Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Input/output coupler
Patent
1998-08-21
2000-12-05
Lee, John D.
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Input/output coupler
385 34, 385115, 359558, G02B 626
Patent
active
061577561
ABSTRACT:
A device for expanding a laser beam into an extremely wide diffraction arc is described. The expander consists of an array of multiple optically transparent fibers of a first diameter alternating with fibers of one or more diameters different from said first diameter arranged in parallel and in a single plane. A laser beam incident on the array is transmitted therethrough and expanded into an extremely wide diffraction arc of almost 180 degrees. Also disclosed is a laser beam profile converter capable of transforming a laser beam having a Gaussian profile into a beam with a substantially uniform intensity distribution, or a predetermined intensity distribution, along the entire length of diffraction arc. The converter comprises multiple optically transparent fibers of the same diameter arranged in a single array, or a rectangular array. At the input end of the converter, the fibers are arranged in one or more uniform layers. At the output end, these fibers are assembled into the multiple numbers of fibers divided into groups, each group comprising a different number of the fibers and delivering a predetermined amount of light energy. The fibers at the output end of the converter are grasped so that the distribution of light energy, when the light beams exiting the fibers are combined into one, provide a desired intensity distribution pattern of the light energy entering the converter.
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Lee John D.
Ram Michael J.
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