US3760297A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Laser to optical fiber coupling
Assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
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Filing: 1972-01-20
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Granted: 1973-09-18
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Expires: 1992-01-20
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber is coupled along an edge of a rectangular GaAs injection laser. A circulatory mode of light reflection is established between the four side walls of the laser at an angle of incidence which provides a narrow rectangular strip of light. The fiber is positioned transversely at one reflection point or corner of the light path. A narrow rectangular metal strip contact on one face of the laser confines current to the desired path. A reflective coating on an end of the fiber may provide a unidirectional optical source. Other variations include an optical amplifier for a light input source and an optical coupler from an input fiber to an output fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 G Thompson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 01:09
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01S; H01S5/00; H01S5/10; H01S5/1071; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4206; G02B6/4287; H01S5/02; H01S5/026
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
121 words
An optical coupling arrangement comprising a semiconductor laser having two opposite rectangular faces and four adjoining reflecting side walls, a P-N junction region extending parallel to said faces and having edges along said side walls, said laser being adapted to lase within said junction in a circulatory mode between said side walls, light reflection within said junction being at an angle of incidence with each wall to provide a narrow strip of light having a corner reflection point on each side wall, and an elongated optical fiber having a side attached along one side wall of the laser junction region such that a portion of the length of the fiber is optically coupled with one reflection point of said circulatory mode.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
121 words
An optical coupling arrangement comprising a semiconductor laser having two opposite rectangular faces and four adjoining reflecting side walls, a P-N junction region extending parallel to said faces and having edges along said side walls, said laser being adapted to lase within said junction in a circulatory mode between said side walls, light reflection within said junction being at an angle of incidence with each wall to provide a narrow strip of light having a corner reflection point on each side wall, and an elongated optical fiber having a side attached along one side wall of the laser junction region such that a portion of the length of the fiber is optically coupled with one reflection point of said circulatory mode.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
39 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said optical fiber includes an outer tubular cladding about an inner cylindrical core, a length of said core being in line and optically coupled with the p-n junction of the laser.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 2 including means for confining current across said p-n junction to within an area corresponding to said narrow strip of light to enable said circulatory mode to be preferentially excited.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 3 wherein said means comprises a narrow metallic contact strip on one face having a shape conforming to said narrow strip of light within said p-n junction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein the p-n junction of the laser lies in a layer of gallium arsenide.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 5 wherein the laser includes an inner junction layer of GaAs and respective layers of GaA1As on opposite sides of said inner layer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein a refractive index matching interference layer is interposed between the core and the adjacent edge of the laser, said layer extending along only that portion of the edge at which the laser radiation is incident.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 7 wherein said interference layer is a three-quarter wavelength layer.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 4 wherein said metallic strip is in the shape of a parallelogram having four corners centered along respective side walls at said junction, the remainder of said face having a cover layer of silica.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
39 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein the circulatory mode is such that the radiation propagating in the laser in said mode completes a closed path after making exactly one reflection in each of the four side walls.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said laser side wall is coupled to a portion of said cladding of lower refractive index than the core and the circulatory mode makes an excursion into said portion being reflected therein at near grazing incidence.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 11 wherein said lower refractive index portion is a length of optical fiber sectioned along it axis through a diameter and the reflection therein is at the curved interface between the inner core and outer cladding.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 12 wherein an anti-reflection interference layer is interposed between said portion of lower refractive index and the remainder of the laser.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 wherein said optical fiber includes a reflectivE coating at one end.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arrangement as claimed in claim 9 including a second optical fiber coupled to said laser along an opposite side wall.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-09-17 | 1977-03-19 | 1977-09-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-09-17 | 1981-03-19 | 1981-09-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-09-17 | 1985-03-19 | 1985-09-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |