Fiber optic plates for generating seamless images

Claim 2

A single, seamless fiber optic plate comprising: at least two sections, each comprising multiple radiation-transmitting fibers, wherein at least one of said sections is curved, tapered, or angled with respect to another section; a continuous, seamless top portion disposed above said sections; and a groove extending partially into said fiber optic plate for separating a first section from a second section, said groove being positioned along the axial extension of said fibers and having a depth less than a thickness of said fiber optic plate so that said top portion is continuous and seamless.

Claim 3

The fiber optic plate of claim 1, wherein said plate is angled along said groove separating one section from another.

Claim 4

The fiber optic plate of claim 1, wherein said first section is tapered so that a top surface area of said first section is greater than a bottom surface area of said first section.

Claim 5

The fiber optic plate of claim 1, wherein said first section is curved.

Claim 6

The fiber optic plate of claim 1, wherein said groove is formed by exposing said fiber optic plate to radiation.

Claim 7

The fiber optic plate of claim 5, wherein said radiation is optical radiation emitted from a laser.

Claim 8

The fiber optic plate of claim 6, wherein said laser is an excimer laser or an optical parametric oscillator.

Claim 9

The fiber optic plate of claim 1, wherein said groove has a width of between 1 and 100 microns.

Claim 10

The fiber optic plate of claim 1, wherein said groove has a depth of between 1 and 20 millimeters.

Claim 11

The fiber optic plate of claim 1, wherein said fibers in said first and second regions comprise glasses, plastics, polymers, dispersed scintillating materials, or single-crystal scintillating materials.

Claim 12

An optical imaging system comprising: at least two optical detectors, each comprising an optically active region for generating a light-induced image; and a single fiber optic plate comprising: at least two sections comprising multiple radiation-transmitting fibers, wherein at least one of said sections is curved, tapered, or angled with respect to another section; a continuous, seamless top portion disposed above said sections; and, a groove extending partially into said fiber optic plate for separating a first section from a second section, said groove being positioned along the axial extension of said fibers and having a depth less than a thickness of said fiber optic plate so that said top portion is continuous and seamless; wherein each of said sections is connected to an individual optical detector such that fibers contained in said first section deliver light exclusively to an optically active region of a first detector, and fibers contained in said second section deliver light exclusively to an optically active region of a second detector.

Claim 13

An optical imaging system comprising: at least two optical detectors, each comprising an optically active region for generating a light-induced image; and a single fiber optic plate comprising: at least two sections comprising multiple radiation-transmitting fibers, wherein at least one of said sections is curved, tapered, or angled with respect to another section; a continuous, seamless top portion disposed above said sections; and, a groove extending partially into said fiber optic plate for separating a first section from a second section, said groove being positioned along the axial extension of said fibers and having a depth less than a thickness of said fiber optic plate so that said top portion is continuous and seamless; wherein each of said sections is connected to an individual optical detector such that fibers contained in said first section deliver light exclusively to an optically active region of a first detector, and fibers contained in said second section deliver light exclusively to an optically active region of a second detector.

Claim 14

The optical imaging system of claim 11, wherein fibers contained in said first section of said fiber optic plate are in direct contact with a first detector's optically active region, and fibers contained in said second section of said fiber optic plate are in direct contact with a second detector's optically active region.

Claim 15

The optical imaging system of claim 11, wherein said fiber optic plate is angled along said groove separating one section from another so that said first section is angled relative to said second section.

Claim 16

The optical imaging system of claim 11, wherein said first section of said fiber optic plate is tapered so that a top surface area of said first section is greater than a bottom surface area of said first section.

Claim 17

The optical imaging system of claim 11, wherein said first section is curved.

Claim 18

The optical imaging system of claim 11, wherein said groove has a depth less than a thickness of said fiber optic plate.

Claim 19

The optical imaging system of claim 11, further comprising a scintillating material in contact with said fiber optic plate.

Claim 20

The optical imaging system of claim 17, wherein said fibers contained in said first and second sections of said fiber optic plate are positioned to deliver light emitted from said scintillating material to said optically active regions of said detectors.

Claim 21

The optical imaging system of claim 11, further comprising a signal processor configured to combine said separate light-induced images from each detector to form a seamless image.

Claim 24

The method of claim 20, wherein during said generating, said groove is formed by exposing said fiber optic plate to radiation.

Claim 25

The method of claim 20, wherein said radiation is optical radiation emitted from a laser.

Claim 26

The method of claim 22, wherein said laser is an excimer laser or an optical parametric oscillator.

Claim 27

The method of claim 20, wherein said heated region comprises at least part of said groove.

Claim 28

The method of claim 24, wherein during said shaping, said plate is partially bent along said groove so that said first and second sections are angled relative to one another.

Claim 29

The method of claim 25, wherein said shaping further comprises inserting a bending tool into said groove to apply a force along said weakened portion.

Claim 30

The method of claim 20, wherein a portion of said first section is heated and weakened during said shaping step.

Claim 31

The method of claim 27, wherein portions of said fibers in said first section are partially bent or curved following said heating.

Claim 32

The method of claim 27, wherein said first section is tapered, with a top surface area of said first section being greater than a bottom surface area of said first section.

Claim 33

The method of claim 27, wherein said shaping further comprises shaping said second section to be partially bent or curved.