Image-transmitting fiber

• US 4,896,941 A
• Filed: 03/02/1989
• Issued: 01/30/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/1985
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Japan Nuclear Cycle Development Institute (Japan Atomic Energy Agency)
• Original Assignee: Doryokuro Kakunenryo Kaihatsu Jigyodan, Fujikura Limited
• Inventors: Hayashi, Shotaro, Ishii, Kiyonori, Sonobe, Tsugio, Sanada, Kazuo, Tsumanuma, Takashi, Fukuda, Osamu, Chigira, Sadao
• Primary Examiner(s): Sikes, William L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US07/325,033
• Time in Patent Office: 334 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.10, 350/96.23, 350/96.24, 350/96.26
• US Class Current: 385/116
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/06 the relative position of the fibres being the same at both ends, e.g. for transporting images

Abstract

An image-transmitting fiber includes at least one first fiber element for transmitting light power therethrough, and a plurality of second fiber elements disposed around and extending along the first fiber element. The second fiber elements cooperates with one another for transmitting an image of an object therethrough. The first fiber element is greater in diameter than each of the second fiber elements.

Claims

1. In image-transmitting fiber for transmitting an image of an object from one end of the fiber to the other end, the fiber comprising at least one first fiber element for transmitting light power therethrough, and a plurality of second fiber elements disposed around and extending along said first fiber element, said second fiber elements cooperating with one another for transmitting the image of the object therethrough, and said first fiber element being greater in diameter than each of said second fiber elements.

2. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 1, in which said first fiber element is composed of a core and a cladding formed around said core, and wherein said core of said first fiber element is not less than 50 μ

m.

3. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 2, in which said core of said first fiber element is made of pure silica, and wherein said cladding of said first fiber element is made of one of fluorine-doped silica, boron-doped silica and fluorine-boron-doped silica.

4. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 1, in which said first fiber element is disposed at the center of said image-transmitting fiber.

5. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 1, further comprising a jacket of quartz formed around said second fiber elements, and a coating of a synthetic resin formed around said jacket.

6. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 1, wherein at least at the ends of said image transmitting fiber, the axes of said second fiber elements are aligned with the axis of said first fiber element and the relative positions of said second fiber elements to each other are maintained to transfer an image of the area a round an object therethrough when the optical axis of said first fiber element is aligned with the object.

7. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 2, wherein each of said second fiber elements is at most 10 μ

m in diameter.

8. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 1, wherein said first fiber element and each of said second fiber elements have a ratio of at least five to one in diameter.

9. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 1, wherein a great number of said second fiber elements, each second fiber element having practically an identical diameter, are fuse bonded one to the other at peripheries thereof and a cross-section of said image-transmitting fiber is uniform throughout the length thereof, whereby each of said second fiber elements transmitting a local optical image of an area around the object so as to make a total image of the area therefrom.

10. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 9, wherein said first fiber element and said second fiber elements are so aligned that said first fiber element transmits the light emitted from the object when said second fiber elements transmit an image of an area at a center of the object which is located.

11. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 10, wherein optical axes of said first fiber element and second fiber elements are parallel to a longitudinal axis of said image-transmitting fiber.

12. An image-transmitting fiber according to claim 11, wherein a first end of said image-transmitting fiber is so adopted that said first fiber element receives the light power emitted from the object and said second fiber elements receive the optical image of an area around the object, and a second end of said image-transmitting fiber is so adopted that said first fiber element is connectable to an analyzer and said second fiber elements is connectable to a view finder.

13. An emission spectroscopic analysis system comprises:

(a) a plasma generator having three electrodes which are disposed at equal angular intervals about a center of the electrodes, and plasma generator generating a plasma flame at the center;

(b) an analyzer for analyzing light power emitted from a specimen which is excited by the plasma flame; and

(c) an image-transmitting fiber including one first fiber element disposed at a center thereof for transmitting light power emitted from the excited specimen from one end of said first fiber element to the other end, and a plurality of second fiber elements disposed around and extending along said first fiber element to the other end, and a plurality of second fiber elements disposed around and extending along said first fiber element, said second fiber elements cooperating with one another for transmitting the image of the plasma flame from one end of said second fiber elements to the other end, and said first fiber element being greater in diameter than each of said second fiber elements, an end of said image-transmitting fiber being so adopted that said first fiber element receives the light power emitted from the excited specimen when said second fiber elements receive the optical image of the periphery of the plasma flame and an area therearound, and the other end of said image-transmitting fiber being so adopted that said first fiber element is connectable to said analyzer and said second fiber elements is connectable to a view finder.