Optical element for Mie scattering light from an optical fiber
US9585548B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 12, 2013 |
| Grant date | Mar 7, 2017 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 12, 2033 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/241
- WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The invention relates to an optical scattering element suitable for dispersing or scattering light transmitted by optical device by Mie scattering. The optical scattering element comprises a phase-separated or porous borosilicate glass having dispersed phase particles with a particle size of 200 to 500 nanometers or pores with a size of 200 to 500 nanometers, at a number density of 108 to 1012 mm−3. The optical scattering element can be prepared by subjecting a borosilicate glass to a controlled heat treatment to induce phase separation, and then optionally leaching out one of the phases with an acid leach. The optical scattering element can be, for example, attached to an end of an optical fiber or bundle of optical fibers. The invention also relates to a method of dispersing or scattering light by transmitting the light through the optical scattering element.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.