US4815816A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Image transportation device using incoherent fiber optics bundles and method of using same
Assignee: RTS Laboratories Inc
•
Filing: 1987-05-12
•
Granted: 1989-03-28
•
Expires: 2007-05-12
Abstract
Abstract The invention includes a fiber optic bundle comprising a plurality of individually optic fiber elements. Each of the optic fiber elements has a first end and a second end. The first ends of the optic fiber elements have a smaller cross-sectional area than the second ends. The first ends are mechanically joined to provide strength to said fiber optic bundle. Detectors are connected to the second ends for receiving light channeled through the optic fibers. Due to the increase in size of the optic fibers from the first end to the second end, a magnification in the transported image takes place.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard T. Schneider
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:53
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/04; G02B6/06; A; A61; A61B; A61B1/00; A61B1/00064; A61B1/00071; A61B1/0008; A61B1/00096; A61B1/00163; A61B1/00165; A61B1/0017
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus, comprising: a fiber optic bundle, comprising: a plurality of individual optic fiber elements, each of said optic fiber elements having a first end and a second end, the first ends of said optic fiber elements being of a smaller cross sectional area than said second ends, said first ends of said optic fibers being mechanically joined to provide strength to said fiber optic bundle; said second ends of said optic fiber elements being connected in sub-bundles, each sub-bundle comprising more than one optic fiber; a light source for projecting light on said first ends of said optic fiber elements; and means for receiving light from the second ends of said optic fibers, said receiving means includes an optical detector array connected to each sub-bundle, wherein said first ends of said optic fibers are arranged randomly relative to said second ends, and wherein said receiving means includes means for descrambling light signals received by said second ends to reproduce a correct image of an image projected onto said first ends.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
171 words
An apparatus, comprising: a fiber optic bundle, comprising: a plurality of individual optic fiber elements, each of said optic fiber elements having a first end and a second end, the first ends of said optic fiber elements being of a smaller cross sectional area than said second ends, said first ends of said optic fibers being mechanically joined to provide strength to said fiber optic bundle; said second ends of said optic fiber elements being connected in sub-bundles, each sub-bundle comprising more than one optic fiber; a light source for projecting light on said first ends of said optic fiber elements; and means for receiving light from the second ends of said optic fibers, said receiving means includes an optical detector array connected to each sub-bundle, wherein said first ends of said optic fibers are arranged randomly relative to said second ends, and wherein said receiving means includes means for descrambling light signals received by said second ends to reproduce a correct image of an image projected onto said first ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said receiving means further includes an optical mask for mating the fibers of the sub-bundles to the optical detectors on said optical detector array.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said first end of each optic fiber is at least as small as about 5 micrometers in diameter.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said second end of each optic fiber is as large as about 50 micrometers in diameter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second end of each optic fiber is at least an order of magnitude greater in diameter than said first end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said descrambling means comprises means for displaying a matrix of lines, the intersections of which define addresses of input points on said first ends of said optic fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 including a lens focussed on said first ends of said fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said lens and said fiber optic bundle are contained in a catheter sheathing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein said lens and said fiber optic bundle are contained in a periscope tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus according to claim 1 including a plurality of fiber optic bundles and a plurality of lenses focussed, respectively, on said fiber optic bundles, said lenses being positioned over a hemisphere.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of making optic fiber bundles, comprising: providing a plurality of optic fibers, each having a first end and a second end; mechanically connecting the first ends of said optic fibers to form a fiber bundle; reducing the cross section of the first end of each optic fiber relative to its second end; and connecting said second ends of said optic fibers into sub-bundles having more than one second end each, wherein an image is projected on the first end to be sensed at the second end and wherein the step of mechanically connecting said first ends of said optic fiber bundles comprises connecting them such that the orientation of said first ends is random relative to said second ends, further including the step of descrambling the sensed image at said second ends.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
134 words
A method of making optic fiber bundles, comprising: providing a plurality of optic fibers, each having a first end and a second end; mechanically connecting the first ends of said optic fibers to form a fiber bundle; reducing the cross section of the first end of each optic fiber relative to its second end; and connecting said second ends of said optic fibers into sub-bundles having more than one second end each, wherein an image is projected on the first end to be sensed at the second end and wherein the step of mechanically connecting said first ends of said optic fiber bundles comprises connecting them such that the orientation of said first ends is random relative to said second ends, further including the step of descrambling the sensed image at said second ends.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method according to claim 11 wherein said step of descrambling comprises displaying a matrix of lines, the intersections of which define addresses of input points from said first ends of said optic fibers.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus, comprising: a fiber optic bundle, comprising: a plurality of individual optic fiber elements, each of said optic fiber elements having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said optic fiber elements being arranged randomly relative to said second ends, the first ends of said optic fiber elements being of a smaller cross sectional area than said second ends, wherein the second ends of said optic fiber elements are connected in random sub-bundles, each comprising more than one optic fiber element end, the optic fiber element second ends in each sub-bundle being randomly arranged relative to the optic fiber element first ends; means for projecting an image onto the first ends of the optic fiber elements; and means for receiving light from the second ends of said optic fiber elements in all of said sub-bundles, including means for descrambling light signals received by all of said sub-bundles to reproduce the image projected onto said first ends.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
161 words
An apparatus, comprising: a fiber optic bundle, comprising: a plurality of individual optic fiber elements, each of said optic fiber elements having a first end and a second end, said first ends of said optic fiber elements being arranged randomly relative to said second ends, the first ends of said optic fiber elements being of a smaller cross sectional area than said second ends, wherein the second ends of said optic fiber elements are connected in random sub-bundles, each comprising more than one optic fiber element end, the optic fiber element second ends in each sub-bundle being randomly arranged relative to the optic fiber element first ends; means for projecting an image onto the first ends of the optic fiber elements; and means for receiving light from the second ends of said optic fiber elements in all of said sub-bundles, including means for descrambling light signals received by all of said sub-bundles to reproduce the image projected onto said first ends.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said receiving means includes an optical detector array containing a plurality of optical detectors connected, respectively, to said sub-bundles.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus according to claim 14 wherein said receiving means further includes an optical mask for mating the optic fiber elements of the sub-bundles to the optical detectors on said optical detector array.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
36 words
An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein said optic fiber element first ends are arranged in sub-bundles, the sub-bundles of optic fiber element first ends being random relative to the sub-bundles of optic fiber second ends.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2992587A
Cited
US3128167A
Cited
US3512861A
Cited
FR1533123A
Cited
US3464330A
Cited
US3556085A
Cited
US3652855A
Cited
US3669524A
Cited
US3814081A
Cited
US3933455A
Cited
US3933409A
Cited
US4076378A
Cited
US4332439A
Cited
US4275950A
Cited
JPS58100813A
Cited
US4570063A
Cited
DE3226015A1
Cited
US4674834A
Cited
US4760421A
Cited
US4738510A
Cited
US4702552A
Cited
US4762391A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-03-27 | 1992-09-26 | 1993-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-03-27 | 1996-09-26 | 1997-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-03-27 | 2000-09-26 | 2001-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |