US3977762A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical coupler
Assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1974-09-05
•
Granted: 1976-08-31
•
Expires: 1994-09-05
Abstract
Abstract An optical waveguide coupler made by integrated optical circuit techniques is employed to direct light from a document to be copied to a line of photosensors of a large scale integrated photosensor module. A plurality of optical waveguides are spaced widely along the document and closely along the photosensor array. Spaced channels are formed in a higher refractive index glass layer on a glass substrate. The higher index layer glass provides the plurality of optical waveguides separated by the channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl Peter Sandbank
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 07:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4249
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim
191 words
An optical waveguide coupler for transferring light from an object at one end to a light responsive element at an opposite end comprising: a glass substrate; a layer of glass on the surface of said substrate, said glass layer having a higher index of refraction than said substrate glass; a plurality of optical waveguides on said substrate, said waveguides formed from said high index glass and separated from each other by a series of channels etched through said glass layer and into said substrate, said channels providing a series of equi-spaced intervals, each of said waveguides immediate a pair of said intervals; said intervals at said opposite end of said coupler being spaced closer together than at said one end of said coupler to direct light from a surface area proximate said one end to a corresponding smaller surface at said opposite end; and a stepped channel formed at said one end of said coupler extending parallel to said one end and perpendicular to said waveguides, said stepped channel thereby separating the end of said waveguides proximate said one end from any object positioned at said one end of the coupler.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
191 words
An optical waveguide coupler for transferring light from an object at one end to a light responsive element at an opposite end comprising: a glass substrate; a layer of glass on the surface of said substrate, said glass layer having a higher index of refraction than said substrate glass; a plurality of optical waveguides on said substrate, said waveguides formed from said high index glass and separated from each other by a series of channels etched through said glass layer and into said substrate, said channels providing a series of equi-spaced intervals, each of said waveguides immediate a pair of said intervals; said intervals at said opposite end of said coupler being spaced closer together than at said one end of said coupler to direct light from a surface area proximate said one end to a corresponding smaller surface at said opposite end; and a stepped channel formed at said one end of said coupler extending parallel to said one end and perpendicular to said waveguides, said stepped channel thereby separating the end of said waveguides proximate said one end from any object positioned at said one end of the coupler.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3347649A
Cited
US3141105A
Cited
US3498864A
Cited
US3621138A
Cited
US3817730A
Cited
US3728521A
Cited
US3719462A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1979-08-31 | 1980-03-01 | 1980-08-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1983-08-31 | 1984-03-01 | 1984-08-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1987-08-31 | 1988-03-01 | 1988-08-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |