Radiation meter for radiation emerging from an optical fiber with a diffusely reflecting body and cavity

• US 5,153,426 A
• Filed: 08/16/1991
• Issued: 10/06/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
• Original Assignee: Messerschmitt-Bolkow-Blohm GmbH
• Inventors: Konrad, Michael, Eichenlaub, Mandred
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Messinger, Michael
• Application Number:
  US07/745,755
• Time in Patent Office: 417 Days
• Field of Search: 250/228, 250/227.24, 250/227.11, 250/216, 606/11, 606/12, 606/14, 606/16, 606/18, 356/236, 356/73.1
• US Class Current: 250/227.24
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/04 Optical or mechanical part supplementary adjustable parts
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0425 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/0448 Adjustable, e.g. focussing
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4228 arrangements with two or more detectors, e.g. for sensitivity compensation
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 1/4257 applied to monitoring the characteristics of a beam, e.g. laser beam, headlamp beam monitoring arrangements for lasers in general H01S3/0014
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 2001/0481 Preset integrating sphere or cavity

Abstract

A radiation meter for radiation emerging from an optical fiber, comprising a hollow body having diffusely reflecting interior walls into which the end of the optical fiber can be introduced, and at least one detector arranged behind an opening of the hollow body. Between the end of the optical fiber and the opening for the detector, a diffusely reflecting body is arranged which, together with the interior wall of the hollow body, in the area of the opening for the detector, forms a gap with an adjustable gap thickness.

Claims

1. Apparatus for measuring radiation emerging from an optical fiber, comprising:

a hollow body having an interior cavity with diffusely reflecting interior walls, said hollow body having an aperture into which an end of an optical fiber can be introduced into said cavity, and an opening from which reflected radiation can escape from said cavity;

at least one detector positioned to receive and detect radiation from said opening; and

a diffusely reflecting body arranged within said cavity between said aperture and said opening, said body being positioned so as to define an adjustable gap between said body and said interior walls.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffusely reflecting body has a concave surface on a side facing the optical fiber.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the diffusely reflecting body is arranged symmetrically with respect to the opening for the detector and forms a rotationally symmetrical gap around it.

4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the diffusely reflecting body is arranged symmetrically with respect to the opening for the detector and forms a rotationally symmetrical gap around it.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the hollow body is rotationally symmetrical about an axis of symmetry, which passes through a center of said aperture and a center of said opening, and wherein said diffusely reflecting body is also arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis of symmetry.

6. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the hollow body is rotationally symmetrical about an axis of symmetry, which passes through a center of said aperture and a center of said opening, and wherein said diffusely reflecting body is also arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis of symmetry.

7. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the hollow body is rotationally symmetrical about an axis of symmetry, which passes through a center of said aperture and a center of said opening, and wherein said diffusely reflecting body is also arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis of symmetry.

8. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the hollow body is rotationally symmetrical about an axis of symmetry, which passes through a center of said aperture and a center of said opening, and wherein said diffusely reflecting body is also arranged symmetrically with respect to said axis of symmetry.