Light coupling device for optical fibers

• US 5,355,425 A
• Filed: 09/04/1992
• Issued: 10/11/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark S. Braiman, Roy E. Jonas
• Original Assignee: Mark S. Braiman, Roy E. Jonas
• Inventors: Jonas, Roy E., Braiman, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US07/940,647
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 385/31, 385/33, 385/34, 385/38, 385/12, 385/88, 385/92-94, 385/39
• US Class Current: 385/31
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/552 Attenuated total reflection
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3814 with cooling or heat dissipation means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers

Abstract

A light source to optical fiber coupling device comprising: a diamond coupler, a light source located at an end of the diamond coupler, an optical fiber having an end which is adjacent the other end of the diamond coupler, the optical fiber being in optical coupling relation with the diamond coupler.

Claims

1. A light source to optical fiber coupling device comprising, in combination:

light source means,

a diamond coupler, said diamond coupler having a first end and a second end, said diamond coupler having its first end proximate to at least a portion of said light source and optically coupled to said light source,

at least one optical fiber, said at least one optical fiber having a first end proximate said second end of said diamond coupler and being in optical coupling relation with said diamond coupler,

said first end of said diamond coupler extending into a chamber and being proximate said light source and said second end extending into a passage way.

2. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein said diamond is in the form of a rod.

3. The coupling device of claim 1, further comprising, in combination:

a pair of side housings, each of said pair of side housings having a plurality of sides;

a top housing, said top housing having a plurality of sides and formed of a thermally conductive material;

said pair of side housings adjacent to each other with said top housing above and open space in between;

said chamber having reflective surfaces and being defined by the open space formed between said side housings and top housing

said passage means extending through said top housing, and being coated with a reflective material;

at least a pair of retaining bars, said retaining bars being affixed within said chamber, said light source being retained within said chamber by said retaining bars;

said at least one optical fiber first end extending at least partially into said passage way proximate said diamond coupler.

4. The coupling device of claim 3, wherein said chamber has at least a pair of inlet/outlet ports.

5. The coupling device of claim 3, further comprising a cooling channel, said cooling channel extending through said top housing.

6. The coupling device of claim 3, wherein said conductive material is copper.

7. The coupling device of claim 3, wherein said reflective material is gold.

8. The coupling device of claim 6, wherein said reflective material is gold.

9. The coupling device of claim 3, wherein said retaining bars are contained within said pair of side housings.

10. The coupling device of claim 9, wherein said retaining bars are formed of an electrically conductive material.

11. The coupling device of claim 10, wherein said retaining bars conductive material is platinum.

12. The coupling device of claim 3, further comprising a non-conductive gasket, said non-conductive gasket being between each of said pair of said side housings, thereby insulating said side housings from each other.

13. The coupling device of claim 3, further comprising non-conductive gaskets, said non-conductive gaskets being between said top housing and said pair of side housings, thereby insulating said top housing from said pair of side housings.

14. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein said diamond coupler is a natural diamond.

15. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein said diamond coupler is a synthetic diamond.

16. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein said light source is a broadband light source.

17. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein said light source is a narrowband light source.

18. The coupling device of claim 1, wherein said light source is infrared radiation.

19. The coupling device of claim 1, further comprising light regulating means, said light regulating means maintaining said light source at a desired constant temperature between 0 and 2000 degrees Kelvin, and consequent constant luminance.

20. The coupling device of claim 1, further comprising a diamond plate, said diamond plate being positioned between said diamond coupler and said light source.

21. The coupling device of claim 3, wherein said reflective surfaces of said passage means enable efficient transmission into the fiber of light rays traveling at angles greater than 58 degrees from the fiber axis by reflecting said light rays within said diamond coupler until it reaches said at least one optical fiber.

22. A light source to optical fiber coupling device comprising, in combination:

a light source for emitting light,

a diamond optical coupler, said diamond coupler being rod shaped, having a first end and a second end,

said diamond optical coupler having its first end proximate said light source and optically coupled with said light source to transmit light emitted from said light source;

at least one optical fiber, said at least one optical fiber having a first end proximate the second end of said diamond coupler, positioned so as to be optically coupled to said diamond coupler in order to receive light transmitted through said diamond optical coupler emitted by said light source.

23. The coupling device of claim 22 wherein:

the diamond optical coupler has a length of 1-20 mm.

24. The coupling device of claim 22 wherein:

the at least one optical fiber is in a fluid.

25. The coupling device of claim 22 wherein:

said at least one optical fiber is a chalcogenide fiber.

26. The coupling device of claim 22, wherein:

said light source is a broadband light source;

said light source and the first end of said diamond coupler are separated by a distance less than the shortest wavelength of light coupled into said at least one optical fiber.

27. The coupling device of claim 26, wherein:

said light source has a temperature of over 1100°

K.

28. The coupling device of claim 22, further comprising, in combination:

a chamber at least partially surrounded by a reflective wall;

a passage way, at least one end of which is said chamber, and the inner surface of which is reflective;

said light source and the first end of said diamond optical coupler being located in said chamber;

the second end of said diamond optical coupler and the first end of said at least one optical fiber being located in said passage way, such that light emitted by said light source entering the diamond optical coupler at an angle greater then the angle of total internal reflection of the diamond coupler is reflected from the inner surface of said passage way and coupled into said at least one optical fiber.

29. The coupling device of claim 28, further comprising, in combination:

said chamber comprising;

a pair of side housings, each of said pair of side housings having a plurality of sides,

a top housing, said top housing having a plurality of sides and formed of a thermally conductive material,

said pair of side housings adjacent to each other with said top housing above and an area in-between;

said chamber having reflective surfaces and defined by the area between said side housings and top housing;

said passage means extending through said top housing, and being coated with a reflective material;

at least a pair of retaining bars, said retaining bars being affixed within said chamber, said light source being retained within said chamber by said retaining bars;

said at least one optical fiber first end extending at least partially into said passage way proximate said diamond optical coupler.

30. The method of minimizing refraction loss in optical spectroscopy using a light source to optical fiber coupling device comprising, in combination:

light source means,

diamond coupler, said diamond coupler having a first end and a second end, said diamond coupler having its first end proximate to said light source and optical coupled with said light source,

at least one optical fiber, said at least one optical fiber having a first end proximate said second end of said diamond coupler and being in optical coupling relation with said diamond coupler,

said diamond coupler having a first end and a second end, said first end extending into a chamber and being proximate said light source and said second end extending into a passage way;

comprising the steps of

activating a power source and thereby causing light to emanate from a light source;

transmitting said generated light from said light source, through a diamond optical coupler to at least one optical fiber, thereby enabling efficient, simultaneous transmission into the optical fiber of light rays that travel within the fiber at angles ranging from 0 degrees to greater than 58 degrees from the fiber axis.

31. The method of claim 30, further comprising cooling said light source thereby maintaining it within predetermined temperature.

32. The method of minimizing refraction loss in optical spectroscopy comprising the steps of:

activating a power source and thereby causing light to emanate from a light source;

transmitting said generated light from said light source, through a diamond optical coupler to at least one optical fiber, thereby enabling efficient transmission into the optical fiber of light rays traveling at angles ranging greater than 58 degrees from the fiber axis, wherein said optical fiber has a plastic coating of from about 10 to about 400 micron thickness, further comprising the step of obtaining evanescent-wave absorption spectra of liquid containing samples in contact with said coated optical fiber.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein said diamond coupler is within a chamber, said chamber being, said chamber having reflective gold coated surfaces, and comprising reflecting light from said gold coated surfaces to said optical fiber.

34. The method of claim 32 wherein said liquid is water.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein said coating material is polytetrafluoroethylene.