US4422714A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ellipsoidal optical coupling device
Assignee: CABLES CORTAILLOD SA A SWISS CORP
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Filing: 1980-09-12
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Granted: 1983-12-27
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Expires: 2000-09-12
Abstract
Abstract An optical coupling device wherein at least two light conductors are coupled through the intermediary of a transparent block in the shape of a half-ellipsoid on whose foci converge the end sections of the two light conductors. A light beam emerging from one conductor is reflected and transforms itself into a beam converging on the end of the second conductor. A slot permits the introduction of a liquid-crystal attenuating device connected to an alternating voltage source.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Benoit
- 👤 Jean-Paul Pellaux
- 👤 Gilbert Widmer
- 👤 Betty Kerllenevich
- 👤 Andre Coche
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 02:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/351; G02B6/3522; G01; G01N; G01N21/00; G01N21/17; G01N21/41; G01N21/43; G01N21/431; G02B6/264; G02F; G02F1/00; G02F1/01; G02F1/13; G02F1/1326; G02B6/3532; G02B6/3534; G02B6/354; G02B6/3554; G02B6/3558; G02B6/3594; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S250/00; Y10S250/90; Y10S250/901; Y10S250/902; Y10S250/903
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
195 words
An optical coupling device for at least two light conductors, comprising a solid body at least a part of which consists of a half-ellipsoid of revolution made of a material transparent at least in the wavelength range of the light transmitted by these light conductors, the outer surface of said half-ellipsoid being placed in an ambient medium, means for positioning the end of one of said light conductors at one of the foci of said half-ellipsoid, second means for positioning the end of a second light conductor at the other focus of said half-ellipsoid, said positioning means orienting the optical axes of the two conductors whose ends have been placed at the foci of the half-ellipsoid in such a way that a divergent light beam emitted by one of these conductors is transformed, after having undergone a total reflection inside said half-ellipsoid, at the interface between said half-ellipsoid and said ambient medium into a beam converging on the end of the other conductor, said half-ellipsoid including a slot formed therein to permit the interposition along the path of said convergent beam of beam modifying means operative to modify a light beam transmitted through said half-ellipsoid.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
195 words
An optical coupling device for at least two light conductors, comprising a solid body at least a part of which consists of a half-ellipsoid of revolution made of a material transparent at least in the wavelength range of the light transmitted by these light conductors, the outer surface of said half-ellipsoid being placed in an ambient medium, means for positioning the end of one of said light conductors at one of the foci of said half-ellipsoid, second means for positioning the end of a second light conductor at the other focus of said half-ellipsoid, said positioning means orienting the optical axes of the two conductors whose ends have been placed at the foci of the half-ellipsoid in such a way that a divergent light beam emitted by one of these conductors is transformed, after having undergone a total reflection inside said half-ellipsoid, at the interface between said half-ellipsoid and said ambient medium into a beam converging on the end of the other conductor, said half-ellipsoid including a slot formed therein to permit the interposition along the path of said convergent beam of beam modifying means operative to modify a light beam transmitted through said half-ellipsoid.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said positioning means include a base piece joined to said half-ellipsoid in the median plane containing the foci of the generating ellipse of said half-ellipsoid, and at least two light conductors having their ends embedded in said base piece.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said slot is substantially perpendicular to the direction of a median ray of said convergent beam.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said beam modifying means comprises at least one intensity filter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 4 wherein said beam modifying means is placed in a slot cut into said half-ellipsoid parallel to the median base plane of said half-ellipsoid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 5 wherein said beam modifying means includes a disk having a plurality of regions having, with respect to each other, different light absorption properties, said disk being rotatable around an axis perpendicular to the median base plane of said half-ellipsoid whereby different regions of the disk can be placed successively inside said slot.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said beam modifying means comprises at least one holographic lens.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 7 wherein said holographic lens is positioned in a slot cut into said half-ellipsoid, parallel to the median base plane of said half-ellipsoid.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
70 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 7 wherein said holographic lens is designed in such a way that the zero order of diffraction of the holographic lens reconstitutes a first light beam converging toward the end of one light conductor placed at a focus of the ellipse generating said half-ellipsoid, while the first order of diffraction reconstitutes a second light beam converging toward the end of another light conductor.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said beam modifying means comprises a liquid-crystal light-attenuating device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 10 wherein said light-attenuating device includes a liquid-crystal layer formed between two transparent plates made conductive along their inner faces in contact with the liquid crystal, and electric power means for applying a potential difference between said conductive opposite faces.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said electric power means provides an alternating potential.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said two plates are metallized on their inner faces.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said two plates are made conductive utilizing a material selected from the group: indium oxide and tin oxide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 11 wherein said liquid-crystal layer includes nematic substances.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
46 words
An optical coupling device according to claim 15 wherein the light transmitted is a polarized light, said liquid crystal layer being sensitive to polarized light to undergo a torsion so that the orientations of the molecules at the level of the respective transparent plates are perpendicular.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
25 words
Use of the device according to any one of the claims 10 to 15, as a means of subduing the light transmitted by the device.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
12 words
Use of the device according to claim 17, as an electro-optical switch.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
78 words
Use of the device according to claim 1, in order to detect a variation in the medium with which the convex face of the half-ellipsoid of revolution is in contact, wherein the light intensity transmitted by the optical coupling device is measured, from the end of one of the light conductors to the end of the other light conductor, before and after variation of the medium while at the same time maintaining the intensity of the incident light.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
96 words
Use according to claim 19, in the case where the said variation, in the medium in contact with the convex face of the half-ellipsoid, results in the variation of the level of a liquid, wherein, after having placed the median base plane of the half-ellipsoid in a vertical position, at least one measure of light intensity corresponding to a level of the liquid is effected, such as the field of the convex face of the half-ellipsoid, on which total reflection is effected of the said divergent light beam, is a least partially immersed in the liquid.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
Use according to claim 19, wherein the said light intensity measure is effected in a continuous manner, by recording the development, as a function of time, of the values of the light intensity transmitted by the coupling device.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
78 words
Use according to claim 19, in the case where the said variation, in the medium in contact with the convex face of the half-ellipsoid, results in the presence of a gas in a liquid, wherein measures of light intensity are effected after having placed the half-ellipsoid of revolution, with its median plane in a horizontal position, inside a capsule where the gas is collected, this capsule having an internal volume corresponding to the gas volume to be detected.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-12-26 | 1987-06-27 | 1987-12-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-12-26 | 1991-06-27 | 1991-12-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-12-26 | 1995-06-27 | 1995-12-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |