Patent US3864017A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3864017A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical fiber arc-to-line converter
Assignee: American Optical Corp
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Filing: 1973-05-31
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Granted: 1975-02-04
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Expires: 1993-05-31
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber array, which converts an arcuate image to a plane image with minimum of distortion, is provided by forming multifilament fibers into multiple fiber units which are bent, nested together and then trimmed to form an arcuate image plane on one side subtending the desired input arc and forming a flat, planar image plane on the other side of the array.
Inventors
- 👤 Henry B Cole
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:19
CPC Classifications
G; G03; G03B; G03B21/00; G03B21/54; G03B21/56; G03B21/60; G03B21/62; G03B21/625; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; H; H01; H01J; H01J29/00; H01J29/86; H01J29/89; H01J29/892
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
109 words
An arc-to-line converter compriSing a. An optical fiber array including at least mirror image subassemblies joined together along a plane; b. each said subassembly including a plurality of lengths of optical fibers bent at a predetermined angle and nested together; c. each said subassembly being secured to a mirror image subassembly with the legs of the angled fibers contacting along said plane; d. one edge of exposed optical fibers being formed into an arcuate plane generally transverse to the axes of said fibers; and e. the opposite edge of exposed optical fibers being formed into a straight plane generally transverse to the joining plane between said mirror image assemblies.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
109 words
An arc-to-line converter compriSing a. An optical fiber array including at least mirror image subassemblies joined together along a plane; b. each said subassembly including a plurality of lengths of optical fibers bent at a predetermined angle and nested together; c. each said subassembly being secured to a mirror image subassembly with the legs of the angled fibers contacting along said plane; d. one edge of exposed optical fibers being formed into an arcuate plane generally transverse to the axes of said fibers; and e. the opposite edge of exposed optical fibers being formed into a straight plane generally transverse to the joining plane between said mirror image assemblies.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein said array includes two subassemblies joined along a plane therebetween.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1, wherein each said subassembly includes a plurality of vertically and horizontally stacked optical fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein said fibers are stacked vertically of a height equal to the desired thickness of the converter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein two subassemblies are joined along a straight plane centrally of said subassemblies.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein the width of said arcuate plane is sufficient to intercept the desired subtended arc of a projected beam at a predetermined distance from a projector lens.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein said predetermined angle of bend of said lengths of optical fibers provides a minimum angle of input to the numerical aperture of said fibers and a minimum angle from normal to said straight plane.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein said angle of bend of said lengths of optical fibers permits said converter to intercept a subtended angle of up to about 40* with minimum distortion and local magnification.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein said arcuate plane has substantially the same radius of curvature as the lens of a projector which projects a beam to be subtended.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein the leg of each fiber at the arcuate plane is bent about 20* from a plane normal to the apex of the angle and the other leg is bent at about 12*.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
An arc-to-line converter according to claim 1 wherein said optical fibers are clad fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3210462A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-03 | 1978-08-05 | 1979-02-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-03 | 1982-08-05 | 1983-02-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-03 | 1986-08-05 | 1987-02-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |