Annular side fire optical device for laterally redirecting electromagnetic radiation
First Claim
1. An annular side fire optical device for laterally redirecting electromagnetic radiation, the device comprising:
- a tapered section of silica having a diameter that increases with distance along a longitudinal axis in a direction toward a transmitting end;
a conical section of silica adjoining the tapered section of silica and comprising a wall of silica having an interior surface surrounding a conical bore, the conical bore having a diameter that increases with distance along the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the transmitting end; and
an annular beveled end surface formed in the wall of silica at the transmitting end, wherein the beveled end surface is angled relative to the longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation propagating along the longitudinal axis through the conical section is reflected by the beveled end surface at an angle that is transverse to the longitudinal axis;
wherein;
the interior surface of the conical bore is at a first angle to the longitudinal axis;
the beveled end surface is angled at a second angle to the longitudinal axis; and
the first and second angles are different.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An annular side fire optical device for laterally redirecting electromagnetic radiation comprises a tapered section of silica, a conical section of silica adjoining the tapered section and an annular beveled end surface. The tapered section of silica has a diameter that increases with distance along a longitudinal axis in a direction toward a transmitting end. The conical section of silica comprises a wall of silica surrounding a conical bore. The conical bore has a diameter that increases with distance along the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the transmitting end. The annular beveled end surface is formed in the wall of silica at the transmitting end and is angled relative the longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation propagating along the longitudinal axis through the conical section is reflected by the beveled end surface at an angle that is transverse to the longitudinal axis.
75 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An annular side fire optical device for laterally redirecting electromagnetic radiation, the device comprising:
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a tapered section of silica having a diameter that increases with distance along a longitudinal axis in a direction toward a transmitting end; a conical section of silica adjoining the tapered section of silica and comprising a wall of silica having an interior surface surrounding a conical bore, the conical bore having a diameter that increases with distance along the longitudinal axis in a direction toward the transmitting end; and an annular beveled end surface formed in the wall of silica at the transmitting end, wherein the beveled end surface is angled relative to the longitudinal axis such that electromagnetic radiation propagating along the longitudinal axis through the conical section is reflected by the beveled end surface at an angle that is transverse to the longitudinal axis; wherein; the interior surface of the conical bore is at a first angle to the longitudinal axis; the beveled end surface is angled at a second angle to the longitudinal axis; and the first and second angles are different. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of forming an annular side fire optical device for laterally redirecting electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising:
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providing a section of silica tubing having a bore, a longitudinal axis, a receiving end and a transmitting end; forming an annular beveled end surface having a first angle to the longitudinal axis in the transmitting end of the silica tubing; heating a portion of the tubing adjacent the receiving end; transforming the heated portion of the silica tubing into a tapered section and a conical section that adjoins the tapered section, wherein; the tapered section comprises a length of solid silica having a diameter that increases with distance traveled along the longitudinal axis in the direction from the receiving end to the transmitting end; the conical section comprises a wall of silica surrounding a conical bore having a diameter that increases with distance traveled along the longitudinal axis in the direction from the tapered section to the transmitting end; and an interior surface of the conical bore is at a second angle to the longitudinal axis that is different from the first angle. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of forming an annular side fire optical device for laterally redirecting electromagnetic radiation, the method comprising:
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providing a section of silica tubing having a bore, a longitudinal axis, a receiving end and a transmitting end; forming an annular beveled end surface in the transmitting end of the silica tubing; heating a portion of the tubing adjacent the receiving end; transforming the heated portion of the silica tubing into a tapered section and a conical section that adjoins the tapered section comprising collapsing the heated portion of the silica tubing in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis and stretching the heated portion of the silica tubing in an axial direction corresponding to the longitudinal axis, wherein; the tapered section comprises a length of solid silica having a diameter that increases with distance traveled along the longitudinal axis in the direction from the receiving end to the transmitting end; and the conical section comprises a wall of silica surrounding a conical bore having a diameter that increases with distance traveled along the longitudinal axis in the direction from the tapered section to the transmitting end. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification