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US4142774A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Flexible optical transducer

Assignee: International Standard Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1977-06-10
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Granted: 1979-03-06
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Expires: 1997-06-10
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Abstract

Abstract An optical transducer is provided that has a flexible transducer member having a set of grooves in one of its major surfaces. Flexure of the transducer member produces a strain pattern that extends across an optical waveguide in the member. This strain pattern has a pitch that will diffract light of a suitable wavelength propagating in the optical waveguide.

Inventors

  • 👤 Stephen Wright

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 01:02
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B11/00; G01B11/16; G01L; G01L1/00; G01L1/24; G01L1/242; G01L1/243; G02; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/0128; G02F1/0131; G02F1/0134; G02F1/29; G02F1/295; G02F2201/00; G02F2201/30

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim 97 words
A flexible transducer comprising: a flexible substrate having a major surface, said substrate of transparent material having a first index of refraction; an optical waveguide of flexible material extending through said substrate, said waveguide having a higher index of refraction than said first index of refraction; and a set of grooves in said major surface, said grooves overlying and transverse to said waveguide, said grooves having a selected pitch such that flexure of said transducer produces a periodic strain pattern extending across said waveguide whereby light of a suitable wavelength propagating through said waveguide is diffracted therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 97 words
A flexible transducer comprising: a flexible substrate having a major surface, said substrate of transparent material having a first index of refraction; an optical waveguide of flexible material extending through said substrate, said waveguide having a higher index of refraction than said first index of refraction; and a set of grooves in said major surface, said grooves overlying and transverse to said waveguide, said grooves having a selected pitch such that flexure of said transducer produces a periodic strain pattern extending across said waveguide whereby light of a suitable wavelength propagating through said waveguide is diffracted therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 26 words
The flexible transducer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said grooves extend in said substrate to a depth just above the top of said waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 20 words
The flexible transducer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said grooves are longer than the width of said waveguide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 21 words
The flexible transducer as set forth in claim 3, wherein said grooves extend across the entire major surface of said substrate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 16 words
The flexible transducer as set forth in claim 1, wherein said grooves are semi-circular in cross-section.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 11 words
A microphone incorporating a transducer as set forth in claim 1.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 12 words
A strain sensor incorporating a transducer as set forth in claim 1.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 12 words
A pressure sensor incoporating a transducer as set forth in claim 1.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 111 words
A flexible optical transducer comprising: a flexible substrate having a major surface, said substrate of transparent material having a first index of refraction; an optical waveguide of flexible material extending through said substrate, said waveguide having a higher index of refraction than said first index of refraction; and a set of grooves in said major surface extending inward therefrom, said grooves overlying and transverse to said waveguide, said grooves having a selected pitch such that flexure of said substrate produces a periodic strain pattern extending across said waveguide, said periodic strain pattern thereby producing a longitudinal phase grating, whereby said grating diffracts light of a suitable wavelength propagating through said waveguide.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 111 words
A flexible optical transducer comprising: a flexible substrate having a major surface, said substrate of transparent material having a first index of refraction; an optical waveguide of flexible material extending through said substrate, said waveguide having a higher index of refraction than said first index of refraction; and a set of grooves in said major surface extending inward therefrom, said grooves overlying and transverse to said waveguide, said grooves having a selected pitch such that flexure of said substrate produces a periodic strain pattern extending across said waveguide, said periodic strain pattern thereby producing a longitudinal phase grating, whereby said grating diffracts light of a suitable wavelength propagating through said waveguide.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3340416A Cited
US4039249A Cited
US3906393A Cited
US3942048A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1982-03-05 1982-09-04 1983-03-06 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1986-03-05 1986-09-04 1987-03-06 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1990-03-05 1990-09-04 1991-03-06 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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