Optical fiber illumination systems and methods
First Claim
1. A light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, said fiber comprising:
- (i) a glass core, comprising(a) a region with a plurality of nano-sized structures within said core configured to scatter guided light via said nano-sized structures towards the outer surface, such that said light diffusing optical fiber has a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km at illumination wavelength; and
(b) a solid glass region surrounding said region with a plurality of nano-sized structures having a higher refractive index delta than the region with a plurality of nano-sized structures; and
(ii) a low index cladding surrounding said core, said cladding having a lower refractive index delta than said solid glass region.
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Abstract
An illumination system generating light having at least one wavelength within 200 nm a plurality of nano-sized structures (e.g., voids). The optical fiber coupled to the light source. The light diffusing optical fiber has a core and a cladding. The plurality of nano-sized structures is situated either within said core or at a core-cladding boundary. The optical fiber also includes an outer surface. The optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light via the nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, to form a light-source fiber portion having a length that emits substantially uniform radiation over its length, said fiber having a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength(s) within 200 nm to 2000 nm range.
86 Citations
32 Claims
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1. A light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, said fiber comprising:
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(i) a glass core, comprising (a) a region with a plurality of nano-sized structures within said core configured to scatter guided light via said nano-sized structures towards the outer surface, such that said light diffusing optical fiber has a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km at illumination wavelength; and (b) a solid glass region surrounding said region with a plurality of nano-sized structures having a higher refractive index delta than the region with a plurality of nano-sized structures; and (ii) a low index cladding surrounding said core, said cladding having a lower refractive index delta than said solid glass region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. The light diffusing optical fiber comprising:
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a core, a cladding, and a plurality of nano-sized structures situated within said core or at a core-cladding boundary, said optical fiber further including an outer surface and is configured to (i) scatter guided light via said nano-sized structures away from the core and through the outer surface, (ii) have a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km at illumination wavelength; and said fiber including at least one coating such that either said cladding or said at least one coating includes phosphor or pigments, wherein said nano-sized structures are situated within one region of said core, and said core further comprises a second region without the microstructures adjacent and surrounding the region that comprises nano-sized structures;
said fiber further comprising a low index polymer cladding surrounding said second region; and
said at least one coating is a polymer coating surrounding said cladding, said polymer coating having a higher refractive index than said a low index polymer cladding.- View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. A light diffusing optical fiber having an outer surface, said fiber comprising:
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(i) a glass core, comprising (a) a region with a plurality of nano-sized structures configured to scatter guided light via said nano-sized structures away from the core and towards the outer surface, such that said light diffusing optical fiber has a scattering-induced attenuation greater than 200 dB/km at illumination wavelength; and (b) a solid glass region surrounding said region with a plurality of nano-sized structures having a higher refractive index delta than the region with a plurality of nano-sized structures; and (ii) a low index cladding surrounding said core, said cladding having a lower refractive index delta than said solid glass region and is negative relative to silica; (iii) a coating surrounding said cladding; wherein said coating or cladding includes phosphorus. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification