Patent ID: 7263259
Filing Date: 2007-08-28
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A multiple source array comprising: a guided-wave structure in which one or more guided-wave modes are excited during operation, said guided-wave structure including a dielectric core and a cladding covering and defining a boundary of the dielectric core; and an array of dielectric-filled, guided-wave cavities in the cladding beginning at said boundary and extending transversely from the dielectric core and forming an array of apertures through which optical energy that is introduced into the core exits from the core, each cavity of the array of cavities having one or more transmission modes that during operation couple to the one or more guided-wave modes of the guided-wave structure thereby causing said optical energy to exit from the core through each aperture of the array of apertures, wherein the array of dielectric-filled cavities is a two dimensional array.