Cogent Light Technologies, Inc.

Wavien, Inc.

Chingfa Chen

Kenneth K Li

Douglas M Brenner

Fred P Paulino

Marvin Okino

The power handling capability of polymer fibers is increased by broadening an input intensity profile, which is typically Gaussian, without significantly decreasing the efficiency of coupling light into a polymer fiber. The method for increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers includes the steps of: a) emitting light having a Gaussian intensity profile from a fiber light source; b) broadening the Gaussian intensity profile so that energy at the center of the Gaussian intensity profile is distributed to the perimeter to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light before it is launched into the polymer fiber; c) transmitting the emitted light into at least one polymer fiber. Preferably, a fused bundle is used to broaden the intensity profile and preferably the fused bundle has an angled input end face. As a result, more total power can be coupled into the polymer fiber while keeping below the melting threshold caused by the light absorption&mdash;enabling, for example, power in excess of 1 Watt to be transmitted through a 1-mm diameter PMMA fiber.

Method and apparatus for improving power handling capabilities of polymer fibers

A method and system for condensing and collecting electromagnetic radiation comprised generally of a radiation source, a reflector and a target is disclosed. The reflector has a reflecting surface for reflecting the radiation from the source which is in the shape of a cut out portion of an ellipsoid. The reflector surface has a substantially ellipsoidal curvature which is concave relative to both the target and the source, and which has a major axis, a minor axis, and a first and second focal points. The system of the present invention redirects radiation emitted from the source, located near the first focal point of the ellipsoid, to produce a magnified image of the source at the target, located near the second focal point of the ellipsoid. To acheive this spot size magnification, the ellipsoidal reflector surface comprises a portion of an ellipsoid which lies between the major and minor axes of the ellipsoid. The method disclosed comprises producing a magnified image of the source at the target by redirecting magnification emitted from a source with reflector having a concave surface shaped substantially of an ellipsoid.

Method and apparatus for coupling light and producing magnified images using an asymmetrical ellipsoid reflective surface

A method and apparatus for coupling high intensity light into a low melting temperature optical fiber which uses a high temperature, low NA optical fiber as a spatial filter between a source of high intensity light and a low melting temperature, low NA optical fiber. In an alternate embodiment, the spatial filter is composed of a fused bundle of optical fibers. The source of light may be a high intensity arc lamp or may be a high NA, high melting temperature optical fiber transmitting light from a remote light source.

Apparatus and method for coupling high intensity light into low

A method and apparatus which can couple a high intensity point source, such as from a single fiber, to a fiber bundle. A bundle of fibers is fed though a hole in the light post. A removable potting compound is applied to the tip of the bundle to hold the fibers together for polishing. The tip of the bundle is polished and then the potting compound is removed from the tip of the bundle. A window is placed over a light inlet of the hole so as to seal the bundle. A point source cable introduces a point source of light to the bundle of fibers. A ferrule is provided around the point source cable, having a diameter sized corresponding to a diameter of said light post. The ferrule and the bundle of fibers are clamped with a split sleeve which extends therebetween.

Device for coupling a high intensity point source to a fiber bundle

The power handling capability of polymer fibers is increased by broadening an input intensity profile, which is typically Gaussian, without significantly decreasing the efficiency of coupling light into a polymer fiber. The method for increasing the power handling capability of polymer fibers includes the steps of: a) emitting light having a Gaussian intensity profile from a fiber light source; b) broadening the Gaussian intensity profile so that energy at the center of the Gaussian intensity profile is distributed to the perimeter to reduce the peak power intensity of the emitted light before it is launched into the polymer fiber; c) transmitting the emitted light into at least one polymer fiber. Preferably, a fused bundle is used to broaden the intensity profile and preferably the fused bundle has an angled input end face. As a result, more total power can be coupled into the polymer fiber while keeping below the melting threshold caused by the light absorption--enabling, for example, power in excess of 1 Watt to be transmitted through a 1-mm diameter PMMA fiber.

Coupling method and apparatus for coupling polymer fibers to a light

Method of coupling a high intensity point source to a fiber bundle

A device which adjusts the angle of illumination of light exiting a fiber optic light guide. A first light guide has a first numerical aperture for emitting light from a light source, and light exiting the first light guide has a first light intensity angular profile. A second light guide has a second numerical aperture for receiving the light from the first light guide, and light exiting the second light guide has a second light intensity angular profile. Light from the first light guide is dispersed by a device including at least a first surface interposed between the first light guide and the second light guide such that light from the first light guide having the first light intensity profile irradiates the first surface and the angular intensity profile of the light irradiating the second light guide is modified so as to cause the second light intensity angular profile to be modified. The first light guide preferably has a single fiber, and the second light guide preferably has a fiber bundle. The dispersion is preferably be effected with a GRIN lens and a fiber bundle having an angled endface, or with a GRIN lens, a fixed fiber bundle having an angled endface and a rotatable fiber bundle having an angled endface.

Method for coupling light from single fiberoptic to a multi-fiber bundle

The optical coupler couples light output from the single fiber optic into the fiber optic bundle while preserving the numerical aperture of the beam output from the single fiber optic. The optical coupler also preserves any uniformity in s the beam output from the single fiber optic. The optical coupler includes a collimating device such as a magnifying lens and a diffusing device such as a hemispherical lens array. The collimating device collimates the beam output from the single fiber optic into a parallel beam having a diameter substantially equal to a diameter of the fiber optic bundle. The diffuser device diverges the collimated beam for input into the fiber optic bundle by an amount sufficient to reproduce the numerical aperture of light output from the single fiber optic. A wide variety of optical diffuser devices are disclosed, including spherical convex lens arrays, cylindrical lens arrays, pyramidal lens arrays and fresnel lenses. In one exemplary embodiment, the optical coupler is employed within a medical illumination system which transmits light from a high-intensity light source to a medical device such as a surgical headlamp, or medical endoscope or boroscope.

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West Covina, CA, United States of America

Chingfa Chen