Methods and apparatus related to a side-fire member having a doped silica component
First Claim
Patent Images
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 in a direction offset from the longitudinal axis;
an intermediate cap fused to an outer-layer portion of the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber is disposed within a cavity defined by the intermediate cap, wherein the intermediate cap is a fluorine-doped silica cap, and the fluorine doped silica cap includes a concentration of fluorine greater than a concentration of fluorine of the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber; and
an outer cap coupled to the intermediate cap, wherein the outer cap includes an opening aligned with the direction such that the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted through the opening.
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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.
35 Citations
16 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 in a direction offset from the longitudinal axis; an intermediate cap fused to an outer-layer portion of the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber is disposed within a cavity defined by the intermediate cap, wherein the intermediate cap is a fluorine-doped silica cap, and the fluorine doped silica cap includes a concentration of fluorine greater than a concentration of fluorine of the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber; and an outer cap coupled to the intermediate cap, wherein the outer cap includes an opening aligned with the direction such that the electromagnetic radiation is transmitted through the opening. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. 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 an intermediate component over the surface of the optical fiber such that the surface of the optical fiber is disposed within a bore; heating the intermediate component and the optical fiber such that at least a portion of an inner surface of the intermediate component defined by the bore may be fused to at least an outer-layer portion of the optical fiber, wherein the intermediate component is a fluorine-doped silica cap, and the fluorine doped silica cap includes a concentration of fluorine greater than a concentration of fluorine of the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber; and moving an outer cap over the intermediate component, wherein the outer cap is substantially opaque to laser energy transmitted from the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus, comprising:
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a fluorine-doped silica cap; and a distal end portion of an optical fiber that includes a surface disposed within the doped silica cap, wherein the fluorine-doped silica cap is coupled to an outer-layer portion of the optical fiber, and the fluorine-doped silica cap includes a concentration of fluorine greater than a concentration of fluorine of the outer-layer portion of the optical fiber; 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 fluorine-doped silica cap; and an outer cap disposed over at least a portion of the fluorine-doped silica cap, wherein the outer cap is substantially opaque to laser energy. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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Specification