Miniature fiberoptic bend device and method
US5452393A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 12, 1993 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 1995 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3894
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A routing device for changing the direction of a fiberoptic path from a first axis to a second axis comprising a length of optical fiber having first and second directed fiber portions aligned with the first and second axes, respectively, and having a mid-potion extending through an arc of radius of the order of 2 cm or less; the mid-portion of the fiber having been treated to have a substantially reduced diameter relative to the directed fiber portions. In certain preferred embodiments, the diameter of the mid-portion of the fiber is sufficiently reduced to achieve an air-cladded state. Preferably the routing device includes an outer member for fixing the first and second directed portions relative to one another. The mid-fiber portion is preferably reduced by etching, polishing, or drawing (e.g., differential speed unidirectional drawing). Bent sections of the fiber are thermally annealed forming stress-free bends of minimum bend radius for long term applications. The fiber may also be twisted about its longitudinal axis. Bend or twist tolerant regions and annealed bends are preferably packaged separately or built integrally into a wide range of fiberoptic components, sensors, ne…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.