Fiber stretcher apparatus
First Claim
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1. An optical fiber device, comprising:
- a linear actuator responsive to a control signal to cause a dimensional change along a straight line;
a fiber stretcher frame comprising at least one expandable slot that is engaged to the actuator so that the dimensional change along the straight line is across the expandable slot to change a width of the expandable slot, the fiber stretcher frame structured to amplify the dimensional change of the actuator to produce an amplified change in a circumference of an exterior surface of the fiber stretcher frame; and
a fiber loop wrapping around the exterior surface of the fiber stretcher frame that changes a length of the fiber loop with the amplified change in the circumference of the exterior surface of the fiber stretcher frame.
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Abstract
Designs of fiber stretcher apparatus using one or more linear actuators to stretch fiber loops for various applications including variable optical delay lines and devices using such delay lines.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical fiber device, comprising:
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a linear actuator responsive to a control signal to cause a dimensional change along a straight line; a fiber stretcher frame comprising at least one expandable slot that is engaged to the actuator so that the dimensional change along the straight line is across the expandable slot to change a width of the expandable slot, the fiber stretcher frame structured to amplify the dimensional change of the actuator to produce an amplified change in a circumference of an exterior surface of the fiber stretcher frame; and a fiber loop wrapping around the exterior surface of the fiber stretcher frame that changes a length of the fiber loop with the amplified change in the circumference of the exterior surface of the fiber stretcher frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical fiber device, comprising:
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an inner circular frame; a plurality of exterior arc frames separate from one another and arranged to surround the inner circular frame to form an outer circle concentric with the inner circular frame; a plurality of connectors respectively connecting the plurality of exterior arc frames to an outer surface of the inner circular frame, one connector per exterior arc frame, wherein each connector holds each exterior arc frame to the inner circular frame as an integral structure; a plurality of linear actuators arranged in a circle concentric with and engaged to the inner circular frame, each linear actuator oriented to expand or contract along a straight line in a radial direction of the inner circular frame and two linear actuators being engaged to one exterior arc frame symmetrically on two sides of a respective connector for the exterior arc frame to expand and contract to change a radial position of the exterior arc frame relative to the inner circular frame; and a fiber loop wrapping around the exterior surfaces of the exterior arc frames forming the outer circle under an initial stretch condition so that the fiber loop changes a length when the linear actuators expand and contract to change the circumference of the outer circle. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification