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to patent search site 5173958
: Beam distributor for laser-to-optical fiber
application
| INVENTORS: |
Folsom;
Mark F., Carmel, CA
Todd; Michael C., Hollister, CA
|
| ASSIGNEES: |
Whittaker Ordnance,
Inc., Hollister, CA |
| ISSUED: |
Dec. 22, 1992 |
FILED: |
Jan. 17, 1992 |
| SERIAL
NUMBER: |
822108 |
FEE STATUS: |
|
| INTL.
CLASS (Ed. 5): |
G02B 6/34; |
| U.S.
CLASS: |
385-036; 385-025; 359-835; |
| FIELD
OF SEARCH: |
385-36,33,34,35,37,25,26 ; 359-834,835,836
; |
| AGENTS: |
Bissell; Henry M.; |
ABSTRACT:
A beam distributor apparatus employing an
eccentrically mounted retroreflector prism is
driven to revolve about a central axis by a
motor/
encoder to direct an input beam to a plurality
of optical fibers in sequence. The retroreflector
prism possesses the property of reflecting a beam
in a
directional parallel to the incident beam but
displaced laterally therefrom. In one
arrangement, a synchronously triggered laser is
used as the light source.
In a second embodiment, a non-laser light
source is employed with a shutter coupled to be
triggered in synchronism with the position of the
rotating prism
relative to the output optical fibers.
U.S.
REFERENCES:
| Patent No. |
Patentee |
Issue Date |
| 4623225 |
Forkner |
Nov. 1 , 1986 |
| 4838671 |
Papritz et al. |
June 1 , 1989 |
| H855 |
Otto et al. |
Dec. 1 , 1990 |
|
| Show the 3 patents that
reference this one |
|
18
CLAIMS: First Claim Shown (Show all claims)
What is claimed is:
- 1. Beam directing apparatus for
sequentially coupling a reflected beam to
a plurality of circumferentially
distributed optical fibers comprising:
- means for directing an incident
light beam along an incident beam
axis;
- a retroreflector prism having a
central axis, a plurality of
faces arranged to form a corner
cube, and a transverse planar
face opposing said corner cube;
- means including a prism housing
for mounting said prism with its
central axis parallel to but
laterally displaced from said
incident beam axis and with the
transverse planar face directed
to receive said incident beam;
- a plurality of spatially separate
optical fiber means mounted in a
circumferential array centered on
said incident beam axis, said
optical fiber means extending
parallel to said central axis in
corresponding positions to
receive beams reflected from said
prism;
- means for rotating said housing
to revolve the prism about the
incident beam axis in order to
direct light beams reflected from
said prism to said fiber optic
means in sequence; and
- means associated individually
with each of said optical fiber
means for coupling a reflected
beam with a corresponding one of
said optical fiber means as said
housing rotates with said prism
mounted therein.
RELATED
U.S. APPLICATIONS: none
FOREIGN
REFERENCES: none
OTHER
REFERENCES: none
PRIMARY/ASSISTANT
EXAMINERS: Lee; John D.; Heartney;
Phan T.
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