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Transducer for converting acoustic energy directly into optical energy

  • US 4,071,753 A
  • Filed: 03/31/1975
  • Issued: 01/31/1978
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/31/1975
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A transducer for converting acoustic energy directly into optical energy without first converting the energy into electrical form comprising:

  • an input optical fiber for carrying steady state optical power and having an output end;

    a source of steady state optical power connected to the input optical fiber;

    an output optical fiber for carrying modulated optical power and having an input end, the input end being normally optically positioned relative to the output end of the input fiber so that a predetermined portion of the optical power carried by the input optical fiber is coupled into the output optical fiber;

    a diaphragm for receiving acoustic information containing energy from a source and for producing at an output an oscillatory mechanical motion indicative of the acoustic information;

    means responsive to the mechanical output of the diaphragm for varying the portion of optical power coupled between the input optical fiber and the output optical fiber; and

    a transducer housing to which the output end of the input optical fiber, the input end of the output optical fiber, the diaphragm and the means for varying the portion of coupled optical power are physically connected for support and protection,the means for varying the coupled optical power including the respective end of one of the optical fibers being fixedly positioned within the transducer housing and the respective end of the other of the optical fibers being connected to the diaphragm so that upon impingement of information containing acoustic energy against the diaphragm relative oscillatory lateral movement is established between the respective ends of the optical fibers to cause a variance in the optical power coupled into the output optical fiber thereby providing amplitude modulation of the optical power carried by the output optical fiber.

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