Fiber optic light mixer

• US 6,487,343 B1
• Filed: 06/01/2000
• Issued: 11/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Hutchinson Technology Incorporated (TDK Corporation)
• Inventors: Myers, Dean E., Schmidt, Mark A., Quast, Kenneth R., Lewandowski, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): SIKDER, MOHAMMAD YUNUS
• Application Number:
  US09/585,144
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 385/51, 385/24, 385/28, 385/32, 385/46, 385/43, 385/48, 385/27, 385/30, 385/52
• US Class Current: 385/51
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/02 Details
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0218 using optical fibers
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0232 using shutters
• CPC Class Codes: G01J 3/0291 Housings; Spectrometer accessories; Spatial arrangement of elements, e.g. folded path arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/274 Calibration, base line adjustment, drift correction
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3151 using two sources of radiation of different wavelengths G01N21/33 - G01N21/39 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/3563 for analysing solids; Preparation of samples therefor
• 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 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4249 comprising arrays of active devices and fibres
• 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 structure for combining light from a plurality of individual optical fibers into a single optical transmission device. The structure can be incorporated into the optical probe of a spectrophotometric instrument and includes a plurality of optical send fibers having input and output ends and an optical light mixer having input and output ends. The output ends of the send fibers are secured in optical communication with the input end of the light mixer.

Claims

1. An optical structure for combining light from a plurality of individual optical fibers into a single optical transmission device, including:

a plurality of optical send fibers having input and output ends and diameters, for transmitting light from the input ends to the output ends;

an optical light mixer having input and output ends and configured to receive and mix the light from the send fibers and transmit the mixed light from the input end through the output end onto a target; and

structure for securing the output ends of the send fibers in optical communication with the input end of the light mixer,

the output end of the light mixer being sized to transmit light out of the mixer at a power density no higher than the power density of light received from at least one of the send fibers.

2. The optical structure of claim 1 wherein the structure for securing the send fibers to the light mixer includes adhesive.

3. The optical structure of claim 1 and further including a ferrule encompassing the output ends of the send fibers.

4. The optical structure of claim 3 and further including adhesive for securing the output ends of the send fibers within the ferrule.

5. The optical structure of claim 4 wherein the structure for securing the send fibers to the light mixer includes adhesive.

6. An optical tissue probe including the optical structure of claim 1 mounted thereto with the output end of the light mixer in communication with a tissue-facing surface of the probe.

7. The optical structure of claim 1 wherein the light mixer includes an optical fiber.

8. The optical structure of claim 7 and further including:

a send fiber ferrule for encompassing the output ends of the send fibers;

a mixer fiber ferrule for encompassing the input end of the light mixer ferrule; and

a housing for joining the send fiber ferrule and the mixer ferrule and to urge the output ends of the send fibers into optical communication with the input end of the light mixer.

9. The optical structure of claim 1 wherein each of the send fibers transmits light having a different wavelength.

10. The optical structure of claim 7, wherein the optical fiber has a circular cross-section.