Mechanical joint for use in fiber optic imaging systems

US10481337B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Magic Leap, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Xiaoyang Zhang · 刘岗镇, CN
• Vaibhav Mathur · Weston, US
• Michael Robert Johnson · Moline, US
• Timothy Mark Dalrymple · Gainesville, US
• Andrew C. Duenner · Houston, US
• Albert Daniel Carlomagno · Hollywood, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 29, 2018
• Grant date: Nov 19, 2019
• Expiry date: May 29, 2038

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B2027/0187
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An example apparatus includes an optical fiber, an actuator, and a joint mechanically coupling the actuator to the optical fiber. The joint includes a neck extending along an axis. The optical fiber is threaded through an aperture extending along the axis through the neck. The optical fiber is attached to the joint at a surface of the neck facing the axis. The joint also includes a collar extending along the axis. The actuator is mechanically attached to the joint at an inner surface of the collar facing the axis. The joint also includes a flexural element extending radially from the neck to the collar. During operation, the joint couples a force from the actuator to the optical fiber to vary an orientation of a portion of the optical fiber extending from the neck with respect to the axis.