Optical system with reduced back reflection
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical coupler comprising:
- an optical element having a flat side and a convex side;
a detector spaced from the convex side of the optical element; and
an optical fiber positioned adjacent to the flat side of the optical element, wherein said optical element is adapted to direct light delivered by the optical fiber to the spaced detector such that light that is reflected by the detector does not substantially couple back into the optical fiber.
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Abstract
An optical system is adapted to produce reduced back reflection from a receiving detector back to a light source for increased system performance. The system may optically condition light signals from the light source for projection onto the detector. The conditioning may result in a light spot on the detector that has an annular intensity distribution or profile. The annular distribution may be attained in any number of ways including providing a slope discontinuity in the lens surface, providing an axicon lens function, and/or providing a defocused light spot on the detector surface.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. An optical coupler comprising:
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an optical element having a flat side and a convex side;
a detector spaced from the convex side of the optical element; and
an optical fiber positioned adjacent to the flat side of the optical element, wherein said optical element is adapted to direct light delivered by the optical fiber to the spaced detector such that light that is reflected by the detector does not substantially couple back into the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A light transmission system comprising:
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an optical element having a first surface and a second surface;
an optical medium having an end adjacent the first surface of the optical element, the optical medium having an index of refraction that is substantially similar to an index of refraction of the optical element; and
a detector spaced from the second surface of the optical element;
wherein said optical element conveys light from the optical medium to the detector, the optical element producing a light pattern on the detector that has a substantially reduced light intensity near the center of the light pattern. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8)
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- 9. A system for transmitting light from a light source to a detector comprising an optical element positioned between the light source and the detector for directing light from the light source to the detector, the optical element configured to create an annular illuminated region on the detector with a substantially non-illuminated center.
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14. A light transmission system comprising:
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a light source;
a detector; and
an optical element positioned between the light source and the detector;
wherein the optical element is configured to direct more than half of the light that is transmitted from the light source to the detector, and to direct less than half of the light that is reflected by the detector back to the light source. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method for providing light from a light source to a detector, the method comprising:
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providing light from a light source; and
directing light from the light source to the detector such that light that is reflected by detector is not substantially coupled back to the light source. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification