US3958188A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fiber distributed feedback laser
Assignee: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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Filing: 1974-12-11
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Granted: 1976-05-18
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Expires: 1994-12-11
Abstract
Abstract Utilizing round optical fibers as communication channels in optical communication networks presents the problem of obtaining a high efficiency coupling between the optical fiber and the laser. A laser is made an integral part of the optical fiber channel by either diffusing active material into the optical fiber or surrounding the optical fiber with the active material. Oscillation within the active medium to produce lasing action is established by grating the optical fiber so that distributed feedback occurs.
Inventors
- 👤 with respect to an invention of Fletcher James C. Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- 👤 Charles Elachi
- 👤 Gary A. Evans
- 👤 Cavour Yeh
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 15:38
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/0675; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02057; G02B6/02066; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/0915; H01S3/092; H01S3/093; H01S3/06704
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 43
Claim 1
Independent Claim
43 words
A laser mechanism comprising: an optical fiber having an active material diffused therein; pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material; and means for establishing a periodic perturbation in said optical fiber that has a periodicity capable of supporting Bragg reflection.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
43 words
A laser mechanism comprising: an optical fiber having an active material diffused therein; pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material; and means for establishing a periodic perturbation in said optical fiber that has a periodicity capable of supporting Bragg reflection.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser mechanism of claim 1 wherein said establishing means comprises a grating in said optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The laser mechanism of claim 2 wherein said active material is neodymium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser mechanism of claim 3 wherein said pumping means comprises an optical energy source.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The laser mechanism of claim 4 wherein said optical energy source comprises: a high intensity light source spirally wound around said optical fiber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The laser mechanism of claim 2 wherein said active material is an organic dye.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser mechanism of claim 6 wherein said pumping means comprises an optical energy source.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
22 words
The laser mechanism of claim 7 wherein said pumping means comprises a high intensity light source spirally wound around said optical fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser mechanism of claim 2 wherein said grating has a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
44 words
A laser mechanism comprising: an optical fiber immersed in a bath of liquid active material; pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material; and means for establishing a periodic perturbation in said bath of liquid active material capable of supporting Bragg reflection.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A laser mechanism comprising: an optical fiber immersed in a bath of liquid active material; pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material; and means for establishing a periodic perturbation in said bath of liquid active material capable of supporting Bragg reflection.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser mechanism of claim 10 wherein said establishing means comprises a grating in said optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser mechanism of claim 11 wherein said active material is neodymium oxide dissolved in selenium oxychloride.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser mechanism of claim 12 wherein said pumping means comprises an optical energy source.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser mechanism of claim 13 wherein said optical energy source comprises a high intensity light source spirally wound around said bath of liquid active material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The laser mechanism of claim 11 wherein said active material is a fluorescent dye dissolved in a solution.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
15 words
The laser mechanism of claim 15 wherein said pumping means comprises an optical energy source.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
26 words
The laser mechanism of claim 16 wherein said optical energy source comprises a high intensity light source spirally wound around said bath of liquid active material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser mechanism of claim 11 wherein said grating has a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
A laser mechanism comprising: an optical fiber immersed in a container of gaseous active material; pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material; and means for establishing a periodic perturbation in said optical fiber that has a periodicity capable of supporting Bragg reflection.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
45 words
A laser mechanism comprising: an optical fiber immersed in a container of gaseous active material; pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material; and means for establishing a periodic perturbation in said optical fiber that has a periodicity capable of supporting Bragg reflection.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser mechanism of claim 19 wherein said establishing means comprises a grating in said optical fiber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser mechanism of claim 20 wherein said grating has a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
43 words
A laser mechanism comprising: an optical fiber having an active material deposited thereon; pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material; and means for establishing a periodic perturbation in said optical fiber that has a periodicity capable of supporting Bragg reflection.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
A laser mechanism comprising: an optical fiber having an active material deposited thereon; pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material; and means for establishing a periodic perturbation in said optical fiber that has a periodicity capable of supporting Bragg reflection.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The laser mechanism of claim 22 wherein said establishing means comprises a grating in said optical fiber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
34 words
The laser mechanism of claim 23 wherein said grating has a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
82 words
An optical energy distribution system for transporting energy between point A and point B, comprising: an optical fiber extending between point A and point B, said fiber having an active material diffused therein for a short distance at point A and being grated for that distance with a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material; and pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
82 words
An optical energy distribution system for transporting energy between point A and point B, comprising: an optical fiber extending between point A and point B, said fiber having an active material diffused therein for a short distance at point A and being grated for that distance with a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material; and pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 25 wherein said active material is neodymium.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 26 wherein said pumping means comprises an optical energy source.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 27 wherein said optical source is spirally wound around said optical fiber for the length of grating at point A.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optical energy distribution system for transporting energy between point A and point B, comprising: an optical fiber extending between point A and point B, said fiber being immersed in a bath of liquid active material for a short distance at point A and being grated for that distance with a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material; and pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optical energy distribution system for transporting energy between point A and point B, comprising: an optical fiber extending between point A and point B, said fiber being immersed in a bath of liquid active material for a short distance at point A and being grated for that distance with a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material; and pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
19 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 29 wherein said active material is neodymium oxide dissolved in selenium oxychloride.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 30 wherein said pumping means comprises an optical energy source.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 31 wherein said optical energy source comprises a high intensity light source spirally wound around said fiber for the length of grating at point A.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
82 words
An optical energy distribution system for transporting energy between point A and point B, comprising: an optical fiber extending between point A and point B, said fiber having, an active material deposited thereon for a short distance at point A and being grated for that distance with a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material; and pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
82 words
An optical energy distribution system for transporting energy between point A and point B, comprising: an optical fiber extending between point A and point B, said fiber having, an active material deposited thereon for a short distance at point A and being grated for that distance with a periodicity equal to N times λ/2, where N is any integer and λ is the wavelength of photons emitted by the active material; and pumping means for exciting the atoms in said active material.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 33 wherein said active material is an organic dye.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 34 wherein said pumping means comprises an optical energy source.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
33 words
The optical energy distribution system of claim 35 wherein said optical energy source comprises a high intensity light source spirally wound around said optical fiber for the length of grating at point A.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-05-18 | 1979-11-17 | 1980-05-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-05-18 | 1983-11-17 | 1984-05-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-05-18 | 1987-11-17 | 1988-05-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |