Enhanced collection efficiency fiber-optic probe
US5974211A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 6, 1998 |
| Grant date | Oct 26, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 6, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/32
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fiber-optic probe uses imaging optics between the remote ends of the excitation and collection fibers and the sample under investigation to enhance working distance and efficiency. In one embodiment a plurality of collection fibers are disposed circumferentially around a central excitation fiber, enabling a conventional focussing lens arrangement to be used for imaging purposes. The assembly may optionally include a rotationally symmetric diffraction grating to cause the excitation energy to assume an annulus superimposed over the image of the collection fibers. The excitation and collection fiber may alternatively be physically spaced apart from one another sufficient to permit one or more optical elements to be disposed in either or both of the excitation and collection paths, depending upon the application.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.