Patent ID: 7400794
Filing Date: 2008-07-15
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. Apparatus comprising: an optical fiber assembly, including an optical fiber, a transparent end-cap, and a concave reflector; the optical fiber has a core surrounded by a cladding in optical contact therewith, the cladding having a diameter; the transparent end-cap has a diameter greater than the cladding diameter of the optical fiber, and has first and second opposite ends, the first end of the end-cap being attached to an end of the optical fiber, and the second end of the end-cap being free, such that radiation can be directed into the attached end of the optical fiber via the second end of the end-cap, with a portion of the optical fiber behind the second end of the end-cap being roughened such that radiation directed into the optical fiber and propagating in the cladding escapes the cladding; and a concave reflector having an open output-end and a vertex-end surrounding the roughened portion of the optical fiber with the output end of the reflector directed toward the attached end of the optical fiber and having a diameter greater than the diameter of the end-cap, the reflector being arranged with respect to the roughened portion of the fiber such that the radiation escaping the cladding is reflected out of the output end of the reflector away from the fiber assembly.