US3910677A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Hyperbolic type optical fiber lens coupler for coupling the fiber to an optical line source
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1974-05-13
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Granted: 1975-10-07
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Expires: 1994-05-13
Abstract
Abstract The angular profiles of optical radiation emitted by certain conventional optical sources, such as a semiconductor P-N junction laser, are similar to those of optical line sources. In order to increase the optical coupling efficiency from such optical line sources to an optical fiber, the input end of the fiber is shaped essentially into the form of a hyperbolic cylindrical lens by first forming a flat wedge at this end of the fiber and then finishing the wedge to the desired essentially hyperbolic cylindrical surface. This finishing can be accomplished by either a flame (heat) type polishing or a mechanical (fine abrasive) type polishing.
Inventors
- 👤 Edward Eugene Becker
- 👤 Kaneyuki Kurokawa
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 16:24
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/4203
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
An optical fiber having a core region for propagating optical radiation and having an end surface whose intersection with a measuring (imaginary) plane surface containing a central axis of the fiber is chararcterized by a larger paraxial maximium curvature (smaller paraxial radius of curvature) than peripheral maximum curvature, the said maximum (with respect to rotations of the measuring plane) curvature at the central axis of the fiber being an absolute maximum and the said curvature monotonically tapering off to a minimum at the periphery of the core region of the fiber, such that the end surface is substantially in the form of a hyperbola in said plane surface, so that the end surface can couple optical radiation from an optical source into the fiber for propagation therethrough.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
127 words
An optical fiber having a core region for propagating optical radiation and having an end surface whose intersection with a measuring (imaginary) plane surface containing a central axis of the fiber is chararcterized by a larger paraxial maximium curvature (smaller paraxial radius of curvature) than peripheral maximum curvature, the said maximum (with respect to rotations of the measuring plane) curvature at the central axis of the fiber being an absolute maximum and the said curvature monotonically tapering off to a minimum at the periphery of the core region of the fiber, such that the end surface is substantially in the form of a hyperbola in said plane surface, so that the end surface can couple optical radiation from an optical source into the fiber for propagation therethrough.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical fiber according to claim 1 in which the end surface is substantially in the form of a hyperbolic cylinder.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
52 words
The fiber of claim 1 in which the fiber includes a central core portion and a peripheral cladding portion, said fiber being located with respect to the output end of a laser cavity such that this output end of the laser cavity is located substantially on the focal plane of the hyperbola.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
14 words
The fiber of claim 2 in which the fiber is a solid circular cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The fiber of claim 2 in which the fiber has a radial gradient of refractive index.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical fiber according to claim 1 in which the end surface is substantially in the form of one sheet of a hyperboloid of revolution of two sheets.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2740318A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-06 | 1979-04-07 | 1979-10-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-06 | 1983-04-07 | 1983-10-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-06 | 1987-04-07 | 1987-10-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |