;
- an irradiation port formed on the rear portion for irradiating energy light;
- an inner reflection surface, having a closed surface from said incident port to said irradiation port;
- a first optical fiber disposed outside of the rear portion of said optical waveguide;
- and
- a lens, disposed between said optical waveguide and said first optical fiber, whereby said lens converges the energy light irradiated from said optical waveguide and makes the energy light incident on said first optical fiber.
A fiber optical coupler, comprising:
- an optical waveguide having a front and rear portion, including;
- at least one incident port for receiving plural energy lights;
- an irradiation port formed on the rear portion for irradiating the energy light;
- an inner reflection surface, having a closed surface from said incident port to said irradiation port and having an inner diameter that is constant from said incident port to said irradiation port;
- and
- a first optical fiber disposed outside of the rear portion of said optical waveguide.
A machining system for machining an object, comprising:
- an optical waveguide having a front and rear portion, including;
- at least one incident port for receiving plural energy lights;
- an irradiation port formed on the rear portion for irradiating energy light;
- an inner reflection surface, having a closed surface from said incident port to said irradiation port;
- a first optical fiber disposed outside of the rear portion of said optical waveguide;
- a headpiece, connected to said first optical fiber, said headpiece condensing the energy light into a focus;
- and
- means for moving said headpiece to a desired position to machine the object.
A method for coupling plural energy lights comprising the steps of:
- providing plural energy lights from plural systems;
- receiving the plural energy lights with an incident port of an optical waveguide;
- coupling the plural energy lights with the optical waveguide having an inner reflection surface with a constant inner diameter from an incident port to an irradiation port;
- and
- providing the coupled energy light from the irradiation port of the optical waveguide to an optical fiber.
A method of machining an object comprising the steps of:
- providing plural energy lights from plural systems;
- receiving the plural energy lights with an optical waveguide;
- coupling the plural energy lights with the optical waveguide;
- providing the coupled energy light from the optical waveguide to an optical fiber;
- and
- machining an object with the coupled plural energy lights from the optical fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.