Coupling method and apparatus for coupling polymer fibers to a light source for improving power handling capabilities of the polymer fibers
US5898802A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 27, 1997 |
| Grant date | Apr 27, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 27, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4298
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
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.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.