Fiber optic structure and method of making

Claim 2

A fiber optic structure comprising: an optical fiber; and a metallic body of radial thickness on the order of 0.003" or above, deposited on said fiber and surrounding said fiber for strengthening and rigidizing said fiber within said metallic body so that said metallic body and said fiber may be acted upon and positioned for optical purposes, with substantial reduction of microbending losses in said fiber.

Claim 3

The fiber optic structure of claim 1 wherein said metallic body is an electro-deposited body.

Claim 4

The fiber optic structure of claim 2 wherein said electro-deposited body is copper body.

Claim 5

The fiber optic structure of claim 3 wherein said body is positioned adjacent the end of the optical fiber.

Claim 6

The fiber optic structure of claim 1 wherein said body is positioned adjacent the end of the optical fiber.

Claim 7

A fiber optic structure comprising: at least one optical fiber; and at least one metallic body deposited on a respective part of said fiber for rigidizing said respective part of said fiber encased within said at least one metallic body so that said fiber may be acted upon and positioned for optical purposes, said at least one metallic body having a radial thickness at least on the order of 0.003", and being processed at an exterior surface area so as to make said respective part of said fiber encased within, optically accessible at said surface.

Claim 8

A fiber optic structure comprising: at least one optical fiber; and at least one metallic body deposited on a respective part of said fiber for rigidizing said respective part of said fiber encased within said at least one metallic body so that said fiber may be acted upon and positioned for optical purposes, said at least one metallic body having a radial thickness at least on the order of 0.003", and being processed at an exterior surface area so as to make said respective part of said fiber encased within, optically accessible at said surface.

Claim 9

The fiber optic structure of claim 6 wherein said structure is a liquid sensor with said optical fiber being for connection to a source and a detector, said exterior surface area being configured at an angle such that internal reflection from said exterior surface area is promoted when said exterior surface are is not immersed in liquid and inhibited when said exterior surface area is immersed in liquid.

Claim 10

The fiber optic structure of claim 6 wherein said structure is a temperature sensor, with said exterior surface area reflecting light produced within said fiber as a function of temperature.

Claim 11

A fiber optic structure comprising: first and second optical fibers; and first and second metallic bodies respectively deposited on and encasing respective parts of said first and second optical fibers, said first and second bodies each having an exterior surface area with said respective part of said first and second optical fibers respectively exposed at said respective exterior surface area, said first and said second bodies each having a radial thickness at least on the order of 0.003" and being positioned so that said first and second fibers are optically connected, said first and second metallic bodies being deposited in a manner which substantially avoids undesired alteration of the respective indices of refraction of said first and second optical fibers.

Claim 12

A fiber optic structure comprising: first and second optical fibers; and first and second metallic bodies respectively deposited on and encasing respective parts of said first and second optical fibers, said first and second bodies each having an exterior surface area with said respective part of said first and second optical fibers respectively exposed at said respective exterior surface area, said first and said second bodies each having a radial thickness at least on the order of 0.003" and being positioned so that said first and second fibers are optically connected, said first and second metallic bodies being deposited in a manner which substantially avoids undesired alteration of the respective indices of refraction of said first and second optical fibers.

Claim 13

The fiber optic structure of claim 9 wherein both said first and second metallic bodies are electro-deposited metallic bodies.

Claim 14

The fiber optic structure of claim 10 wherein said first and second electro-deposited bodies are copper bodies.

Claim 15

The fiber optic structure of claim 11 wherein the ends of said first and second fibers are respectively exposed at said exterior surface areas of said bodies and said bodies are positioned for end-to-end optical connection between said first and second fibers.

Claim 16

The fiber optic structure of claim 9 wherein there is a looped optical fiber in said second body and there is a source and a detector fiber within said first body, all of said fibers being positioned so that when said first and second optical fibers are in alignment, said looped fiber interconnects said source and said detector fibers so that when said looped fiber does not have continuity, said first and second fibers lack continuity.

Claim 17

The fiber optic structure of claim 9 wherein said first and second optical fibers are exposed at said faces intermediate the ends of said optical fibers so that positioning of said faces for coupling of said optical fibers provides a four port coupler.

Claim 18

A fiber optic structure comprising: first and second optical fibers each having an end; first and second metallic bodies respectively electro-deposited on said ends of first and second optical fibers, said first and second bodies having polished adjoining faces wherein said ends of said optical fibers are exposed, said first and second bodies each also having two reference faces; and a fixture, said fixture being shaped so that when said reference faces of said bodies lie in said fixture, said first and second optical fibers are in endwise optical alignment.

Claim 19

A fiber optic structure comprising: first and second optical fibers each having an end; first and second metallic bodies respectively electro-deposited on said ends of first and second optical fibers, said first and second bodies having polished adjoining faces wherein said ends of said optical fibers are exposed, said first and second bodies each also having two reference faces; and a fixture, said fixture being shaped so that when said reference faces of said bodies lie in said fixture, said first and second optical fibers are in endwise optical alignment.

Claim 20

The fiber optic structure of claim 15 wherein both said first and second metallic bodies are formed of electro-deposited copper.

Claim 21

A fiber optic structure comprising: first and second optical fibers, each having an end; first and second metallic bodies respectively carried on said first and second optical fibers adjacent their ends, said first and second bodies respectively having adjoining faces with said first and second optical fibers exposed at said adjoining faces, said first and second metallic bodies being positionable so that said first and second optical fibers are in optical alignment; a source optical fiber and a detector optical fiber being respectively for connection to a light source and a light detector, said source fiber and said detector fiber each having ends and being positioned within said first body so that said ends are exposed at said face of said first body; and a loop optical fiber having ends, said loop optical fiber being at least partially positioned within said second body and having its ends exposed at said face of said second body, said source, said loop and said detector optical fibers being positioned so that they are in optical continuity when said first and second optical fibers are in optical continuity.

Claim 22

A fiber optic structure comprising: first and second optical fibers, each having an end; first and second metallic bodies respectively carried on said first and second optical fibers adjacent their ends, said first and second bodies respectively having adjoining faces with said first and second optical fibers exposed at said adjoining faces, said first and second metallic bodies being positionable so that said first and second optical fibers are in optical alignment; a source optical fiber and a detector optical fiber being respectively for connection to a light source and a light detector, said source fiber and said detector fiber each having ends and being positioned within said first body so that said ends are exposed at said face of said first body; and a loop optical fiber having ends, said loop optical fiber being at least partially positioned within said second body and having its ends exposed at said face of said second body, said source, said loop and said detector optical fibers being positioned so that they are in optical continuity when said first and second optical fibers are in optical continuity.

Claim 23

The fiber optic structure of claim 17 wherein both said first and second bodies are formed of electro-deposited copper.

Claim 24

A fiber optic structure comprising: a mandrel; an optical fiber having a source end and a detector end, said optical fiber being wrapped in a plurality of turns around said mandrel, said source end being for connection to a light source and said detector end being for connection to a light detector; said optical fiber having an optical cladding; a built-up metallic body deposited around said fiber; and said body having a sensor face, the cladding on said fiber being exposed at said sensor face so that as the exposed portions of cladding are successively immersed in liquid, the amount of light arriving at the detector end is decreased.

Claim 25

A fiber optic structure comprising: a mandrel; an optical fiber having a source end and a detector end, said optical fiber being wrapped in a plurality of turns around said mandrel, said source end being for connection to a light source and said detector end being for connection to a light detector; said optical fiber having an optical cladding; a built-up metallic body deposited around said fiber; and said body having a sensor face, the cladding on said fiber being exposed at said sensor face so that as the exposed portions of cladding are successively immersed in liquid, the amount of light arriving at the detector end is decreased.

Claim 26

The fiber optic structure of claim 19 wherein a light source is connected to said source end and a light detector is connected to said detector end of said fiber.

Claim 27

The fiber optic structure of claim 20 wherein at least a portion of said body is positioned within a tank so that as liquid rises in said tank, said exposed cladding portions are successively covered to reduce light output at the detector end of said fiber.

Claim 28

The fiber optic structure of claim 19 wherein at least a portion of said body is positioned within a tank so that as liquid rises in said tank, said exposed cladding portions are successively covered to reduce light output at the detector end of said fiber.

Claim 29

A four-port fiber optic coupler comprising: first and second optical fibers, each of said fibers having ends; first and second electro-deposited built up metallic bodies respectively on said first and second optical fibers intermediate the ends thereof, said bodies constraining said optical fibers to a curved configuration within said body; and said first and second metallic bodies each having a face thereon, said optical fibers being exposed at said faces so that when said faces are placed together with said exposed fibers in alignment, a four-port coupling is formed.

Claim 30

A four-port fiber optic coupler comprising: first and second optical fibers, each of said fibers having ends; first and second electro-deposited built up metallic bodies respectively on said first and second optical fibers intermediate the ends thereof, said bodies constraining said optical fibers to a curved configuration within said body; and said first and second metallic bodies each having a face thereon, said optical fibers being exposed at said faces so that when said faces are placed together with said exposed fibers in alignment, a four-port coupling is formed.

Claim 31

The fiber optic structure of claim 23 wherein each said body is electro-deposited copper.

Claim 32

A fiber optic structure comprising: an optical fiber, said optical fiber having such properties as to produce an optical change upon change in temperature of said optical fiber, said fiber having an end; and a metal body on said end of said fiber, said fiber and said body having a face to reflect light within said fiber at the end of said fiber so that temperature can be more easily sensed when said metallic body on the end of said fiber is placed in location for temperature sensing.

Claim 33

A fiber optic structure comprising: an optical fiber, said optical fiber having such properties as to produce an optical change upon change in temperature of said optical fiber, said fiber having an end; and a metal body on said end of said fiber, said fiber and said body having a face to reflect light within said fiber at the end of said fiber so that temperature can be more easily sensed when said metallic body on the end of said fiber is placed in location for temperature sensing.

Claim 34

The fiber optic structure of claim 25 wherein said body is formed of electro-deposited copper.

Claim 35

A fiber optic structure comprising: first and second optical fibers, each of said optical fibers having a cladded optic core and a coating, said cladded optic cores being fused together to form a splice at a section wherein said coating is removed; and a metallic body positioned around said cladded optic core and between said coating on said optical fibers to protect the splice between said cores and to provide a substantially uniform diameter body which is substantially equal to the diameter of said metallic covering.

Claim 36

A fiber optic structure comprising: first and second optical fibers, each of said optical fibers having a cladded optic core and a coating, said cladded optic cores being fused together to form a splice at a section wherein said coating is removed; and a metallic body positioned around said cladded optic core and between said coating on said optical fibers to protect the splice between said cores and to provide a substantially uniform diameter body which is substantially equal to the diameter of said metallic covering.

Claim 37

The fiber optic structure of claim 27 wherein said body is electro-deposited copper formed around said core and between said coating.