LIGHT DIFFUSING FIBERS WITH INTEGRATED MODE SHAPING LENSES

摘要

A method including the steps of providing a light-diffusing optical fiber (12a) having a glass core (20), a cladding (40) surrounding the core (20), and a plurality of nano-sized structures in the form of voids (32) situated within said core (20) or at a core-cladding boundary; cleaving the light-diffusing fiber (12a), thereby forming a cleaved end face (66); and applying energy to one or more of 1) the cleaved end face (66) and 2) the light-diffusing fiber (12b) along a portion of the length thereof adjacent the cleaved end face (66), the amount of energy being sufficient to collapse and seal the voids (32) exposed at the cleaved end face (66), leaving a sealed cleaved end face (68). A lens may then be attached to the sealed cleaved end face (68), or the sealed cleaved end face (68) may be softened sufficiently to induce formation of a lensing surface such as a convex lensing surface (60) on the sealed end face (68).

主权项

1. A method of providing a light-diffusing fiber having a core and a cladding with a core-cladding boundary therebetween and plurality of nano-sized structures situated within said core or at the core-cladding boundary and further having a lens integrated with said fiber, the method comprising:
providing a light-diffusing optical fiber having a glass core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a plurality of nano-sized structures in the form of voids situated within said core or at a core-cladding boundary; cleaving the light-diffusing fiber, thereby forming a cleaved end face; and applying energy to one or more of 1) the cleaved end face and 2) the light-diffusing fiber along a portion of the length thereof adjacent the cleaved end face, the amount of energy being sufficient to collapse and seal the voids exposed at the cleaved end face, leaving a sealed cleaved end face.