Patent · US Expired

Beam distributor for laser-to-optical fiber application

US5173958A · kind A · utility

12Cited by
3References
18Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 17, 1992
Grant dateDec 22, 1992
Priority date—
Expiry dateJan 17, 2012

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3598
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

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.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.