Coupling of high intensity light into low melting point fiber optics using polygonal homogenizers

Claim 3

The method according to claim 1 , wherein the non-uniform intensity profile is gaussian-like.

Claim 4

The method according to claim 1 , wherein the redistributing of said intensity profile is performed using an optical waveguide having an optical axis, and a polygonal cross-section at least partially along said optical axis.

Claim 5

The method according to claim 3 , wherein said polygonal cross-section has up to ten sides.

Claim 6

The method according to claim 3 , wherein said optical waveguide further comprises a substantially circular cross-section at least partially along said optical axis.

Claim 7

The method according to claim 3 , wherein along the optical axis of said optical waveguide, the polygonal cross-section smoothly transitions to a substantially circular cross-section.

Claim 8

The method according to claim 3 , wherein the waveguide has a length along the optical axis; a first and second surface, each surface placed at opposite ends of the length, and each having an area; and said first and second surfaces having different areas.

Claim 9

The method according to claim 7 , wherein along the length of said optical waveguide, the polygonal cross-section smoothly transitions to a substantially circular cross-section, and the area of the first surface smoothly transitions to the area of the second surface.

Claim 10

The method according to claim 1 , wherein said step of emitting light includes condensing light from a point source.

Claim 11

The method of claim 1 , wherein said homogenizing is carried out by a waveguide, said waveguide comprising: a homogenizer for mixing said light intensity profile received at an input end of the waveguide; and at least one optical fiber which is temperature sensitive, connected proximate to an output of said homogenizer; and wherein said transmitting further comprises transmitting light from said light source through said waveguide so as to produce the substantially uniform profile for introduction into said at least one optical fiber, wherein said at least one optical fiber is not damaged by said light.

Claim 12

The method according to claim 10 , wherein said light source provides light having a substantially non-uniform intensity profile.

Claim 13

The method according to claim 11 , wherein the non-uniform intensity profile is gaussian-like.

Claim 14

The method according to claim 10 , wherein the waveguide has an optical axis, and a polygonal cross-section at least partially along said optical axis.

Claim 15

The method according to claim 13 , wherein said polygonal cross-section has up to ten sides.

Claim 16

The method according to claim 13 , wherein said optical waveguide further comprises a substantially circular cross-section at least partially along said optical axis.

Claim 17

The method according to claim 13 , wherein along the optical axis of said optical waveguide, the polygonal cross-section smoothly transitions to a substantially circular cross-section.

Claim 18

The method according to claim 13 , wherein the waveguide has a length along the optical axis; a first and second surface, each surface placed at opposite ends of the length, and each having an area; and said first and second surfaces having different areas.

Claim 19

The method according to claim 17 , wherein along the length of said optical waveguide, the polygonal cross-section smoothly transitions to a substantially circular cross-section, and the area of the first surface smoothly transitions to the area of the second surface.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 13 , wherein said step of emitting light includes condensing light from a point source.

Claim 21

A fiber optic illumination system for carrying out the method of claim 1 , comprising: a light source; a waveguide having an input end, an output end, and an optical axis, said input end being placed in proximity to said light source such that a substantial amount of light is coupled into the waveguide, travels along the optical axis, and exits through the output end, said exiting light having a substantially uniform intensity profile at the output end, and wherein said waveguide has a polygonal cross-section at least partially along said optical axis; at least one output fiber optic placed proximate to said output end such that the light exiting from said output end is coupled into said at least one output fiber optic with high efficiency.

Claim 22

The fiber optic illumination system according to claim 20 , wherein said waveguide is comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of quartz, glass and plastic.

Claim 23

The fiber optic illumination system according to claim 20 , wherein said polygonal cross-section is regular, and is comprised of up to 10 sides.

Claim 24

A fiber optic homogenizer for carrying out the method of claim 1 , comprising: a first waveguide having a first input end corresponding to a first input area, a first output end corresponding to a first output area, and a first optical axis having a cross-sectional shape substantially of a polygon, and wherein said first input end and said first output end are substantially perpendicular to said first optical axis; a second waveguide having a second input end corresponding to a second input area, a second output end corresponding to a second output area, and a second optical axis having a cross-sectional shape substantially of a circle, and wherein said second optical axis is substantially collinear to said first optical axis, and said second input end of said second waveguide is placed in close proximity to the first output end of said first waveguide.

Claim 25

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said first output area of said first waveguide is completely contained within said second input area of said second waveguide.

Claim 26

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said first input area is equal to said first output area.

Claim 27

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said second input area is equal to said second output area.

Claim 28

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said first input area is smaller than said first output area.

Claim 29

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said first input area is larger than said first output area.

Claim 30

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said second input area is smaller than said second output area.

Claim 31

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said second input area is larger than said second output area.

Claim 32

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said first output end of said first waveguide and said second input end of said second waveguide are physically joined together with a smooth transition so as to form a unitary waveguide.

Claim 33

The fiber optic homogenizer of claim 23 , wherein said first waveguide has a cross-sectional shape substantially of a regular polygon comprising up to ten sides.

Claim 34

A fiber optic illumination system for carrying out the method of claim 1 , comprising: an arc lamp; a primary reflector for collecting and focusing light collected from said arc lamp to a focus; a polygonal rod with a first input end and a first output end, said polygonal rod placed with the input end coincident with said focus so as to receive an optimal amount of light collected by said primary reflector, an output fiber optic with a second input end and a second output end, said second input end coupled to said first output end of said polygonal rod such that substantially all the light exiting the polygonal rod's first ouput end is coupled into said ouput fiber.

Claim 35

The fiber optic illumination system of claim 33 , wherein said primary reflector is comprised of a reflector selected from the group consisting of a spherical reflector, an ellipsoidal reflector, and a toroidal reflector.

Claim 36

The fiber optic illumination system of claim 33 , wherein the polygonal rod is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of quartz, glass, and plastic.

Claim 37

The fiber optic illumination system of claim 33 , wherein the ouput fiber optic is selected from the group consisting of a plastic fiber, a bundle of plastic fibers, a single glass fiber, and a glass fiber bundle.

Claim 38

The fiber optic illumination system of claim 33 , wherein the polygonal rod is tapered.

Claim 39

The fiber optic illumination system of claim 33 , wherein the polygonal rod has a square cross-section, said first input end having a cross-section with a side length of about 2 mm, said first output end having a cross-section with a side length of about 3.5 mm, and wherein said polygonal rod has an axial length extending from said first input end to said first output end, and said axial length is about 35 mm.

Claim 40

The fiber optic illumination system of claim 33 , further comprising a round rod having a third input end and a third ouput end, said round rod placed between said first output end of said polygonal rod and said second input end of said output fiber optic such that light is coupled from said first output end of said polygonal rod and into said third input end of said round rod, and such that light is coupled from said third output end of said round rod and into said second input end of said output fiber optic.