EP0417857A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of manufacturing a fiber bundle composed of optical fibers
Assignee: Koninklijke Philips NV
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Filing: 1990-09-10
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2010-09-10
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber bundle for use in a device for scanning documents comprises optical fibers (10) which are substantially arranged along a line at the document side and which fill a plane at the side of an optical detector. To manufacture this bundle, the fibers (10) are firstly juxtaposed, subsequently slid together to the desired cross-section by means of one or two sliding members (21, 22) at the area of the second end face to be formed, whereafter the fibers are fixed and cut off. The two end faces are subsequently provided with elements (52, 71) for coupling in and out radiation. These elements are preferably secured by means of an adhesive whose refractive index is substantially the same as the refractive index of the core material of the fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Johannes Henricus De Bie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 23:42
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of manufacturing a fiber bundle composed of optical fiber which have a core and a cladding, said bundle having a first and a second end face, the fibers being firstly substantially juxtaposed and subsequently arranged, at the area of the second end face to be formed, to a bundle whose cross-section corresponds to a desired shape of the second end face, said fibers being finally brought to the desired length, characterized in that the desired cross-section at the area of the second end face to be formed is obtained by sliding the fibers together by means of at least one sliding member.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of manufacturing a fiber bundle composed of optical fiber which have a core and a cladding, said bundle having a first and a second end face, the fibers being firstly substantially juxtaposed and subsequently arranged, at the area of the second end face to be formed, to a bundle whose cross-section corresponds to a desired shape of the second end face, said fibers being finally brought to the desired length, characterized in that the desired cross-section at the area of the second end face to be formed is obtained by sliding the fibers together by means of at least one sliding member.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
61 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that the fibers are fed from storage means in a planar array, in that subsequently the desired cross-section is formed at the area of the second end face to be formed and in that finally the fibers fixed in this array are cut loose from the remaining fibers in the storage means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least two sliding members are used which are juxtaposed in the longitudinal direction of the fibers on both sides of the second end face to be formed.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the fibers are slid together in packets having the desired cross-section.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
54 words
A method as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that, prior to sliding the sliding members towards each other, the fibers are embraced by a plurality of finger pairs, each finger pair embracing a plurality of fibers, whereafter the finger pairs are rotated about a shaft which is aligned substantially parallel to the fibers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
53 words
A method as claimed in Claim 4, characterized in that a plurality of pins substantially perpendicular to the plane of the fibers is arranged in a fiber sheet to be formed and in that the fibers are pulled between the pins so that the fibers are arranged in a plurality of ordered packets.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that, after the fibers have been brought to the desired length, the second end face is provided with an optical system for coupling in light in said end face.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
44 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, characterized in that the second end face is provided with an optical system for imaging the second end face in an image plane at some distance from the second end face.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as claimed in Claim 7 or 8, characterized in that the respective optical system is provided on the second end face by means of a material whose refractive index substantially corresponds to the refractive index of the core material of the optical fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 or 9, characterized in that the fiber ends at the first end face are chamfered and in that subsequently the first end face is provided with a transparent plate.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as claimed in Claim 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10, characterized in that a transparent plate is secured to the first end face by means of a transparent adhesive which, after curing, has a refractive index which is substantially equal to the refractive index of the core material of the optical fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fiber bundle for use in a device for optically scanning documents, which bundle is manufactured by means of a method as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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