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-in- duced attenuation greater than 50 dB/km for the wavelength(s) within 200 nm to 2000 nm range.
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Citations
44 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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33. A light diffusing optical fiber, extending along a length, comprising:
a core, a low index cladding surrounding the core, and a plurality of nano- sized structures located adjacent to a core-cladding boundary, wherein said core has at least one region without said nano-sized microstructures adjacent to said core-cladding boundary, said light diffusing optical fiber having; (a) an outer surface, wherein the light diffusing optical fiber is configured to scatter guided light, via said plurality of nano-sized structures, away from the core and through the outer surface, wherein said fiber is configured to be capable of guiding said light such that radiation out of said outer surface is substantially uniform over the length of the fiber such that there is a difference between minimum and maximum scattering illumination intensity that is less than 50% of the maximum scattering illumination intensity; (b) a scattering-induced attenuation, over its length, of greater than 50 dB/km at an illumination wavelength; and (c) at least one polymer coating surrounding said low index cladding, said polymer coating having a higher refractive index than said low index cladding, wherein either said low index cladding or said at least one coating includes a phosphor. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
Specification