Lightpipe network with optical devices for distributing electromagnetic radiation

• US 4,496,211 A
• Filed: 12/05/1980
• Issued: 01/29/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/1980
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Maurice Daniel
• Original Assignee: Maurice Daniel
• Inventors: Daniel, Maurice
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wise, Robert E.
• Application Number:
  US06/213,462
• Time in Patent Office: 1,516 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22, 350/96.24, 350/96.28, 350/258, 350/259, 350/260, 350/262, 350/265, 350/266, 350/269, 362/32, 126/417, 165/485, 165/133, 165/138, 165/144, 165/168, 165/186
• US Class Current: 385/31
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2804 forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2808 using a mixing element which evenly distributes an input signal over a number of outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2817 using reflective elements to split or combine optical signals
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3508 Lateral or transverse displacement of the whole waveguides, e.g. by varying the distance between opposed waveguide ends, or by mutual lateral displacement of opposed waveguide ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/352 the reflective optical element having a shaped reflective surface, e.g. a reflective element comprising several reflective surfaces or facets that function together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3548 1xN switch, i.e. one input and a selectable single output of N possible outputs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3574 Mechanical force, e.g. pressure variations
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/358 Latching of the moving element, i.e. maintaining or holding the moving element in place once operation has been performed; includes a mechanically bistable system
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3582 Housing means or package or arranging details of the switching elements, e.g. for thermal isolation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3594 Characterised by additional functional means, e.g. means for variably attenuating or branching or means for switching differently polarized beams
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/403 of the ferrule type, connecting a pair of ferrules

Abstract

Optical transmission devices suitable for use in constructing lightpipe networks are disclosed. The optical transmission devices include an optical coupler arrangement (1, 34, 72, 73) for connecting a lightpipe to other optical transmission or utilization devices with minimum interface losses. A lens element for collimating light (71, 92) may be secured to the optical coupler arrangement (1, 34, 72, 73), and two collimating lenses (84, 85) together with associated optical couplers (83, 86) may be combined to form an angular divergence reducer light travelling along lightpipes, lightpipe gates (184, 203, 214) for interrupting the flow of light along lightpipes, lightpipe switches (221-265) for directing light from a primary lightpipe to any selected one of a plurality of secondary lightpipes, and lightpipe merge devices (320-332, 360-385) for merging the flow of light from two lightpipes are all interconnected to form a light distribution system. Lightpipe diodes (300-312, 340-352) for insuring unidirectional light flow, lightpipe wall sockets (266-288) and terminators (400, 410) for capping the ends of lightpipes, optical intensity meters (290- 297) for measuring light intensities inside lightpipes and lightpipe dissipaters (390-395) for dissipating excess light are added to the light distribution system to provide a complete lightpipe network (415-457) which safely and efficiently supplies electromagnetic radiation from a source of electromagnetic radiation through various main trunk and branch lightpipe lines to utilization devices.

Claims

1. In combination, a lightpipe and optical coupler assembly for terminating said lightpipe comprising a plurality of optical fibers each having an optical core section with an optical index of refraction, said optical fibers forming said lightpipe, and a coupler assembly connected to one end of said lightpipe, said coupler assembly including a body having a hollow inner sleeve structure for receiving one end of said optical fibers, the end of said optical fibers within said inner sleeve structure being fused into a single rod, and a hollow shaft section extending coaxially from said inner sleeve structure, said hollow shaft section including optical mixing means mounted therein for receiving light from the fused end of said optical fibers, said optical mixing means having an index of refraction which is substantially equal to the index of refraction of the optical core section of said optical fibers.

2. The lightpipe and optical core assembly of claim 1 wherein said optical fibers within said hollow inner sleeve structure extend from said fused end thereof into a tightly packed, unitary bundle, the body of said coupler assembly including heat dissipating means formed on the outer surface thereof around said tightly packed unitary bundle.

3. The lightpipe and optical coupler assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of optical fibers are formed into a plurality of optical fiber bundles surrounded by a layer of metal sheathing, and wherein said optical coupler assembly body also includes a hollow outer sleeve structure which surrounds at least a portion of said hollow inner sleeve structure to define a cavity therebetween having a volume sufficient to receive the metal sheathing of the lightpipe bundles, said metal sheathing being separated from the exterior of one end of said lightpipe bundles and inserted in said cavity while the end of said lightpipe bundles from which said metal sheathing is removed is received in said hollow inner sleeve.

4. An optical couper apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the outer surface of said portion of said hollow inner sleeve structure surrounded by said hollow outer sleeve is serrated to provide a surface for gripping the metal sheathing.

5. An optical coupler apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein a plurality of cooling fins are formed around the outer periphery of said hollow outer sleeve structure.

6. A lightpipe merge device for merging light travelling through a branch lightpipe line with light travelling from a first segment in a main trunk lightpipe line to a second segment in the main trunk lightpipe line, said lightpipe merge device comprising an optical mixing means connected between the first and second segments of the main trunk lightpipe line for transmitting light therebetween, said optical mixing means having a first optical window in optical communication with the first segment of the main trunk lightpipe line and a second optical window in optical communication with the second segment of the main trunk lightpipe line, and an optical merge means for transmitting light from the branch lightpipe line to the interior of said optical mixing means, said optical merge means including a tapered rod means having a first end section which projects into said optical mixing means at an angle such that the angular divergence of light entering the interior of said optical mixing means from said tapered rod means does not increase relative to the light transmitted between the first and second segments of the main trunk lightpipe line, said first end section of said tapered rod means terminating in a third optical window oriented in substantially parallel fashion with respect to said first and second optical windows, said tapered rod means including a fourth optical window of greater cross sectional area than said third optical window and a body tapering inwardly from said forth to said third optical window.

7. A lightpipe divider apparatus for receiving light from a main trunk lightpipe line and for distributing the light so received among a plurality of branch lightpipe lines, said lightpipe divider apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing structure having a cavity formed therein;

(b) a first collimating lens means mounted within said cavity for receiving light from the main trunk lightpipe line and for directing light so received toward one end of said cavity in the form of a parallel light beam, said collimating lens means including a stem having an optical window means positioned adjacent said main trunk lightpipe line to permit the entry of light into said first collimating lens means, a curved lens face spaced from said optical window means, and a lens body which flares outwardly from said stem and extends to said curved lens face;

(c) reflecting means positioned within said cavity for receiving said parallel light beam and for respectively redirecting portions of said parallel light beam toward the plurality of branch lightpipe lines; and

(d) a plurality of additional collimating lens means mounted within said cavity for respectively receiving said portions of said parallel light beam and for respectively focusing said portions so received into the plurality of branch lines, each said additional collimating lens means including a stem having an optical window means positioned adjacent to one of said plurality of branch lightpipe lines, a curved lens face spaced from said optical window means, and a lens body which flares outwardly from said stem and extends between said stem and said curved lens face.

8. A lightpipe divider apparatus as set forth in claim 7, wherein said reflecting means includes a plurality of mirror means fixed to said one end of said cavity at angular orientations with respect to the direction of travel of said parallel light beam for receiving at least some of said portions of said parallel light beam from said first collimating lens means.

9. A lightpipe divider apparatus as set forth in claim 8, wherein said reflecting means also includes a triangular mirror means positioned in spaced relationship from said mirror means to receive and redirect an additional portion of said parallel light beam from said first collimating lens means toward at least one of said plurality of additional collimating lens means.

10. A lightpipe divider apparatus as set forth in claim 9, wherein said mirror means and said triangular mirror means are arranged in split pairs respectively associated with each of the branch lightpipe lines such that each split pair receives an equal portion of high intensity light travelling along the center of said parallel light beam and redirects said equal portion of high intensity light toward the branch lightpipe line associated therewith.

11. A lightpipe dividing apparatus as set forth in claim 10, wherein all of said plurality of mirror means and said triangular mirror means are formed in a single piece of optical grade material which is mounted at said one end of said cavity.

12. A light pipe switch device for use in directing substantially all light from a main trunk lightpipe line to any selected one of a plurality of branch lightpipe lines in a lightpipe network, said lightpipe switch device comprising:

(a) a first supporting structure having a plurality of optical output channels formed therein to communicate respectively with associated branch lightpipe lines in the plurality of branch lightpipe lines;

(b) a plurality of output lens means respectively disposed within said plurality of optical output channels to focus light respectively into the associated branch lightpipe lines;

(c) a second supporting structure mounted for movement relative to said first supporting structure, said second supporting structure having an optical input channel means formed therein to align with a selected one of said plurality of optical output channels in response to the movement of said second supporting structure relative to said first supporting structure; and

(d) optical means within said optical input channel for receiving light from the main trunk lightpipe line and for redirecting substantially all light so received through said selected one of said plurality of optical output channels and into the individual output lens means associated therewith, said optical means including reflecting means mounted in fixed position within said optical input channel and an input lens means mounted inside said optical input channel in fixed position relative to said first supporting structure for collimating and directing light from the main trunk lightpipe line toward said reflecting means mounted within said optical input channel.

13. A lightpipe switch device as set forth in claim 12, including an input lens means mounted inside said optical input channel in fixed position relative to said first supporting structure for collimating and directing light from the main trunk lightpipe line toward said optical means mounted within said optical input channel.

14. A lightpipe switch device as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second supporting structure slides with respect to said first supporting structure.

15. A lightpipe switch device as set forth in claim 14, wherein said second supporting structure includes a toothed track means for engaging a rotating gear such that said second supporting structure slides relative to said first supporting structure in response to rotation of the gear.

16. A lightpipe switch apparatus as set forth in claim 12, wherein said second supporting structure rotates relative to said first supporting structure.

17. A lightpipe switch apparatus as set forth in claim 16, wherein said second supporting structure is circular in shape and said optical input channel includes a first segment formed in alignment with the axis of revolution of said second supporting structure and a second segment radially formed with respect to the axis of revolution of said second supporting structure.

18. A lightpipe switch apparatus as set forth in claim 17, wherein said first supporting structure includes a circular cavity for mounting said second supporting structure and said plurality of optical output channels respectively radiate outward from said cavity.

19. An optical coupler apparatus comprising:

(a) a lightpipe assembly including a plurality of optical fiber bundles surrounded by at least one layer of protective material, each of said plurality of optical fiber bundles including a plurality of optical fibers, each having a core material surrounded by at least one layer of cladding material, said plurality of optical fibers being loosely arranged in a first region of said lightpipe assembly and being brought into contact with one another, and the cladding material between adjacent optical fibers removed in a second region of said lightpipe assembly, and the core material from said plurality of optical fibers being fused into a single rod element in a third region of said lightpipe assembly;

(b) a hollow inner sleeve structure which receives said lightpipe assembly and which surrounds at least said second and third regions of said lightpipe assembly;

(c) a hollow outer sleeve structure which surrounds at least a portion of said hollow inner sleeve structure to define a cavity therebetween, said cavity having a volume sufficient to receive said layer of protective material in said lightpipe assembly while said hollow inner sleeve surrounds said second and third regions of said lightpipe assmebly;

(d) an optical mixing means mounted within said hollow inner sleeve structure to receive light from said single rod element and to uniformly disperse light so received throughout the cross-sectional area of said hollow inner sleeve structure; and

(e) a lens means mounted within said hollow inner sleeve structure to receive light from said optical mixing means and to focus light so received into a light beam which exits from said hollow inner sleeve structure along an optical axis such that the intensity of said light beam is greatest at said optical axis.

20. A lightpipe socket structure for removably receiving a male optical coupler of an optical device and for transmitting light from a light source to the male optical coupler only after the male optical coupler has been received by said lightpipe socket structure, comprising:

(a) a female optical coupler including a sleeve portion having a central bore into which the male optical coupler is inserted,

(b) beam forming means for receiving light from the light source and for directing light in the form of a beam along a predetermined path which angularly intersects the central longitudinal axis of said central bore;

(c) light redirecting means mounted for reciprocating movement along the central longitudinal axis of said central bore and operative to redirect said beam from said beam forming means toward said female optical coupler, said light redirecting means including a first optical window means for receiving said beam from said beam forming means, a second optical window means aligned with said central bore in said female optical coupler for passing light into said central bore, and optical means for transmitting said beam from said first optical window means to said second optical window means;

(d) biasing means for contacting said light redirecting means to normally bias said light redirecting means to a first position wherein said first optical window means is out of the path of said beam; and

(e) actuating means extending from said light redirecting means for contacting said male optical coupler when said male optical coupler is inserted into said central bore to move said first optical window means to a second position in the path of said beam.

21. The lightpipe socket structure of claim 20 wherein said light redirecting means reflects light back into said beam forming means when said light redirecting means is in said first position.