Incoherent fiber optic laser system
US6229940A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 30, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 8, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 30, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01S3/067
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An incoherent fiber optic laser system is provided which provides a high quality output beam which is readily scalable and which can be focused to a target location located relatively near or relatively far without requiring sophisticated optical elements. The incoherent fiber optic laser system includes a plurality of single mode laser sources, such as a plurality of fiber optic amplifiers, for providing single mode laser signals. The laser sources, such as the fiber optic amplifiers, operate incoherently with respect to one another such that the resulting laser signals are also incoherent. The incoherent fiber optic laser system also generally includes a plurality of single mode optical fibers for routing the incoherent laser signals as desired. In addition, the incoherent fiber optic laser system can include a plurality of lenses for collimating the incoherent laser signals provided by respective ones of the single mode optical fibers. In one advantageous embodiment, the incoherent fiber optic laser system also includes means for combining and focusing the collimated, incoherent laser signals to a target location at a predetermined distance. For example, the focusing means can f…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.