Method and apparatus for forming erasable, real time, optical circuits
First Claim
1. A method of providing real time optical channels and components for interconnecting optical fibers coupled to a transducer, comprising the steps of:
- coupling the optical fibers to the transducer to provide an air free connection between the optical fibers and the transducer;
generating the light beam;
directing the light beam toward the transducer;
controlling the transmission of the light beam to expose a predetermined portion of the transducer in accordance with a perdetermined pattern;
optically interconnecting the optical fibers in accordance with the predetermined pattern upon exposure of the transducer to the light beam; and
subsequently erasing the optical interconnection between the optical fibers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for forming optical circuit channels and components in a transducer for connecting optical elements coupled to the transducer including the steps of and associated apparatus for, generating a light beam, directing the light beam toward the transducer, controlling the transmission of the light beam to expose a predetermined portion of the transducer to the light beam in accordance with a predetermined pattern, optically coupling certain optical elements of the transducer in accordance with the predetermined circuit pattern formed in the transducer by the light beam, and erasing the optical pattern formed in the transducer.
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Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method of providing real time optical channels and components for interconnecting optical fibers coupled to a transducer, comprising the steps of:
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coupling the optical fibers to the transducer to provide an air free connection between the optical fibers and the transducer; generating the light beam; directing the light beam toward the transducer; controlling the transmission of the light beam to expose a predetermined portion of the transducer in accordance with a perdetermined pattern; optically interconnecting the optical fibers in accordance with the predetermined pattern upon exposure of the transducer to the light beam; and subsequently erasing the optical interconnection between the optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 41)
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15. A system for providing real time optical channels and components for optical fibers coupled to a transducer, comprising:
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optical fibers mechanically coupled to the transducer through connectors extending outwardly therefrom, said connectors including means for expelling air to provide an air-free coupling between the optical fibers and the transducer upon insertion of the optical fibers into the connectors; means for generating a light beam; means interposed between said generating means and the transducer for transmitting a predetermined portion of the light beam to the transducer in accordance with a predetermined optical pattern to interconnect the optical fibers in accordance with the predetermined optical pattern formed in the transducer; and means for erasing the optical pattern formed in the transducer. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42)
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38. voltage means for biasing the transducer for operation in the birefringent mode.
Specification