Patent US6289027B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6289027B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Fiber optic lasers employing fiber optic amplifiers
Assignee: Molecular Optoelectronics Corp
•
Filing: 1999-02-19
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Granted: 2001-09-11
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Expires: 2019-02-19
Abstract
Abstract Ring and linear cavity, fiber optic laser systems are disclosed, employing non-invasive fiber optic amplification technology. A channel overlay waveguide is employed for amplification of optical energy evanescently coupled to the overlay waveguide from the fiber optic. One of two amplification methods can be employed. The first involves inducing stimulated emission with the overlay waveguide and the second uses a second order, non-linear frequency conversion to down-convert a high-power, short-wavelength pump signal into the waveguide to amplify the optical energy coupled thereto. Amplification of optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide can be established within a single beat length of evanescent removal to evanescent return of the optical energy to the fiber optic. Intra-cavity elements can be employed to effect, e.g., wavelength selection, optical isolation, or modulation of the resultant, optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian L. Lawrence
- 👤 Kevin J. McCallion
- 👤 Gregory A. Wagoner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 17:21
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/35; G02F1/39; G02F1/395; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/122; G02B6/124; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2826; H; H01; H01S; H01S3/00; H01S3/05; H01S3/06; H01S3/063; H01S3/067; H01S3/06754; H01S3/09; H01S3/091; H01S3/094; H01S3/094003; H01S3/094019; H01S3/10; H01S3/106; H01S3/108; H01S3/1083
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A laser system, comprising: a fiber optic amplifier arranged with respect to an interior portion of a fiber optic having a side surface through which optical energy can be transferred to or from the fiber optic, the fiber optic amplifier including a channel overlay waveguide formed over the surface for amplifying the optical energy therein for transfer to an optical signal propagating in the fiber optic; wherein the fiber optic is arranged into a cavity, an output of which comprises laser energy generated within the cavity using the amplified optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A laser system, comprising: a fiber optic amplifier arranged with respect to an interior portion of a fiber optic having a side surface through which optical energy can be transferred to or from the fiber optic, the fiber optic amplifier including a channel overlay waveguide formed over the surface for amplifying the optical energy therein for transfer to an optical signal propagating in the fiber optic; wherein the fiber optic is arranged into a cavity, an output of which comprises laser energy generated within the cavity using the amplified optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser system of claim 1 , wherein the cavity comprises a ring or linear cavity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The laser system of claim 1 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide exhibits optical fluorescence when stimulated, and the fiber optic amplifier employs stimulated emission for amplifying the optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide for transfer to the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The laser system of claim 1 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide exhibits a non-linear response of second order, and the fiber optic amplifier employs optical parametric amplification for amplifying the optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide for transfer to the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
The laser system of claim 1 , further comprising: an intracavity element for at least one of wavelength selection, optical isolation, and modulation of the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The laser system of claim 3 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises one of a rare-earth doped crystal, a rare-earth doped glass, a rare-earth based deposited film, a polymer, and an optically/electrically pumped semiconductor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
The laser system of claim 4 , wherein a pump beam is provided to the channel overlay waveguide, and wherein the channel overlay waveguide is configured for phase matching of propagation modes of the channel overlay waveguide and the fiber optic, and is selected for phase matching of a mode of the optical signal and a mode of the pump beam.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
65 words
The laser system of claim 4 , wherein the fiber optic amplifier employs difference frequency generation, and couples in to the channel overlay waveguide a pump beam at one-half wavelength of the optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide, said optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide serving as a seed signal for said difference frequency generation, thereby resulting in amplification of said optical energy.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
The laser system of claim 4 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises one of lithium niobate, potassium titanyl phosphate or an organic crystal exhibiting optical non-linearities, said organic crystal comprising an organic salt selected from the group consisting of dimethylamino n-methylstilbazolium tosylate (DAST), 4-methoxy stilbazolium tosylate (MOST), and 3,4 dihydroxy stilbazolium tosylate.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
16 words
The laser system of claim 6 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises a neodymium-doped material.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for producing laser energy in a laser system which includes a fiber optic arranged into a cavity, an interior portion of the fiber optic having a side surface through which optical energy can be transferred to or from the fiber optic, said method comprising: amplifying optical energy in a channel overlay waveguide formed over the surface; and transferring the amplified optical energy through the surface and into an optical signal propagating in the fiber optic, the optical signal forming the laser energy produced by the laser system.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for producing laser energy in a laser system which includes a fiber optic arranged into a cavity, an interior portion of the fiber optic having a side surface through which optical energy can be transferred to or from the fiber optic, said method comprising: amplifying optical energy in a channel overlay waveguide formed over the surface; and transferring the amplified optical energy through the surface and into an optical signal propagating in the fiber optic, the optical signal forming the laser energy produced by the laser system.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the cavity comprises a ring or linear cavity.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide exhibits optical fluorescence when stimulated, and wherein said amplifying includes employing stimulated emission within the channel overlay waveguide to amplify the optical energy therein.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method of claim 11 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide exhibits a non-linear response of second order, and said amplifying comprises using optical parametric amplification to amplify the optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide to produce the amplified optical energy.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 11 , further comprising: performing at least one of wavelength selection, optical isolation, and modulation within the cavity, of the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The process of claim 13 , further comprising: pumping the channel overlay waveguide with high power optical energy to produce optical fluorescence within the channel overlay waveguide, and wherein said transferring comprises transferring optical energy from the optical signal to the channel overlay waveguide within a fluorescence emission bandwidth of the channel overlay waveguide.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises one of a rare-earth doped crystal, a rare-earth doped glass, a rare-earth based deposited film, a polymer, and an optically/electrically pumped semiconductor.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
89 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein said amplifying comprises pumping a pump signal of wavelength ½ λ into the channel overlay waveguide, wherein the pump signal is split to produce a signal wavelength and an idler wavelength each of wavelength λ, and wherein the optical signal in the fiber optic has a wavelength of λ, said transferring of optical energy seeding the signal wavelength resulting in amplification of the optical energy by transfer of energy from the pump signal to said seed signal via a non-linear conversion process.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 14 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises one of lithium niobate, potassium titanyl phosphate or an organic crystal exhibiting optical non-linearities, said organic crystal comprising an organic salt selected from the group consisting of dimethylamino n-methylstilbazolium tosylate (DAST), 4-methoxy stilbazolium tosylate (MOST), and 3,4 dihydroxy stilbazolium tosylate.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 17 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises a neodymium-doped material.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for forming a laser system, comprising: obtaining an interior portion of a fiber optic, the portion having a side surface though which optical energy can be transferred to or from an optical signal propagating in the fiber optic; forming a channel overlay waveguide over the surface such that the optical energy can be transferred thereto or therefrom through the surface; providing an amplification system in operative relationship with the channel overlay waveguide to effect amplification of the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic via th e optical energy transferred to or from the channel overlay waveguide; and forming the fiber optic into a cavity, an output of which comprises laser energy from the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
123 words
A method for forming a laser system, comprising: obtaining an interior portion of a fiber optic, the portion having a side surface though which optical energy can be transferred to or from an optical signal propagating in the fiber optic; forming a channel overlay waveguide over the surface such that the optical energy can be transferred thereto or therefrom through the surface; providing an amplification system in operative relationship with the channel overlay waveguide to effect amplification of the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic via th e optical energy transferred to or from the channel overlay waveguide; and forming the fiber optic into a cavity, an output of which comprises laser energy from the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the cavity comprises a ring or linear cavity.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide exhibits optical fluorescence when stimulated, and the amplification system employs stimulated emission for amplifying the optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide for transfer to the optical signal propagating in the side-polished fiber optic.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 21 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide exhibits a non-linear response of second order, and the amplification system employs optical parametric amplification for amplifying the optical energy in said channel overlay waveguide for transfer to the optical signal propagating in the side-polished fiber optic.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 21 , further comprising: providing an intracavity element for at least one of wavelength selection, optical isolation, and modulation of the optical signal propagating in the fiber optic.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises one of a rare-earth doped crystal, a rare-earth doped glass, a rare-earth based deposited film, a polymer, and an optically/electrically pumped semiconductor.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 24 , further comprising: providing a pump beam to said channel overlay waveguide, wherein the channel overlay waveguide is configured for phase matching of propagation modes of the channel overlay waveguide and the fiber optic, and is selected for phase matching of a mode of the optical signal and a mode of the pump beam.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
62 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the amplification system employs difference frequency generation, and couples into the channel overlay waveguide a pump beam at one-half wavelength of the optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide, said optical energy in the channel overlay waveguide serving as a seed signal for said difference frequency generation, thereby resulting in amplification of said optical energy.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises one of lithium niobate, potassium titanyl phosphate or an organic crystal exhibiting optical non-linearities, said organic crystal comprising an organic salt selected from the group consisting of dimethylamino n-methylstilbazolium tosylate (DAST), 4-methoxy stilbazolium tosylate (MOST), and 3,4 dihydroxy stilbazolium tosylate.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 26 , wherein the channel overlay waveguide comprises a neodymium-doped material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2004-09-10 | 2005-03-12 | 2005-09-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2008-09-10 | 2009-03-12 | 2009-09-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2012-09-10 | 2013-03-12 | 2013-09-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |