Optical coupling system having an optical coupler and a light-transmissive external medium and also production and use of such a system

摘要

An optical coupling system having an optical coupler and a light-transmissive external medium, the optical coupler comprising a light guide which extends parallel to a main plane of the optical coupler, a mirror surface which is inclined relative to the main plane by an angle of inclination and an outer surface of the coupler which abuts on the medium, the waveguide.

主权项

1. An optical coupling system comprising:
an optical coupler and a light-transmissive external medium, the optical coupler comprising a light guide which extends parallel to a main plane of the optical coupler, a mirror surface which is inclined relative to the main plane by an angle of inclination and an outer surface of the coupler which borders the medium, the light guide, the mirror surface and the outer surface of the coupler being orientated such that a light beam emerging from the light guide is reflected on the mirror surface and, at a coupling angle defined relative to the main plane, exits through the outer surface from the coupler into the external medium or in that, at the coupling angle, it enters through the outer surface from the external medium into the coupler, is reflected on the mirror surface and subsequently is coupled into the light guide, wherein between the mirror surface and the outer surface of the coupler, a light-transmissive layer with an optical refractive index is disposed such that the light beam is refracted and deflected at at least one of the outer interfaces of the light-transmissive layer, the angle of inclination and the optical refractive index, being chosen as a function of an optical refractive index of the external medium such that the coupling angle is in a range between 88° and 92°, wherein the at least one of the outer interfaces of the light transmissive layer at which the light beam is refracted and deflected is orientated parallel to the mirror surface.