Patent US5185758A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5185758A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multiple-laser pump optical system
Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
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Filing: 1992-01-07
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Granted: 1993-02-09
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Expires: 2012-01-07
Abstract
Abstract Apparatus and method for scaling solid-state devices to higher power using multiple sources each of which are separately collimated, followed by focusing of the pump radiation into gain medium colinear to laser mode using a moderated focus. A modularized system is also described.
Inventors
- 👤 Tso Y. Fan
- 👤 Antonio Sanchez-Rubio
- 👤 James N. Walpole
- 👤 Richard C. Williamson
- 👤 Ivars Melngailis
- 👤 James R. Leger
- 👤 William C. Goltsos
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 16:07
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/0941; H01S3/09415
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for coupling light into an optical fiber comprising a multi-beam laser light source for generating a group of collimated, substantially parallel, non-coaxial output beams, wherein the product of the far field divergence angle of the group of output beams and the radius of the group of output beams is on the order of or less than the product of the radius of the fiber and the acceptance angle of the fiber; and an optical system configured to focus the collimated and parallel output beams into the fiber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
89 words
A system for coupling light into an optical fiber comprising a multi-beam laser light source for generating a group of collimated, substantially parallel, non-coaxial output beams, wherein the product of the far field divergence angle of the group of output beams and the radius of the group of output beams is on the order of or less than the product of the radius of the fiber and the acceptance angle of the fiber; and an optical system configured to focus the collimated and parallel output beams into the fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 1 wherein the optical system is configured to focus the group of collimated, substantially parallel, non-coaxial output beams into the fiber as a focused combined beam, wherein the focused combined beam has a radius at a point of entry into the fiber nearly equal to or less than the radius of the fiber and a convergence angle that is nearly equal to or less than the acceptance angle of the fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said multi-beam light source comprises: at least two laser elements, each laser element being configured to emit a laser beam, and an optical array including for each of said laser elements a corresponding optical element for collimating the laser beam from that laser element to produce a corresponding one of said collimated output beams.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the laser elements are laser diodes, or laser diode arrays.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 4 wherein the laser elements are discrete elements.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the laser elements are laser diodes in monolithic two-dimensional arrays.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 6 wherein said optical array is a monolithic two-dimensional array of lenses.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 3 wherein the optical elements of said optical array are individual lens elements within said optical array.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 1 wherein said optical system comprises a focusing lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 9 wherein said optical system is a focusing lens.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus comprising: an optical fiber; a multi-beam laser light source for generating a group of collimated, substantially parallel, non-coaxial output beams, wherein the product of the far field divergence angle of the group of output beams and the radius of the group of output beams is on the order of or less than the product of the radius of the fiber and the acceptance angle of the fiber; and an optical system configured to focus the collimated and parallel output beams into the fiber.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
85 words
An apparatus comprising: an optical fiber; a multi-beam laser light source for generating a group of collimated, substantially parallel, non-coaxial output beams, wherein the product of the far field divergence angle of the group of output beams and the radius of the group of output beams is on the order of or less than the product of the radius of the fiber and the acceptance angle of the fiber; and an optical system configured to focus the collimated and parallel output beams into the fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
75 words
The system of claim 11 wherein the optical system is configured to focus the group of collimated, substantially parallel, non-coaxial output beams into the fiber as a focused combined beam, wherein the focused combined beam has a radius at a point of entry into the fiber nearly equal to or less than the radius of the fiber and a convergence angle that is nearly equal to or less than the acceptance angle of the fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
60 words
The system of claim 12 wherein said multi-beam light source comprises: at least two laser elements, each laser element being configured to emit a laser beam, and an optical array including for each of said laser elements a corresponding optical element for collimating the laser beam from that laser element to produce a corresponding one of said collimated output beams.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the laser elements are laser diodes, or laser diode arrays.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the laser elements are discrete elements.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 13 wherein the laser elements are laser diodes in monolithic two-dimensional arrays.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said optical array is a monolithic two-dimensional array of lenses.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 17 wherein the optical elements of said optical array are individual lens elements within said optical array.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
13 words
The system of claim 13 wherein said optical system comprises a focusing lens.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
207 words
A system for coupling light into an optical fiber comprising a multi-beam laser light source for generating a plurality of collimated, substantially parallel, non-coaxial output beams, said multi-beam laser light source comprising at least two laser elements and an optical array, wherein each laser element emits a corresponding laser beam and said optical array includes for each of said laser elements an optical element that collimates the laser beam from that laser element to produce a corresponding one of said plurality of collimated output beams, wherein the product of the far field divergence angle of the plurality of collimated, substantially parallel output beams and the radius of the plurality of collimated, substantially parallel output beams is on the order of or less than the product of the radius of the fiber and the acceptance angle of the fiber; and a focusing lens that focuses the group of collimated, substantially parallel output beams into the fiber as a focused combined beam, wherein said focused combined beam has a radius at a point of entry into the fiber that is nearly equal to or less than the radius of the fiber and a convergence angle that is nearly equal to or less than the acceptance angle of the fiber.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
207 words
A system for coupling light into an optical fiber comprising a multi-beam laser light source for generating a plurality of collimated, substantially parallel, non-coaxial output beams, said multi-beam laser light source comprising at least two laser elements and an optical array, wherein each laser element emits a corresponding laser beam and said optical array includes for each of said laser elements an optical element that collimates the laser beam from that laser element to produce a corresponding one of said plurality of collimated output beams, wherein the product of the far field divergence angle of the plurality of collimated, substantially parallel output beams and the radius of the plurality of collimated, substantially parallel output beams is on the order of or less than the product of the radius of the fiber and the acceptance angle of the fiber; and a focusing lens that focuses the group of collimated, substantially parallel output beams into the fiber as a focused combined beam, wherein said focused combined beam has a radius at a point of entry into the fiber that is nearly equal to or less than the radius of the fiber and a convergence angle that is nearly equal to or less than the acceptance angle of the fiber.
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-02-09 | 1996-08-10 | 1997-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-02-09 | 2000-08-10 | 2001-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-02-09 | 2004-08-10 | 2005-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |