US3920980A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Flexible light guide
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-07-18
•
Granted: 1975-11-18
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Expires: 1994-07-18
Abstract
Abstract A flexible light guide especially useful for guiding high power laser beams. The light guide in one form includes a light conducting fiber surrounded by a protective shielding with a liquid cladding in the area between the fiber and the shielding. Both ends of the fiber have an end surface and a tapered area of decreasing circumference joining each end surface with the fiber, the fiber being smaller in diameter than either end surface and the length of the tapered area at one end of the tapered area at the other end. The tapered areas of the fiber are each surrounded by tubes having an inner and an outer diameter. The end of at least one tube is fused to one end of one tube to guarantee perfect suspension of the fiber. The suspension reduces unwanted beam divergence caused by bending of the tapered area.
Inventors
- 👤 Gunther Nath
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 01:04
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/032; G02B6/44; G02B6/4401
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
84 words
A flexible light guide comprising, in combination: a single light-conducting fiber; a protective shielding containing at least a portion of said fiber; and a tube containing at least a portion of said fiber including one end of said fiber, said tube having an inner diameter and an outer diameter and made of the same material as said fiber, said one end of said fiber being fused to the end of said tube, said tube and said shielding collectively containing the entirety of said fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
84 words
A flexible light guide comprising, in combination: a single light-conducting fiber; a protective shielding containing at least a portion of said fiber; and a tube containing at least a portion of said fiber including one end of said fiber, said tube having an inner diameter and an outer diameter and made of the same material as said fiber, said one end of said fiber being fused to the end of said tube, said tube and said shielding collectively containing the entirety of said fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The light guide of claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of said tube decreases towards the end where said fiber is fused to said tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light guide of claim 1 wherein the inner diameter of said tube increases towards said end opposite said fusing point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
The light guide of claim 1 wherein said protective shielding is made from a polymer of fluorocarbon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The light guide of claim 4 wherein said proctective shielding is surrounded by a non-stretchable metal tubing and short rigid tubes fitted over said metal tubing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The light guide of claim 4 wherein the space between said protective shielding and said fiber is filled with a liquid.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The light guide of claim 4 wherein ring shaped spacers made of dielectric material are spaced along the length of said protective shielding on the inner surface thereof.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
15 words
The light guide of claim 7 wherein each said spacer has a convex inner surface.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
48 words
The light guide of claim 7 wherein the inner surface of each said spacer is coated with a layer of dielectric material and the space between said protective shielding and said fiber is filled with a liquid having approximately the same index of refraction as said dielectric material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
23 words
The light guide of claim 6 wherein said fiber is made from homogeneous pure quartz glass and said liquid is a hygroscopic liquid.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
The light guide of claim 10 wherein said hygroscopic liquid is ethylene glycol.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
39 words
The light guide of claim 10 wherein said fiber consists of a quartz glass capillary where said capillary and said liquid in the area between said protective shielding and said fiber consists of a mixture of Ccl4 and CS2.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
105 words
The light guide of claim 1 wherein said protective shielding is coaxially surrounded by a second protective shield, one end of said light guide including a liquid inlet to introduce liquid into the area between said fiber and said protective shielding, the other end of said light guide including a liquid passageway communicating between the area between said fiber and said protective shielding and the area between said protective shielding and said second protective shield, and an outlet at said one end communicating with the area between said protective shielding and said second protective shield to permit liquid to flow out of said light guide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The light guide of claim 1 wherein said tube coaxially interfits into a metal tube.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
46 words
The light guide of claim 1 wherein the end of said fiber fused to said tube is the light exit end of the light guide and the other end of said fiber is freely movable within a second tube shaped substantially the same as said tube.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
40 words
The light guide of claim 1 wherein said protective shielding is surrounded by a flexible metal tubing, said metal tubing including a steel wire fixed to the ends of said metal tubing to limit the dilation of said metal tubing.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-11-17 | 1979-05-19 | 1979-11-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-11-17 | 1983-05-19 | 1983-11-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-11-17 | 1987-05-19 | 1987-11-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |