Patent ID: 7181117

Claim:
An optical fiber system comprising: an optical fiber having a doped core and a first cladding about the doped core, the optical fiber having a first longitudinal portion and a second longitudinal portion, the optical fiber being arranged such that the first longitudinal portion and the second longitudinal portion are longitudinally side by side with a portion of the first cladding of the first longitudinal portion being adjacent to a portion of the first cladding of the second longitudinal portion such that light propagating in the first cladding can move laterally from the first longitudinal portion to the second longitudinal portion to increase the amount of light reaching the doped core, the optical fiber adapted to be coupled to a power input to receive a light input and having an output end for outputting light emitted by the doped core; and a second fractional cladding about the first cladding to conceal light in the first cladding.