Patent ID: 6778585
Filing Date: 2004-08-17
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A laser module comprising:a laser device; a photodetector; an optical fiber having a core and a cladding, said core having an index of refraction n1, said cladding having an index of refraction n2, wherein n1 is greater than n2; a coating disposed on the cladding adjacent to a terminal end of said optical fiber, said coating having an index of refraction n3 wherein n3 is greater than n2; means for coupling light from said laser device into said core of said optical fiber; a refracted ray coupler having a coupling surface configured to engage at least a portion of an outer circumferential surface of said coating disposed on said optical fiber, and further having a surface opposite said photodetector, said refracted ray coupler comprising an optically transmissive material having an index of refraction n4, wherein n4 is greater than n3, said refracted ray coupler providing an optical path from said outer circumferential surface of said fiber to said photodetector, said indices of refraction of said core, said cladding, said coating and said coupler cooperating to return a portion of said light from said fiber back to said photodetector by moans of refracted ray coupling.