Optical part including integral combination of optical fiber and light emitting or receiving element and method of manufacturing the same

• US 4,946,242 A
• Filed: 08/22/1988
• Issued: 08/07/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/1987
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd., Hitachi Cable Limited (Proterial Ltd.)
• Inventors: Shimazaki, Yukio, Mukai, Junji, Ibamoto, Masahiko, Asano, Hideki, Eguchi, Shuji, Tanno, Seikichi, Taketani, Noriaki, Takuma, Yuuetsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Application Number:
  US07/234,929
• Time in Patent Office: 715 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.10, 350/96.11, 350/96.12, 350/96.15, 350/96.16, 350/96.20, 350/96.29, 350/96.30, 350/96.34, 350/271-275, 15/339, 60/908, 68/13 R, 73/488, 73/494, 73/499, 220/1 B, 220/900, 250/227, 356/28, 350/271-275
• US Class Current: 385/88
• CPC Class Codes: G01F 23/2927 for several discrete levels, e.g. with more than one light-conducting sensing element
• CPC Class Codes: G01P 3/486 delivered by photo-electric detectors
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4202 for coupling an active element with fibres without intermediate optical elements, e.g. fibres with plane ends, fibres with shaped ends, bundles
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4212 the intermediate optical element being a coupling medium interposed therebetween, e.g. epoxy resin, refractive index matching material, index grease, matching liquid or gel
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4298 coupling with non-coherent light sources and/or radiation detectors, e.g. lamps, incandescent bulbs, scintillation chambers

Abstract

An optical part for light transmission comprises a light conductor formed of a core of a transparent material and a clad of a material having a smaller refractive index than that of the core material, and a light emitting and/or receiving element, wherein the light emitting and/or receiving element is integrally combined with the core of the light conductor by a same material as the core material or by a material having a same refractive index as that of the core material and having a greater rigidity than that of the material forming the clad and/or jacket. The optical part can be used in a high temperature environment as well as a room temperature environment without involving any appreciable loss in light transmission.

Claims

1. An optical part for light transmission, comprising a light conductor composed of a core formed of a transparent macromolecular material and a clad or a combined clad and jacket formed of a macromolecular material having a smaller refractive index than that of said core material, and a light emitting and/or receiving element incorporated in said light conductor at least at one end portion thereof, wherein said core has a higher rigidity than that of said clad or said combined clad and jacket and wherein a macromolecular material combining said light emitting and/or receiving element integrally with said light conductor at the end portion thereof has a substantially same refractive index as that of the core material.

2. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 1, wherein said macromolecular material combining said light emitting and/or receiving element integrally with said light conductor at the end portion thereof is a transparent bridge-making (cross-linking) type resin.

6. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 2, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR8## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23, and a monomer given by the following general formula (II);

##STR9## wherein R₃ represents H or CH₃ and R₄ represents H or a radical selected from a group of alkyls having carbons in a number of 1 to 18, ##STR10##

7. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 2, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR11## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

8. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 1, wherein the core material of said light conductor is a transparent bridge-making (cross-linking) type resin.

9. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 8, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR12## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

10. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 8, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR13## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23, and a monomer given by the following general formula (II);

##STR14## where R₃ represents H or CH₃ and R₄ represents H or a radical selected from a group of alkyls having carbons in a number of 1 to 18, ##STR15##

11. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 1, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR16## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

3. An optical part for light transmission according to claim wherein the core material of said light conductor is a transparent bridge-making (cross-linking) type resin.

4. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 3, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR4## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

5. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 3, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR5## where R₁ and R₂ represents H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23, and a monomer given by the following general formula (II);

##STR6## where R₂ represents H or CH₃ and R₄ represents H or a radical selected from a group of alkyls having carbons in a number of 1 to 18, ##STR7##

12. An optical part for light transmission, comprising a light conductor composed of a core formed of a transparent macromolecular material and a clad or a combined clad and jacket formed of a macromolecular material having a smaller refractive index than that of said core material, and a light emitting and/or receiving element incorporated in said light conductor at least at one end portion thereof, wherein said core has a higher rigidity than that of said clad or said combined clad and jacket and wherein a macromolecular material combining said light emitting and/or receiving element integrally with said light conductor at the end portion thereof has a substantially same composition as that of the core material.

13. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 12, wherein said macromolecular material combining said light emitting and/or receiving element integrally with said light conductor at the end portion thereof is a transparent bridge-making (cross-linking) type resin.

14. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 13, wherein the core material of said light conductor is a transparent bridge-making (cross-linking) type resin.

15. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 14, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR17## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23, and a monomer given by the following general formula (II);

##STR18## where R₃ represents H or CH₃ and R₄ represents H or a radical selected from a group of alkyls having carbons in a number of 1 to 18, ##STR19##

16. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 13, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR20## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

17. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 13, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR21## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23, and a monomer given by the following general formula (II);

##STR22## where R₃ represents H or CH₃ and R₄ represents H or a radical selected from a group of alkyls having carbons in a number of 1 to 18, ##STR23##

18. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 12, wherein the core material of said light conductor is a transparent bridge-making (cross-linking) type resin.

19. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 18, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR24## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

20. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 18, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR25## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23, and a monomer given by the following general formula (II);

##STR26## where R₃ represents H or CH₃ and R₄ represents H or a radical selected from a group of alkyls having carbons in a number of 1 to 18, ##STR27##

21. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 12, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR28## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

22. An optical part for light transmission, comprising a light conductor formed of a core of a transparent macromolecular material and a clad or a combined clad and jacket formed of a material having a smaller refractive index than that of said core material, and a light emitting and/or receiving element incorporated in said light conductor, wherein a plurality of said light conductors are included and combined together at one end portions thereof, said core has a higher rigidity than that of said clad or said clad and jacket combination, and wherein a macromolecular material combining said light emitting and/or receiving element integrally with said plurality of light conductors at said one end portions has a substantially same refractive index as that of said core material.

23. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 22, wherein the core material of said light conductor is a transparent bridge-making (cross-linking) resin.

24. An optical part for light transmission, comprising a light conductor formed of a core of a transparent macromolecular material and a clad or a combined clad and jacket formed of a material having a smaller refractive index than that of said core material, and a light emitting and/or receiving element incorporated in said light conductor, wherein a plurality of said light conductors are included and combined together at one end portions thereof, said core has a higher rigidity than that of said clad or said clad and jacket combination, and wherein a macromolecular material combining said light emitting and/or receiving element integrally with said plurality of light conductors at said one end portions has a substantially same composition as that of said core material.

25. An optical part for light transmission according to claim 24, wherein the core material of said light conductor is a transparent bridge-making (cross-linking) resin.

26. A method of manufacturing an optical part, comprising steps of:

preparing a light conductor composed of a core formed of a transparent macromolecular material and a clad formed of a transparent macromolecular material having a lower refractive index than that of said core material, said core material having a higher rigidity than that of said clad material;

removing the core material from an end portion of said light conductor;

placing a light emitting and/or receiving element in the end portion of said light conductor from which the core material has been removed; and

combining said light emitting and/or receiving element integrally with said light conductor by a material having a substantially same refractive index as that of said core material.

27. A method according to claim 26, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR29## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

28. A method of manufacturing an optical part, comprising steps of:

forming a coupling member of a transparent macromolecular material having a substantially same refractive index as that of a clad of a light conductor and provided with a bore for inserting said light conductor therein and a bore for mounting therein a light emitting element and/or a light-receiving element;

inserting in said light conductor inserting bore a light conductor composed of a clad formed of macromolecular material having a lower refractive index than that of a core material forming a part of said light conductor, said core material having a higher rigidity than that of said clad material;

inserting said light emitting element and/or said light receiving element into the associated mounting bore; and

combining said light emitting element and/or light receiving element integrally with said light conductor by molding with a macromolecular material having a substantially same refractive index as that of said core material.

29. A method according to claim 28, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR30## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

30. A method of manufacturing an optical part, comprising the steps of:

inserting into a molding die provided with more than one light conductor inserting portions and a mounting portion for a light emitting and/or receiving element, light conductors each including a clad formed of a macromolecular material having a smaller refractive index than that of a core material which has a higher rigidity than that of said clad material;

placing said light emitting and/or receiving element in said molding die;

molding said light emitting and/or receiving element with a macromolecular material having a substantially same refractive index as that of said core material; and

coating the exposed portion of said core with a material having a substantially same refractive index as that of said clad material.

31. A method according to claim 30, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR31## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.

32. A light sensing device, comprising a light conductor formed of a core of a transparent macromolecular material and a clad or a combined clad and jacket of a macromolecular material having a smaller refractive index than that of said core material, and a light emitting and/or receiving element incorporated in said light conductor at least at one end portion thereof, wherein said core has a higher rigidity than that of said clad and wherein a macromolecular material combining said light emitting and/or receiving element integrally with said light conductor at the end portion thereof has a substantially same refractive index as that of said core material.

33. The light-sensing device according to claim 32, in combination with a casing and/or outlet conduit of a washing machine for detecting, respectively, the amount of water and/or contamination of the water therein.

34. The light-sensing device according to claim 32, in combination with a suction port of a vacuum cleaner for detecting the amount of dust in the air sucked via said port of said cleaner.

35. The light-sensing device according to claim 32, in combination with an auxiliary oil-containing pipe of an oil tank for detecting the amount of oil and/or contamination therein.

36. A rotational speed sensor including as detecting means the light-sensing device set forth in claim 32, and a rotating disk mounted on a shaft having slits through which light from the device is passed to determine the rotational speed of said shaft.

37. A light sensing device according to claim 32, wherein said core material is a macromolecular material formed through polymerization of monomer compositions including monomers given by the following general formula (I):

##STR32## where R₁ and R₂ represent H or CH₃ and n represents an integer in a range of 1 to 23.