US4236784A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Discretely positioned magnetic fiber optic scanner
Assignee: Hughes Missile Systems Co
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Filing: 1979-04-06
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Granted: 1980-12-02
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Expires: 1999-04-06
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a magnetic fiber optic scanner which includes a flexible optical fiber of predetermined length, having one end fixedly supported in a cantilevered fashion, and having an opposite end that is unsupported and free to move. A magnet is rigidly mounted on the fiber near the unsupported end to there produce a magnetic dipole moment parallel to the length of the fiber. A grid like array of electrical conductors lies in a plane that is perpendicular to the fiber and is spaced apart from the unsupported end. By passing current through selected ones of the conductors, localized magnetic fields are produced that react with the dipole moment to position the unsupported end of the optical fiber in offset alignment with the selected conductors.
Inventors
- 👤 John P. Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:00
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/02; G02; G02B; G02B26/00; G02B26/08; G02B26/10; G02B26/103; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/13; G02B6/132; G09F; G09F9/00; G09F9/30; G09F9/305; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/354; G02B6/3554; G02B6/3558; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/3572
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner comprising: a flexible optical fiber having one end fixedly supported and an opposite end that is unsupported and free to move; means mounted on said fiber near said unsupported end for there producing a first magnetic field; an array of electrical conductors extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber adjacent to said unsupported end; and means for generating current through selectable ones of said conductors to produce localized second magnetic fields that interact with the first magnetic field and cause the unsupported end of said optical fiber to move in discrete increments.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner comprising: a flexible optical fiber having one end fixedly supported and an opposite end that is unsupported and free to move; means mounted on said fiber near said unsupported end for there producing a first magnetic field; an array of electrical conductors extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber adjacent to said unsupported end; and means for generating current through selectable ones of said conductors to produce localized second magnetic fields that interact with the first magnetic field and cause the unsupported end of said optical fiber to move in discrete increments.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing said first magnetic field is a discrete permanent magnet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing said first magnetic field is a thin film of magnetic material coated onto said fiber.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A magnet fiber optic scanner according to claim 1, wherein said means for producing said first magnetic field is an electromagnet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner according to claim 1, wherein said array of electrical conductors is comprised of a transparent substrate and a plurality of thin film conductors etched on said substrate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner according to claim 5, wherein said conductors are transparent.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner according to claim 5, wherein said conductors are made of a non-transparent metal.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of positioning the movable end of a flexible optical fiber having an opposite end which is fixedly supported, said method comprising the steps of: mounting a magnetic means on said fiber near the movable end thereof for producing a first magnetic field; placing an array of electrical conductors adjacent to said movable end, said conductors extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber; and coupling of all of said conductors to a means for generating current through selectable ones thereof to produce localized second magnetic fields that interact with the first magnetic field and cause the moveable end of said optical fiber to move in discrete increments.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
107 words
A method of positioning the movable end of a flexible optical fiber having an opposite end which is fixedly supported, said method comprising the steps of: mounting a magnetic means on said fiber near the movable end thereof for producing a first magnetic field; placing an array of electrical conductors adjacent to said movable end, said conductors extending substantially perpendicular to said fiber; and coupling of all of said conductors to a means for generating current through selectable ones thereof to produce localized second magnetic fields that interact with the first magnetic field and cause the moveable end of said optical fiber to move in discrete increments.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
109 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner comprising: a flexible optical fiber having one end fixedly supported and an opposite end that is unsupported and free to move; magnetic means rigidly mounted on said fiber near said unsupported end for there producing a magnetic dipole moment parallel to the length of said fiber; a grid like array of electrical conductors lying in a plane perpendicular to said fiber adjacent to said unsupported end; and means for generating current through selectable ones of said conductors to produce localized magnetic fields that interact with said dipole moment to position the unsupported end of said optical fiber in offset alignment with the selected conductors.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
109 words
A magnetic fiber optic scanner comprising: a flexible optical fiber having one end fixedly supported and an opposite end that is unsupported and free to move; magnetic means rigidly mounted on said fiber near said unsupported end for there producing a magnetic dipole moment parallel to the length of said fiber; a grid like array of electrical conductors lying in a plane perpendicular to said fiber adjacent to said unsupported end; and means for generating current through selectable ones of said conductors to produce localized magnetic fields that interact with said dipole moment to position the unsupported end of said optical fiber in offset alignment with the selected conductors.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of positioning the movable end of a flexible optical fiber having an opposite end which is fixedly supported, comprising the steps of: rigidly mounting a magnetic means on said fiber near the movable end thereof to produce a magnetic dipole moment parallel to the length of said fiber; placing a first set of spaced apart electrical conductors in a plane lying perpendicular to said fiber and spaced apart from said movable end, and placing a second set of spaced apart electrical conductors transverse to said first set; and coupling of all of said conductors to a means for generating current through selectable ones thereof to produce localized magnetic fields that react with said dipole moment to position the movable end of said optical fiber in offset alignment with the selected conductors.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
133 words
A method of positioning the movable end of a flexible optical fiber having an opposite end which is fixedly supported, comprising the steps of: rigidly mounting a magnetic means on said fiber near the movable end thereof to produce a magnetic dipole moment parallel to the length of said fiber; placing a first set of spaced apart electrical conductors in a plane lying perpendicular to said fiber and spaced apart from said movable end, and placing a second set of spaced apart electrical conductors transverse to said first set; and coupling of all of said conductors to a means for generating current through selectable ones thereof to produce localized magnetic fields that react with said dipole moment to position the movable end of said optical fiber in offset alignment with the selected conductors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said means for generating current is operable for generating current in a single selectable conductor of said first set, and simultaneously generating a current in a single selectable conductor of said second set to position said movable end in offset alignment with the intersection of said selected conductors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 10, wherein said means for generating current is operable for generating current in opposite directions in one selectable pair of adjacent conductors in said first set, and simultaneously generating a current in opposite directions in another selectable pair of adjacent conductors in said second set to position said movable end in the region defined by the intersection of said selected conductor pairs.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
94 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein said means for generating current is operable for generating current in opposite directions in first and second adjacent selectable conductors in one of said sets; then simultaneously generating current in a third conductor in said one set lying adjacent to said second conductor, the direction of the current in said third conductor being the same as the direction of the current in said second conductor; and then reversing the direction of current in said second conductor; and then stopping the generation of current in said first conductor.
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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) | 1983-12-02 | 1984-06-02 | 1984-12-02 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1987-12-02 | 1988-06-02 | 1988-12-02 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1991-12-02 | 1992-06-02 | 1992-12-02 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |