Apparatus and Methods for Accommodating Loops of Optical Fiber

Abstract

Disclosed is an optical apparatus ( 10, 110, 410, 610 ) for accommodating optical fiber, such as one or more loops of optical fiber. The optical apparatus ( 10, 110, 410, 610 ) can include a body ( 12, 112, 412, 612 ) comprising an inwardly facing surface ( 16, 116, 416, 616 ) adapted for receiving a plurality of loops of a length of optical fiber. The body ( 16, 116, 416, 616 ) can include at least a portion ( 75 ) wherein the inwardly facing surface is continuous between two adjacent loops ( 79 ). Methods and apparatus are disclosed for disposing the optical fiber with an optical apparatus ( 10, 110, 410, 610 ) for accommodating the optical fiber.

1 . An optical apparatus for accommodating optical fiber, comprising:
 a length of optical fiber comprising a rare earth for absorbing optical energy provided to the length of optical fiber;   a body comprising an inwardly facing surface; and   wherein said length of optical fiber comprises at least one loop comprising said rare earth and wherein at least a majority of the length of the loop is received by the inwardly facing surface.   
   
   
       2 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said length of optical fiber does not include any loops comprising said rare earth and received by said inwardly facing surface that are superposed by other loops of said length that also comprise said rare earth. 
   
   
       3 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said length of optical fiber comprises a loop comprising said rare earth and superposing said at least one loop having at least a majority of its length received by said inwardly facing surface. 
   
   
       4 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one loop comprises a plurality of loops, said plurality of loops forming a helix. 
   
   
       5 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one loop comprises a plurality of loops that are substantially coaxial. 
   
   
       6 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one loop comprises a non-circular shape. 
   
   
       7 . The optical apparatus of  claim 6  wherein said at least one loop comprises an oval shape. 
   
   
       8 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said at least one loop is surrounded and contacted by material. 
   
   
       9 . The optical apparatus of  claim 1  wherein said apparatus when viewed in cross section comprises a passage having a completely closed perimeter, said passage for housing said at least one loop of said length of optical fiber. 
   
   
       10 . The optical apparatus of  claim 9  comprising at least one passageway for a section of said length of optical fiber to pass to said at least one loop. 
   
   
       11 . The optical apparatus of  claim 9  wherein said at least one loop is surrounded and contacted by material. 
   
   
       12 . The optical apparatus of  claim 11  comprising at least one passageway for a section of said length of optical fiber to pass from said at least one loop. 
   
   
       13 . The optical apparatus of  claim 12  wherein said passageway for said section of said length of optical fiber to pass from said at least one loop is arranged such that said section of optical fiber from said loop enters said passageway substantially along a tangent to said at least one loop. 
   
   
       14 . The optical apparatus of  claim 13  wherein said length of optical fiber is normally multimode at a selected wavelength and wherein said at least one loop is shaped such that higher order modes are attenuated substantially more than a fundamental mode of said length of optical fiber. 
   
   
       15 . An optical apparatus for accommodating optical fiber, comprising:
 a length of optical fiber comprising a rare earth for absorbing optical energy provided to the length of optical fiber;   said length of optical fiber comprising a plurality of loops forming a helix;   said apparatus when viewed in cross section comprising a plurality of passages having a completely closed perimeter, said plurality of passages housing said plurality of loops of said length of optical fiber.