Laser fiber connector
US4730885A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 11, 1986 |
| Grant date | Mar 15, 1988 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 11, 2006 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3814
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A closed, hollow connector housing mounts a pair of laser fibers in end facing position internally within the hollow connector housing for immersion in a light-transmissible liquid. A pump drives the light-transmissible liquid within a circulation loop through pipes opening to opposite sides of the connector housing such that the liquid flows across the interface between the end to end facing optical fibers. Heat generated by scattered light reflections is dissipated by circulation of the liquid and the occurrence of scattered reflections is minimized by the presence of the liquid. A flow rate sensor responsive to the rate of flow of the light-transmissible liquid feeds an electrical signal through a drive circuit to a shutter mechanism for preventing light-transmission from the power laser light source to one of the laser fibers absent a sufficient of circulation flow rate of the light-transmissible liquid through the connector housing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.