Patent ID: 8355608
Filing Date: 2013-01-15
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a light-absorbing housing having a first end and a second end; an optical fiber having a core, a first cladding layer that surrounds the core, and a second cladding layer that has a lower index of refraction than the first cladding layer and that surrounds the first cladding layer, the optical fiber having a first portion held within the light-absorbing housing, wherein the first portion of the optical fiber extends from the first end to the second end of the light-absorbing housing, wherein the optical fiber does not have the second cladding layer on a subportion of the first portion of the optical fiber, wherein the subportion has a light-scattering exterior surface on the first cladding layer on an entire length of the subportion that extends from a first end of the subportion to a second end of the subportion, wherein the second cladding layer covers the first cladding layer immediately adjacent to the first end of the subportion, wherein the second cladding layer covers the first cladding layer immediately adjacent to the second end of the subportion, wherein the first portion has a continuous core and no splices between the first end and the second end of the light-absorbing housing, wherein the light-scattering exterior surface is configured to scatter light located in the first cladding layer away from the optical fiber, and wherein the light-absorbing housing absorbs the light scattered away from the optical fiber by the light-scattering exterior surface; a transparent enclosure, wherein the transparent enclosure includes an opening that extends from a first end of the transparent enclosure to a second end of the transparent enclosure, wherein the subportion of the first portion of the optical fiber is located within the transparent enclosure, and wherein the transparent enclosure is not a cladding layer on the optical fiber; and a first mechanism that holds the optical fiber in a fixed relationship to the transparent enclosure.