Fiber optic light mixer

US6487343B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• Hutchinson Technology Incorporated · US

Inventors

• Mark S. Lewandowski · Hutchinson, US
• Kenneth R. Quast · Hutchinson, US
• Dean E. Myers · Stewart, US
• Mark A. Schmidt · Darwin, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 1, 2000
• Grant date: Nov 26, 2002
• Expiry date: Jun 1, 2020

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/4298
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical structure for combining light from a plurality of individual optical fibers into a single optical transmission device. The structure can be incorporated into the optical probe of a spectrophotometric instrument and includes a plurality of optical send fibers having input and output ends and an optical light mixer having input and output ends. The output ends of the send fibers are secured in optical communication with the input end of the light mixer.