High-power collimating lens assemblies, and methods of reducing the optical power density in collimating lens assemblies
US8520990B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 11, 2008 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 11, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49195
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The present invention provides improved collimating lens assemblies (32) which include: a singlemode fiber (38) terminating in a distal end; a step-index multimode fiber (44) having a proximal end abutting to the singlemode fiber distal end, and having a distal end; a graded-index multimode fiber (45) having a proximal end abutting the step-index multimode fiber distal end, and having a distal end; and a collimating lens (34) longitudinally spaced from the graded-index multimode fiber distal end by an intermediate air gap (43), and operatively arranged to collimate light rays emanating from the graded-index multimode fiber distal end. The improved collimating lens assembly is characterized by the fact that there is no epoxy, silicone gel or index-matching material between the graded-index multimode fiber distal end and the collimating lens.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.