US4579419A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic connector and apparatus and method employing same
Assignee: Vicon Products Corp
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Filing: 1983-09-29
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Granted: 1986-04-01
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Expires: 2003-09-29
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic connector employs a fiber optic element including a light-receiving end having a transverse cross-sectional shape which complements the transverse cross-sectional shape of a light-receiving end of at least one other fiber optic element. The complementarily shaped light-receiving ends permit a plurality of fiber optic connectors to be arranged alongside one another so that they may be directly and simultaneously illuminated by a single spot of light emitted from a source of light.
Inventors
- 👤 Leonard Scrivo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 22:49
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00112; A61B1/00117; A61B1/00121; A61B1/00126; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3855; G02B6/40; G02B6/403; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system, comprising a housing, a light source positioned within said housing, condensing means positioned within said housing for condensing light emitted from said light source into a single spot of light lying in a plane within said housing, an opening in said housing and a plurality of complementarily shaped fiber optic connectors removably received in said opening in said housing such that said fiber optic connectors may be directly and simultaneously illuminated by said single spot of light, each of said fiber optic connectors including a fiber optic element having a light-receiving end provided with a transverse cross-sectional shape which is different from the transverse cross-sectional shape of the remainder of said fiber optic element, said transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end complementing the transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end of each of said other fiber optic elements.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
145 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system, comprising a housing, a light source positioned within said housing, condensing means positioned within said housing for condensing light emitted from said light source into a single spot of light lying in a plane within said housing, an opening in said housing and a plurality of complementarily shaped fiber optic connectors removably received in said opening in said housing such that said fiber optic connectors may be directly and simultaneously illuminated by said single spot of light, each of said fiber optic connectors including a fiber optic element having a light-receiving end provided with a transverse cross-sectional shape which is different from the transverse cross-sectional shape of the remainder of said fiber optic element, said transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end complementing the transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end of each of said other fiber optic elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 1, wherein said light-receiving end of each of said fiber optic elements has a light-receiving face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
70 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 2, wherein said light-receiving end of each of said fiber optic elements includes an upstream portion which terminates at one end in said light-receiving face and a downstream portion which is positioned between an opposite end of said upstream portion and said remainder of said fiber optic element, said downstream portion being arranged at an angle relative to said upstream portion.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 3, wherein said angle of said downstream portion of each fiber optic element is selected such that said downstream portion diverges from a downstream portion of each of the other fiber optic elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 4, wherein said light-receiving end of each of said fiber optic elements is housed in a hollow open-ended casing having a longitudinal channel extending therethrough, said channel having a transverse cross-sectional shape which substantially matches said transverse cross-sectional shape of said corresponding light-receiving end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 5, wherein said casing is made of metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
52 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 6, wherein said upstream portion of each of said fiber optic elements has a length selected such that said light-receiving faces are automatically positioned in said plane within said housing when said fiber optic connectors are received in said opening in said housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 1, wherein said transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end of each of said fiber optic elements is a sector of a circle.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 8, wherein said transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end of each of said fiber optic elements is semi-circular.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 9, wherein said transverse cross-sectional shape of said remainder of each of said fiber optic elements is circular.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
A compact fiber optic illumination system according to claim 9, wherein said opening in said housing has a circular shape which substantially matches the circular shape formed by said semi-circular shaped light-receiving ends of said fiber optic elements.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of retrofitting a fiber optic illumination system which normally includes a housing, a light source positioned within said housing, condensing means positioned within said housing for condensing light emitted from said light source into a single spot of light lying in a plane within said housing, an opening in said housing and a single fiber optic connector removably received in said opening in said housing, said method comprising the step of replacing said single fiber optic connector with a plurality of complementarily shaped fiber optic connectors, each of said complementarily shaped fiber optic connectors being removably received in said opening in said housing such that said single spot of light directly and simultaneously illuminates said plurality of fiber optic connectors, each of said fiber optic connectors including a fiber optic element having a light-receiving end provided with a transverse cross-sectional shape which is different from the tranverse cross-sectional shape of the remainder of said fiber optic element, said transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end complementing the transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end of each of said other fiber optic elements.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
184 words
A method of retrofitting a fiber optic illumination system which normally includes a housing, a light source positioned within said housing, condensing means positioned within said housing for condensing light emitted from said light source into a single spot of light lying in a plane within said housing, an opening in said housing and a single fiber optic connector removably received in said opening in said housing, said method comprising the step of replacing said single fiber optic connector with a plurality of complementarily shaped fiber optic connectors, each of said complementarily shaped fiber optic connectors being removably received in said opening in said housing such that said single spot of light directly and simultaneously illuminates said plurality of fiber optic connectors, each of said fiber optic connectors including a fiber optic element having a light-receiving end provided with a transverse cross-sectional shape which is different from the tranverse cross-sectional shape of the remainder of said fiber optic element, said transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end complementing the transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end of each of said other fiber optic elements.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of illuminating a plurality of instruments using a compact fiber optic illumination system which includes a housing, a light source positioned within said housing, condensing means positioned within said housing for condensing light emitted from said light source into a single spot of light lying in a plane within said housing, and an opening within said housing, said method comprising the step of inserting a plurality of complementarily shaped fiber optic connectors into said opening in said housing such that all of said fiber optic connectors are directly and simultaneously illuminated by said single spot of light, each of said fiber optic connectors including a fiber optic element having a light-receiving end provided with a transverse cross-sectional shape which is different from the tranverse cross-sectional shape of the remainder of said fiber optic element, said transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end complementing the transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end of each of said other fiber optic elements, whereby a plurality of instruments may be lit from light emitted from a relatively low wattage bulb functioning as said light source.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
183 words
A method of illuminating a plurality of instruments using a compact fiber optic illumination system which includes a housing, a light source positioned within said housing, condensing means positioned within said housing for condensing light emitted from said light source into a single spot of light lying in a plane within said housing, and an opening within said housing, said method comprising the step of inserting a plurality of complementarily shaped fiber optic connectors into said opening in said housing such that all of said fiber optic connectors are directly and simultaneously illuminated by said single spot of light, each of said fiber optic connectors including a fiber optic element having a light-receiving end provided with a transverse cross-sectional shape which is different from the tranverse cross-sectional shape of the remainder of said fiber optic element, said transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end complementing the transverse cross-sectional shape of said light-receiving end of each of said other fiber optic elements, whereby a plurality of instruments may be lit from light emitted from a relatively low wattage bulb functioning as said light source.
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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) | 1989-03-31 | 1989-09-30 | 1990-04-01 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-03-31 | 1993-09-30 | 1994-04-01 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-03-31 | 1997-09-30 | 1998-04-01 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |