Optical fiber pumping apparatus and method for use in pumped optical fiber amplifier and laser systems
US6438294B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 18, 2000 |
| Grant date | Aug 20, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4206
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical fiber pumping apparatus for use with a double-cladding fiber in an optical amplifier or laser configuration comprises a plurality of laser diodes used as pump sources disposed in a spatial configuration for radiating pump energy along an optical axis through a surrounding generally annular area, leaving an available middle area. The apparatus further comprises an optical coupling device having an optical input portion generally aligned with the optical axis to collect the pump energy and having an optical output portion aligned with the pumping input portion for transferring the pump energy to the inner cladding surrounding the doped core of the fiber. The apparatus exhibits high pump power rating and allows efficient input signal coupling in optical fiber amplifier applications. According to the different preferred embodiments, the apparatus can act either simultaneously or independently as a pump combiner, multiple pump injector, signal coupler or pump/signal multiplexer/demultiplexer.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.