Method and apparatus for side pumping an optical fiber
US5854865A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 7, 1995 |
| Grant date | Dec 29, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 7, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/094069
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A technique for the efficient coupling of pump light into a fiber by injeng the light through the side of a fiber leaving the fiber ends accessible to input and output coupling. This technique relies on the fabrication of a groove or a micro-prism into the side of the fiber. The groove shape is adapted effective to the variables of light wavelength, orientation of the source and variables relating to fiber construction so as to allow the efficient injection of pump light. Light emerging from a laser diode or other suitable means for launching light placed on the opposite side of the fiber, and in proximity to the fiber wall, propagates laterally through the fiber and impinges on the sides of the groove. The vertical rays impinging on the grove facets are specularly reflected and directed along the horizontal fiber axis of the outer core. By employing a reflective coating on the groove, the reflectivity of the groove facets approach 100% for a wide range of incidence angles. In this manner one can launch external optical signals into an optical fiber.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.