Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A light source of low temporal coherence, comprising: an optical waveguide having a core and cladding and including active material positioned to overlap propagating modes of the waveguide, said material absorbing light of at least one wavelength and emitting light of at least one other wavelength; and means for directing pump light energy from a source providing said one wavelength into said waveguide at an input location for absorption by said material, the intensity of the directed light being sufficient to cause an amplified spontaneous emission by said material from an output location of said waveguide.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A light source of low temporal coherence, comprising: an optical waveguide having a core and cladding and including active material positioned to overlap propagating modes of the waveguide, said material absorbing light of at least one wavelength and emitting light of at least one other wavelength; and means for directing pump light energy from a source providing said one wavelength into said waveguide at an input location for absorption by said material, the intensity of the directed light being sufficient to cause an amplified spontaneous emission by said material from an output location of said waveguide.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said optical waveguide is an optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said core has a diameter of less than twenty microns.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said material is a rare earth element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light source of claim 4 wherein the percentage concentration by weight of said material is between 0.1 and 30%.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said optical waveguide is an optical fiber and said material is neodymium.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light source of claim 6 wherein said pump light source provides pump light at wavelengths that include 0.78, 0.82, or 0.88 microns.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said material is selected from the group consisting of neodymium, ytterbium, and erbium.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein said core is fabricated from an alkali, alkaline earth silicate and said material is selected from the group consisting of neodymium, ytterbium, and erbium.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
The light source of claim 1 wherein the distance between said locations of said optical waveguide is of a selected length sufficient to absorb substantially all the pump light provided by said directing means in advance of said output location.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
30 words
The light source of claim 10 wherein said optical waveguide is an optical fiber of said selected length and said input and output locations are opposite ends of said fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The light source of claim 10 wherein said selected length is between two and twenty centimeters.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
The light source of claim 10 wherein said pump light is introduced into one end of said optical waveguide and a wavelength selective reflector arrangement is interposed between said means for directing pump light and said one end of said optical waveguide for passing pump light to.said optical waveguide while reflecting light energy emitted in said core back into said core.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The light source of claim 13 wherein said wavelength selective reflector comprises a dichroic filter.