Patent US5373576A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5373576A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High power optical fiber
Assignee: Viavi Solutions Inc
•
Filing: 1993-05-04
•
Granted: 1994-12-13
•
Expires: 2013-05-04
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic laser pumped via its cladding has a liquid component in the cladding and an index of refraction sufficient to promote total internal reflection of light carried by the cladding for pumping the laser. In one embodiment, the liquid component is provided by immersing the fiber clad with a curable polymer and a protective coating in a fluorinated organic compound.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard A. Minns
- 👤 Bennett H. Rockney
- 👤 Ying H. Zhang
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 16:41
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; G02B6/02395; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06708; H01S3/06729; H01S3/06754; H01S3/08; H01S3/08018; H01S3/0804; H01S3/08045; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094003; H01S3/094007; H01S3/094069
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
An optical fiber system comprising: a substantially single mode core having an index of refraction n 1 , comprising a laser material, and disposed within a multimode cladding having an index of refraction n 2 ; a further cladding having an index of refraction n 3 surrounding said multimode cladding; a housing enclosing an effective length of said fiber; and a liquid component contained within the housing and surrounding said fiber within said housing, said liquid component having an index of refraction n 4 wherein n 1 >n 2 >n 3 and n 2 ≧ n 4 .
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
An optical fiber system comprising: a substantially single mode core having an index of refraction n 1 , comprising a laser material, and disposed within a multimode cladding having an index of refraction n 2 ; a further cladding having an index of refraction n 3 surrounding said multimode cladding; a housing enclosing an effective length of said fiber; and a liquid component contained within the housing and surrounding said fiber within said housing, said liquid component having an index of refraction n 4 wherein n 1 >n 2 >n 3 and n 2 ≧ n 4 .
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical fiber comprising: a substantially single mode core having an index of refraction n 1 comprising a laser material, and disposed within a multimode cladding Baring an index of refraction n 2 ; and a further cladding having an index of refraction n 3 surrounding said nultimode cladding, said further cladding including a liquid component; and wherein n 1 >n 2 >n 3 .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
An optical fiber comprising: a substantially single mode core having an index of refraction n 1 comprising a laser material, and disposed within a multimode cladding Baring an index of refraction n 2 ; and a further cladding having an index of refraction n 3 surrounding said nultimode cladding, said further cladding including a liquid component; and wherein n 1 >n 2 >n 3 .
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
92 words
An optical fiber comprising: a substantially single mode core having an index of refraction n 1 and comprising laser material disposed within a multimode cladding which has an index of refraction n 2 ; a further cladding having an index of refraction n 3 and surrounding said multimode cladding, said further cladding having at least one liquid component and conforming with the multimode cladding such that scattering sites between said further cladding and said multimode cladding are suppressed at a wavelength of interest and wherein n 1 >n 2 >n 3 .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
92 words
An optical fiber comprising: a substantially single mode core having an index of refraction n 1 and comprising laser material disposed within a multimode cladding which has an index of refraction n 2 ; a further cladding having an index of refraction n 3 and surrounding said multimode cladding, said further cladding having at least one liquid component and conforming with the multimode cladding such that scattering sites between said further cladding and said multimode cladding are suppressed at a wavelength of interest and wherein n 1 >n 2 >n 3 .
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical fiber of claim 3 wherein said fiber is continuously bent along its length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
The optical fiber of claim 3 wherein said multimode core and single mode cladding have corresponding cross-sectional areas and the cross-sectional areas of said multimode cladding is substantially larger than the cross-sectional area of said single mode core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The optical fiber of claim 5 wherein the cross-sectional area of said multimode cladding is substantially in the range of 50 to 400 times larger than the cross-sectional area of said single mode core.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
The optical fiber of claim 5, wherein the cross-sectional area of said multimode cladding taken substantially transverse to the axial extent of the optical fiber has a first path across said area which passes substantially through the geometric center thereof whose length is substantially different from the length of a second path across said area which passes substantially through the geometric center thereof, said second path being substantially perpendicular to said first path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical fiber of claim 5 wherein the cross-sectional area of said multimode cladding substantially forms a rectangle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical fiber of claim 3 wherein said laser material of said single mode core comprises a rare earth dopant.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical fiber of claim 9 wherein said laser material comprises rare earth dopants.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The optical fiber of claim 3 wherein said single mode core is disposed substantially at the geometric center of said multimode cladding.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical fiber of claim 3 further comprising a protective coating surrounding said further cladding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
36 words
The optical fiber of claim 3 wherein said further cladding includes a curable component having an index of refraction such that, when combined with said liquid component, said further cladding exhibits a uniform index of refraction.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
18 words
The optical fiber of claim 13 wherein said curable component swells in the presence of said liquid component.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The optical fiber of claim 14 further comprising a protective coating surrounding said further cladding, which protective coating exhibits a tensile strength sufficient to exert a radial stress on said further cladding.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
38 words
The optical fiber of claim 14 further comprising a protective coating surrounding said further cladding, said protective coating being a semipermeable membrane for permitting diffusion of said liquid component into said curable component for suppressing the scattering sites.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical fiber of claim 3 wherein the single mode core comprises a gain material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
95 words
An active optical fiber which comprises: a substantially single mode core having an index of refraction n 1 and comprising an active gain material disposed within a multimode cladding having an index of refraction n 2 ; a further cladding having an index of refraction n 3 and surrounding said multimode cladding, said further cladding having at least one liquid component and conforming with said multimode cladding such that scattering sites between said further cladding and said multimode cladding are suppressed at a wavelength of interest and wherein n 1 >n 2 >n 3 .
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
95 words
An active optical fiber which comprises: a substantially single mode core having an index of refraction n 1 and comprising an active gain material disposed within a multimode cladding having an index of refraction n 2 ; a further cladding having an index of refraction n 3 and surrounding said multimode cladding, said further cladding having at least one liquid component and conforming with said multimode cladding such that scattering sites between said further cladding and said multimode cladding are suppressed at a wavelength of interest and wherein n 1 >n 2 >n 3 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
15 words
The active optical fiber of claim 18 wherein said active material comprises a laser species.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The active optical fiber of claim 18 wherein said active material comprises a rare earth dopant.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The active optical fiber of claim 18 further including a laser pump source for activating the single mode core via said multimode cladding.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3920980A
Cited
US4201446A
Cited
US4425794A
Cited
US4448483A
Cited
US4640592A
Cited
USH15H
Cited
US4603940A
Cited
US4938556A
Cited
US4465805A
Cited
US4618258A
Cited
US4647767A
Cited
US4815079A
Cited
US4922496A
Cited
US5108200A
Cited
US5024507A
Cited
US5121460A
Cited
US5268978A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-12-12 | 1998-06-13 | 1998-12-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-12-12 | 2002-06-13 | 2002-12-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-12-12 | 2006-06-13 | 2006-12-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |