Method and apparatus related to a side-fire member having a doped silica component
First Claim
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
- an optical fiber including a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber, wherein the surface defines a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis;
a doped silica cap, the doped silica cap being fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber is disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap; and
a metallic cap coupled to the doped silica cap, wherein the metallic cap includes an inner surface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation incident on the inner surface of the metallic cap into the cavity defined by the doped silica cap.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, an apparatus may include an optical fiber that may have a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber. The surface may define a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis. The apparatus may also include a doped silica cap that may be fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber may be disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber including a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber, wherein the surface defines a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis; a doped silica cap, the doped silica cap being fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber is disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap; and a metallic cap coupled to the doped silica cap, wherein the metallic cap includes an inner surface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation incident on the inner surface of the metallic cap into the cavity defined by the doped silica cap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method, comprising:
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receiving an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber; moving a doped silica component over the surface of the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber is disposed within a bore; heating the doped silica component and the optical fiber such that at least a portion of an inner surface of the doped silica component defined by the bore may be fused to at least a portion of an outer surface of the optical fiber; and moving an outer cap over the doped silica component, wherein the outer cap is substantially opaque to laser energy transmitted from the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus, comprising:
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a doped silica cap; a distal end portion of an optical fiber that includes a surface disposed within the doped silica cap, wherein the surface defines at least a portion of an interface configured to redirect laser energy from a first portion of an optical path to a second portion of the optical path non-parallel to the first portion of the optical path, and wherein the second portion of the optical path intersects an outer surface of the doped silica cap; and an outer cap disposed over at least a portion of the doped silica cap, wherein the outer cap is substantially opaque to laser energy. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. An apparatus, comprising:
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an optical fiber including a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber, wherein the surface defines a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the optical fiber and incident on the interface to a direction offset from the longitudinal axis; a doped silica cap, the doped silica cap being fused to the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber is disposed within a cavity defined by the doped silica cap; and a metallic cap coupled to the doped silica cap, wherein the metallic cap includes an opening aligned with the direction such that the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted through the opening.
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18. A method, comprising:
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receiving an optical fiber, the optical fiber including a surface non-normal to a longitudinal axis of a distal end portion of the optical fiber, wherein the surface of the optical fiber defines a portion of an interface configured to redirect electromagnetic radiation propagated from within the silica-based optical fiber and incident on the interface to a lateral direction offset from the longitudinal axis; moving a doped silica component over the surface of the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber is disposed within a bore; heating the doped silica component and the optical fiber such that at least a portion of an inner surface of the doped silica component defined by the bore may be fused to at least a portion of an outer surface of the optical fiber; and moving an outer cap over the doped silica component such that an opening defined by the outer cap is aligned with the lateral direction.
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19. An apparatus, comprising:
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a doped silica cap; a distal end portion of an optical fiber that includes a surface disposed within the doped silica cap, wherein the surface defines at least a portion of an interface configured to redirect laser energy from a first portion of an optical path to a second portion of the optical path non-parallel to the first portion of the optical path, and wherein the second portion of the optical path intersects an outer surface of the doped silica cap; and a metallic cap disposed over at least a portion of the doped silica cap, wherein the second portion of the optical path may intersect an opening of the metallic cap. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification