Method and apparatus for fabrication of plastic fiber optic block materials and large flat panel displays
US6892011B2 · kind B2 · utility
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 14, 2001 |
| Grant date | May 10, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 14, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB29L2011/0075
- WIPO fieldOther special machines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
This invention concerns a method and apparatus for manufacturing a sheet and a two-dimensional matrix of plastic optical fibers. The fibers may be of the step-index or graded-index type. Co-extrusion through a specially designed die is used to produce a sheet composed of a fiber array. The fiber sheet (ribbon) can be used for transmitting optical signals. These arrays may also be stacked and fused at high temperatures to form the two-dimensional matrix required for many applications such as large area image transfer. In addition, a high-speed, continuous manufacturing method is disclosed to produce a massive two-dimensional matrix of fibers. The method of manufacture permits high quality image transfer at low manufacturing cost in a wide array of geometries.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.