US5559911A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fiber coupler using segmented lenses
Assignee: CENTRAL LIGHTING Co
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Filing: 1995-01-17
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Granted: 1996-09-24
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Expires: 2015-01-17
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber manifold is provided for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of spaced, large diameter output fibers, or "light pipes", which are used for a variety of purposes, such as illuminating pools, spas, hazardous material zones, jail cells, and other applications where direct lighting is dangerous, difficult to maintain, or subject to vandalism. The manifold comprises a light converging element, which may be either a lens or a reflector, for converging light separately on each of the spaced optical fibers. The light converging element is segmented, with each segment corresponding to one of the optical fibers, and is precise enough that substantially all of the convergent light is received by the respective cores of each of the spaced output fibers, thereby minimizing light loss.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Forkner
- 👤 Andrew P. Riser
- 👤 Ronald F. Rykowski
- 👤 Stephen S. Wilson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 04:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/32; F; F21; F21V; F21V7/00; F21V7/04; G02B6/0001; G02B6/0005; G02B6/0006; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; G02B6/2848; G02B6/42; G02B6/4298; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S385/00; Y10S385/901
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 30
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a lens having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding lens segment for receiving light therefrom, the lens segments further being in abutting structural relationship with the proximal ends of their corresponding output optical fibers, whereby the focal point of each lens segment is substantially coincident with its exit plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
125 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a lens having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding lens segment for receiving light therefrom, the lens segments further being in abutting structural relationship with the proximal ends of their corresponding output optical fibers, whereby the focal point of each lens segment is substantially coincident with its exit plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein the segmented lens comprises at least two segments, which are both located on the same side of said illumination source.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein said plurality of segments are arranged in a substantially radially surrounding relationship to said illumination source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein each of said lens segments are substantially equal in size.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein the lens segments are unequally sized, each said light converging element segment being sized to compensate for varying loss factors in the optical fibers such that the light exiting from the output optical fibers is adapted to have a substantially uniform intensity.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein said illumination source comprises an input optical fiber adapted to transmit light from an originating source of illumination, such that said optical fiber manifold comprises a splitter, for coupling said input optical fiber to said plurality of output optical fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein the light approaching said lens may be de-centered to controllably vary light to each fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of segments which comprise said segmented lens are arranged circumferentially about a radial center of the lens.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein said segmented lens includes a radially central lens, and the remaining lens segments are arranged circumferentially about said central lens.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a light converging element having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding light converging element segment for receiving light therefrom, wherein the light approaching said light converging element may be de-centered to controllably vary light to each fiber.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a light converging element having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding light converging element segment for receiving light therefrom, wherein the light approaching said light converging element may be de-centered to controllably vary light to each fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 10, wherein said light converging element comprises a reflector.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 10, wherein said light converging element comprises a pair of substantially elliptical reflectors oriented back-to-back, with a portion of each reflector which includes the vertex thereof being eliminated, said illumination source being located substantially centrally with respect to the pair of reflectors, each reflector thereby comprising a plurality of reflector segments which are each adapted to separately focus light from said illumination source onto the core of a corresponding output optical fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
47 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein said lens segments includes an output end, the manifold further comprising a plurality of tapered light pipe extensions, each of said tapered light pipe extension being adapted for attachment to one of said lens segment output ends.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
128 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a light converging element having a plurality of unequally sized segments which each have a discrete focal point, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points and are sized to compensate for varying loss factors in the optical fibers such that the light exiting from the output optical fibers is adapted to have a substantially uniform intensity, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding light converging element segment for receiving light therefrom.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
128 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a light converging element having a plurality of unequally sized segments which each have a discrete focal point, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points and are sized to compensate for varying loss factors in the optical fibers such that the light exiting from the output optical fibers is adapted to have a substantially uniform intensity, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding light converging element segment for receiving light therefrom.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a light converging element having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, one of the segments comprising a radially central lens and the remaining segments being arranged circumferentially about the central lens, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding light converging element segment for receiving light therefrom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a light converging element having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, one of the segments comprising a radially central lens and the remaining segments being arranged circumferentially about the central lens, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding light converging element segment for receiving light therefrom.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
154 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising: a housing; and a light converging element having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding light converging element segment for receiving light therefrom; wherein a light emitting portion of the illumination source, the proximal end of each of said plurality of output optical fibers, and the light converging element all optically contact said housing, so that all light paths between the illumination source and the proximal ends of each of said output optical fibers are enclosed by said housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
154 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising: a housing; and a light converging element having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, wherein said segments are adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to their respective focal points, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding light converging element segment for receiving light therefrom; wherein a light emitting portion of the illumination source, the proximal end of each of said plurality of output optical fibers, and the light converging element all optically contact said housing, so that all light paths between the illumination source and the proximal ends of each of said output optical fibers are enclosed by said housing.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
15 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 16, wherein the housing comprises clear plastic.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 16, wherein the housing is comprised of a solid material, so that said light paths are sealed against contact by air.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 16, wherein the light converging element comprises a reflector.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, wherein said illumination source comprises a lamp.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a fold mirror for angularly deflecting the light transmitted through said optical fiber manifold.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 1, and further comprising a collimating lens for collimating the light from said illumination source.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a lens having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, each of the segments having a longitudinal axis coincident with the principal local propagation vector of the light received from the illumination source and being adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to its respective focal point, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding lens segment for receiving light therefrom.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical fiber manifold for coupling light from an illumination source to a plurality of output optical fibers, said output optical fibers each having a proximal end for receiving said light and said manifold comprising a lens having a plurality of segments which each have a discrete focal point, each of the segments having a longitudinal axis coincident with the principal local propagation vector of the light received from the illumination source and being adapted to converge the light from said illumination source to its respective focal point, the proximal end of each of said optical fibers being located at the focal point of a corresponding lens segment for receiving light therefrom.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical fiber manifold as recited in claim 23, wherein the manifold has a longitudinal principal axis, and the axis of at least one of said lens segments is not parallel to the longitudinal axis of said manifold.
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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) | 1999-09-24 | 2000-03-25 | 2000-09-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-09-24 | 2004-03-25 | 2004-09-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-09-24 | 2008-03-25 | 2008-09-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |