Micro-fabricated optical waveguide for use in scanning fiber displays and scanned fiber image acquisition
US6856712B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 26, 2001 |
| Grant date | Feb 15, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 12, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3586
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Small, rugged scanners micro-fabricated from commercial optical fibers to form waveguides or other structures. The scanning waveguide has a distal portion on which is formed a non-linear taper with a diameter that decreases toward a distal end. Optionally, a hinge portion having a reduced diameter can be formed in the distal portion, improving the scanning properties of the waveguide. A micro-lens can be integrally formed at the distal tip of the waveguide with either a droplet of an optical adhesive, or by using an energy beam to melt the material of the waveguide to form a droplet. The droplet is shaped with an externally applied force. When mechanically driven in vibratory resonance, the tip of the optical waveguides moves in linear or two-dimensional scan patterns of relatively high amplitude and frequency, and large field of view. The scanner can be used either for image acquisition or image display.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.