Light coupling and distribution system
View Patent ↗A light coupling and distribution system includes a plurality of light sources are used to generate light. The lighting system further has an optical fiber and a light coupler optically coupling the light sources to the fiber. The light coupler has a body and a plurality of lenslets corresponding to a respective light source. Each lenslet directs light through the body to the optical fiber.
1. A lighting system comprising:
a plurality of light sources each generating light;
an optical fiber; and
a light coupler optically coupling light from said light sources into said optical fiber, said coupler having a monolithic body having an in put end having a first length with a plurality of lenslets formed therein and an output end having a second length less than the first length and a plurality of angular side surfaces coupling the input end and the output end, each lenslet corresponding to a respective light source, each lenslet directing light through the monolithic body to said output end and into said optical fiber.
2. A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said body has sides with a predetermined angle with respect to a face of said optical fiber.
3. A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein the light sources comprise laser diodes.
4. A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein the light sources comprise a wafer having a plurality of laser cavities.
5. A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of lenslets have a wedge shape.
6. A lighting system as recited in claim 5 wherein said wedge shape has an angle directing light to a face of said optical fiber.
7. A lighting system as recited in claim 6 wherein said angle increases as a distance from a center emitter increases.
8. A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of lenslets collimated light in a first direction.
9. A lighting system as recited in claim 1 wherein said plurality of lenslets have a curved cross section.
10. A coupler for coupling light from a plurality of light emitters to an optical fiber comprising:
a monolithic body structure body having an input and having a first length having a plurality of lenslets formed therein corresponding to a respective light emitter and an output end having a second length less than the first length and a plurality of angular side surfaces coupling the input end and the output end, each lenslet directing light through the body toward said output end and into said optical fiber.
11. A coupler as recited in claim 10 wherein said body has sides with a predetermined angle with respect to a face of said optical fiber.
12. A coupler as recited in claim 11 wherein said predetermined angle allows substantially total internal reflection of said light within said body.
13. A coupler as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said lenslets have a wedge shape.
14. A coupler as recited in claim 13 said wedge shape has an angle directing light to a face of said optical fiber.
15. A coupler as recited in claim 14 wherein said angle increases as a distance from a center emitter increases.
16. A coupler as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said plurality of lenslets collimates light in a first direction.