US5898802A
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US
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Coupling method and apparatus for coupling polymer fibers to a light source for improving power handling capabilities of the polymer fibers
Assignee: Meadowstar Enterprises Ltd
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Filing: 1997-03-27
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Granted: 1999-04-27
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Expires: 2017-03-27
Abstract
Abstract The power handling capability of polymer fibers is increased by broadening an input intensity profile, which is typically Gaussian, without significantly decreasing the efficiency of coupling light into a polymer fiber. The method for increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers includes the steps of: a) emitting light having a Gaussian intensity profile from a fiber light source; b) broadening the Gaussian intensity profile so that energy at the center of the Gaussian intensity profile is distributed to the perimeter to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light before it is launched into the polymer fiber; c) transmitting the emitted light into at least one polymer fiber. Preferably, a fused bundle is used to broaden the intensity profile and preferably the fused bundle has an angled input end face. As a result, more total power can be coupled into the polymer fiber while keeping below the melting threshold caused by the light absorption-enabling, for example, power in excess of 1 Watt to be transmitted through a 1-mm diameter PMMA fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Chingfa Chen
- 👤 Douglas M. Brenner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 07:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; G02B6/241; G02B6/26; G02B6/262; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B2006/12035; G02B2006/12069; G02B2006/12071; G02B6/4296
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 66
Claim 1
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising the steps of: a) emitting light having an intensity profile with energy higher at a center and lower at a perimeter from a light source; b) broadening said intensity profile so that energy at the center of the intensity profile is distributed to the perimeter of the profile to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light; c) transmitting the broadened light into at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising the steps of: a) emitting light having an intensity profile with energy higher at a center and lower at a perimeter from a light source; b) broadening said intensity profile so that energy at the center of the intensity profile is distributed to the perimeter of the profile to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light; c) transmitting the broadened light into at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of broadening the intensity profile includes keeping the total energy transmitted into the at least one polymer fiber substantially unchanged, but diminishes peak power intensity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 2, wherein said step of broadening the intensity profile includes providing a diffuser between the emitted light and the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of providing a diffuser involves providing a diffuser selected from the group consisting of a holographic grating, a micro-lens array, a concentrating parabolic concentrator, an axicon, an optical wedge, and a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 3, wherein said step of providing a diffuser involves providing a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5, further comprising the step of filtering the light entering the polymer fiber by applying dielectric coatings to end faces of the fused fiber bundle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 5, further including providing said fused fiber bundle with a plurality of small diameter fibers, each fiber having a diameter of about 10 μm to 50 μm.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of having said fused fiber bundle formed such that light is also carried therein in cladding modes so as to further spread the intensity profile.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of providing said bundle with a length that is less than eight times its diameter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of providing a numerical aperture of the fused bundle to greater than that of the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of forming an input end face and an output end face so as to be substantially perpendicular to a center axis of the fused bundle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 11, wherein said end faces of the fused bundle are polished at about 90 degrees with respect to said axis.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of forming an input end face of the fused bundle at an angle less than 90 degrees from a center axis of the fused bundle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of forming an input end face of the fused bundle at an angle less than 90 degrees from a center axis of the fused bundle and greater than or equal to about 65 degrees from said axis.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said step of providing said fused bundle includes providing said fused bundle from fused glass fibers.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 5, wherein said at least one polymer fiber is a single PMMA fiber and further including the step of butt-coupling the output of the fused bundle to the PMMA fiber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 16, wherein said PMMA fiber is less than about 1 mm in diameter.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 16, further including the step of transmitting over 0.5 Watts of optical power without melting the PMMA fiber.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5, further including the step of heatsinking light from the perimeter of the fused fiber bundle.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of emitting light includes providing said light source from a single fiber.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of emitting light includes providing said light source from a focused light source.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said emitted light into at least one polymer fiber includes providing said at least one polymer fiber as a single polymer fiber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of transmitting said emitted light into at least one polymer fiber includes providing said at least one polymer fiber as a polymer fiber bundle.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of broadening the intensity profile includes providing a holographic grating between the light source and the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of broadening the intensity profile includes providing a micro-lens array between the light source and the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of broadening the intensity profile includes providing a concentrating parabolic concentrator between the light source and the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of broadening the intensity profile includes providing an axicon between the light source and the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of broadening the intensity profile includes providing an optical wedge between the light source and the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of filtering light entering the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said step of filtering includes removing wavelengths of light that are significantly absorbed by the at least one polymer fiber causing degradation of the at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said step of filtering includes removing wavelengths of light below a predetermined wavelength and removing wavelengths of light above a predetermined wavelength to produce a specific bandwidth of light.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 29, wherein said step of filtering includes removing wavelengths of light below about 400 nm and above about 700 nm.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said step of emitting light includes providing light from an arc lamp.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 33, wherein said arc lamp is coupled to a cladded glass rod or to a fused bundle.
Claim 36
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising the steps of: a) emitting light having a non-uniform light intensity profile from an light source; b) broadening said light intensity profile, while keeping the total energy transmitted substantially unchanged, such that light at a first region of said intensity profile is distributed to a second regio n o f said profile to reduce a peak power intensity of said light; c) transmitting said broadened light intensity profile into at least one fiber.
Claim 37
Independent Claim
85 words
A method of increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising the steps of: a) emitting light having a non-uniform light intensity profile from an light source; b) broadening said light intensity profile, while keeping the total energy transmitted substantially unchanged, such that light at a first region of said intensity profile is distributed to a second regio n o f said profile to reduce a peak power intensity of said light; c) transmitting said broadened light intensity profile into at least one fiber.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 35, wherein said at least one fiber is made with a low melting temperature material.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 36, wherein said at least one fiber is a polymer fiber.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of transmitting light emitted from a light source, comprising the steps of: a) providing a light guide having: a diffuser for broadening a light intensity profile received at an input end of the light guide; at least one fiber made with a low-melting temperature material connected proximate an output end of the diffuser; means for heatsinking light from a perimeter of the diffuser to facilitate removal of excess light converted into heat; b) transmitting light from a light source through said light guide so as to broaden the profile of the transmitted light transmitted into said at least one fiber of said light guide.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
106 words
A method of transmitting light emitted from a light source, comprising the steps of: a) providing a light guide having: a diffuser for broadening a light intensity profile received at an input end of the light guide; at least one fiber made with a low-melting temperature material connected proximate an output end of the diffuser; means for heatsinking light from a perimeter of the diffuser to facilitate removal of excess light converted into heat; b) transmitting light from a light source through said light guide so as to broaden the profile of the transmitted light transmitted into said at least one fiber of said light guide.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said step of providing said diffuser involves providing a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 38, wherein said step of providing said diffuser involves providing a diffuser selected from the group consisting of a holographic grating, a micro-lens array, a concentrating parabolic concentrator, an axicon, an optical wedge, and a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of broadening an intensity profile of light emitted from a light source to increase power handling capability when coupled to a polymer fiber, comprising the steps of: a) providing a light source coupled to a broadening device for broadening an intensity profile of light emitted from the light source; and b) coupling the broadening device to at least one polymer fiber; whereby light emitted from the light source passes through the broadening device and is broadened to redistribute light from a center to a perimeter of the light intensity profile prior to transmission of the light into said at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 45
Independent Claim
105 words
A method of broadening an intensity profile of light emitted from a light source to increase power handling capability when coupled to a polymer fiber, comprising the steps of: a) providing a light source coupled to a broadening device for broadening an intensity profile of light emitted from the light source; and b) coupling the broadening device to at least one polymer fiber; whereby light emitted from the light source passes through the broadening device and is broadened to redistribute light from a center to a perimeter of the light intensity profile prior to transmission of the light into said at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 41, wherein said broadening device is a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 41, wherein said broadening device is a diffuser selected from the group consisting of a holographic grating, a micro-lens array, a concentrating parabolic concentrator, an axicon, an optical wedge, and a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 48
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of broadening an intensity profile of light transmitted through a polymer fiber to increase the power handling capability of the polymer fiber when coupled to a light source, comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one polymer fiber for receiving transmitted light, said polymer fiber having a light input end and a light output end, said light input end being coupled to a broadening device for broadening a light intensity profile of light transmitted into said at least one polymer fiber; b) coupling a light input end of said broadening device to a light source; whereby light transmitted through said at least one polymer fiber is initially broadened by the broadening device to redistribute light from a center to a perimeter of the light intensity profile after receipt of the transmitted light from said light source.
Claim 49
Independent Claim
139 words
A method of broadening an intensity profile of light transmitted through a polymer fiber to increase the power handling capability of the polymer fiber when coupled to a light source, comprising the steps of: a) providing at least one polymer fiber for receiving transmitted light, said polymer fiber having a light input end and a light output end, said light input end being coupled to a broadening device for broadening a light intensity profile of light transmitted into said at least one polymer fiber; b) coupling a light input end of said broadening device to a light source; whereby light transmitted through said at least one polymer fiber is initially broadened by the broadening device to redistribute light from a center to a perimeter of the light intensity profile after receipt of the transmitted light from said light source.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 44, wherein said broadening device is a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method of claim 44, wherein said broadening device is a diffuser selected from the group consisting of a holographic grating, a micro-lens array, a concentrating parabolic concentrator, an axicon, an optical wedge, and a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 52
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising the steps of: a) emitting light having a non-uniform light intensity profile; b) redistributing said intensity profile of said light so as to lower a peak intensity of said profile to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light; and c) transmitting the broadened light into at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 53
Independent Claim
64 words
A method of increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising the steps of: a) emitting light having a non-uniform light intensity profile; b) redistributing said intensity profile of said light so as to lower a peak intensity of said profile to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light; and c) transmitting the broadened light into at least one polymer fiber.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 47, where said step of redistributing said intensity profile includes transmitting said emitted light through a broadening device.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 48, wherein said broadening device is a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 47, wherein said light source is a single fiber.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 47, wherein said light source is a focused light source.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 47, wherein during said step of redistributing, said peak power intensity is reduced without changing the total energy of the redistributed light.
Claim 59
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising: a) light source means for emitting light having a nonuniform light intensity profile; b) means for redistributing said intensity profile of said light so as to lower a peak intensity of said profile to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light; and c) at least one polymer fiber coupled to said means for redistributing said intensity profile of said light.
Claim 60
Independent Claim
74 words
An apparatus for increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising: a) light source means for emitting light having a nonuniform light intensity profile; b) means for redistributing said intensity profile of said light so as to lower a peak intensity of said profile to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light; and c) at least one polymer fiber coupled to said means for redistributing said intensity profile of said light.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
15 words
The apparatus of claim 53, wherein said means for redistributing is a fused fiber bundle.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 54, wherein said fused fiber bundle has an input end face at an angle of less than 90 degrees from a center axis of said fused fiber bundle and greater than or equal to about 65 degrees from said axis.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 55, wherein said angle is less than 75 degrees from said center axis.
Claim 64
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising: a) an arc lamp light source for emitting light having a non-uniform light intensity profile; b) means, coupled to said arc lamp light source, for redistributing said intensity profile of said light so as to lower a peak intensity of said profile to reduce the peak power intensity of light to emit light having a lower peak intensity for transmission into a polymer fiber to be coupled to said means for redistributing.
Claim 65
Independent Claim
84 words
An apparatus for increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers, comprising: a) an arc lamp light source for emitting light having a non-uniform light intensity profile; b) means, coupled to said arc lamp light source, for redistributing said intensity profile of said light so as to lower a peak intensity of said profile to reduce the peak power intensity of light to emit light having a lower peak intensity for transmission into a polymer fiber to be coupled to said means for redistributing.
Claim 66
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 57, wherein said means for redistributing is a fused fiber bundle coupled to said arc lamp.
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