Optical fiber device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An optical device, comprising:
- an optical housing having a diffusive reflective inner surface and at least one opening into said housing for receiving pump light;
an optical fiber having a doped core at least partially contained within the optical housing; and
an optical source arranged at the opening of the optical housing to provide pump light to the optical housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An optical fiber amplifier or laser comprises an optical housing having a diffusive reflective inner surface and at least one opening for receiving pump light. An optical fiber having a doped core is at least partially contained within the optical housing. The optical fiber can be pumped by an optical source without the need for any complex or expensive optical couplers. Lateral illumination of the fiber core with pump light enables many fibers to be pumped by the same pump source, so that a separate dedicated coupler is no longer required to couple the pump light into each optical cable.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An optical device, comprising:
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an optical housing having a diffusive reflective inner surface and at least one opening into said housing for receiving pump light;
an optical fiber having a doped core at least partially contained within the optical housing; and
an optical source arranged at the opening of the optical housing to provide pump light to the optical housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12)
an optical source is arranged at the opening of the optical housing to provide pump light to the optical housing, and wherein the optical fiber includes a first reflector arranged at a first position along the optical fiber and a second reflector arranged at a second position along the optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber between the first and second reflectors defines a lasing cavity, and wherein at least part of the lasing cavity is contained within the optical housing, the second reflector being a partial reflector to allow a laser output from the optical fiber.
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11. A method of amplifying a signal propagating in an optical fiber, at least part of the optical fiber being contained within an optical housing, the optical housing defining a volume having a diffusive reflective inner surface and having an opening into said volume, the method comprising the step of:
providing pump light from an optical source located at said opening into said optical housing, the pump light reflecting off the diffusive reflective inner surface and substantially uniformly illuminating the volume thereby pumping the optical fiber, to amplify the optical signal.
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13. A method of providing a pump signal to an optical fiber, at least part of the optical fiber being contained within an optical housing, the optical housing defining a volume having a diffusive reflective inner surface and having an opening into said volume, the method comprising the steps of:
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providing pump light from an optical source located at said opening into said optical housing;
reflecting the pump light off the diffusive reflective inner surface and substantially uniformly illuminating the volume;
pumping the optical fiber with the substantially uniform illumination. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification