Multi-channel optical transmission system

Claim 1

A multi-channel electromagnetic radiation transmission system characterized in that it comprises a plurality of first cladded optical fibers 1 each having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being adapted to receive radiation from a source and said distal end having an exposed tip 2 which substantially contacts an exposed intermediate portion 4 of a second cladded optical fiber 5 having a proximal end and a distal end, the contact between said tip and said second optical fiber forming a radiation-transmissible junction J which is encased in an opaque, radiation reflective jacket 6, said second cladded optical fiber being either a single fiber having a plurality of said junctions corresponding to the number of first optical fibers located sequentially along its length or one of a plurality of fibers each having at least one of said junctions, wherein the total number of said junctions corresponds to the number of first optical fibers, the proximal end of said single second optical fiber or of each of said plurality of second optical fibers being adapted to be attached to a radiation measuring, trans­ducing, recording or retransmitting component 10 and the distal end thereof being attached to a radiation sensi­tive component 9.

Claim 6

A system according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said first and second optical fibers are made of fused silica, the cladding is made of silicone, and said jacket encasing each of said junctions comprises an inner layer and an outer layer, said inner layer being made of a metal foil or a metalized film whose inner surface is coated with a film of reflective material and said outer layer being made of a heat-shrinkable, opaque, non-metallic material.

Claim 11

A method for selectively determining a plu­rality of parameters each of which is a function of the output radiation of a radiation sensitive component, which comprises transmitting electromagnetic radiation from a source into a system comprising a plurality of first cladded optical fibers each having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being adapted to receive said radiation and said distal end having an exposed tip which substantially contacts an exposed intermediate portion of a second cladded optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the contact between said tip and said second optical fiber forming a radiation-transmissible junction which is encased in an opaque, radiation reflective jacket, said second cladded optical fiber being either a signal fiber having a plurality of said junctions corresponding to the number of first optical fibers located sequentially along its length or one or a plurality of fibers each having at least one of said junctions, wherein the total number of said junctions corresponds to the number of first optical fibers, said source radiation entering the system through the proximal end of each of said plurality of first optical fibers, passing along each of said first optical fibers and through each of said junctions into said second optical fiber towards the distal end thereof, a major portion of any radiation not passing directly into said second optical fiber being internally reflected thereinto by its associated reflective jacket, impinging upon said radiation sensitive component attached to the distal end of said second optical fiber, causing said component to emit a signal having at least one characteristic dependent upon at least one of the parameters to be determined, and said signal passing substantially unattenuated through said second optical fiber toward the proximal end thereof whereby the desired determination is made with the aid of a radiation detector attached to the proximal end of said second optical fiber.

Claim 12

A method for selectively determining a plu­rality of parameters each of which is a function of the output radiation of a radiation sensitive component, which comprises transmitting electromagnetic radiation from a source into a system comprising a plurality of first cladded optical fibers each having a proximal end and a distal end, said proximal end being adapted to receive said radiation and said distal end having an exposed tip which substantially contacts an exposed intermediate portion of a second cladded optical fiber having a proximal end and a distal end, the contact between said tip and said second optical fiber forming a radiation-transmissible junction which is encased in an opaque, radiation reflective jacket, said second cladded optical fiber being either a signal fiber having a plurality of said junctions corresponding to the number of first optical fibers located sequentially along its length or one or a plurality of fibers each having at least one of said junctions, wherein the total number of said junctions corresponds to the number of first optical fibers, said source radiation entering the system through the proximal end of each of said plurality of first optical fibers, passing along each of said first optical fibers and through each of said junctions into said second optical fiber towards the distal end thereof, a major portion of any radiation not passing directly into said second optical fiber being internally reflected thereinto by its associated reflective jacket, impinging upon said radiation sensitive component attached to the distal end of said second optical fiber, causing said component to emit a signal having at least one characteristic dependent upon at least one of the parameters to be determined, and said signal passing substantially unattenuated through said second optical fiber toward the proximal end thereof whereby the desired determination is made with the aid of a radiation detector attached to the proximal end of said second optical fiber.