×

Optical apparatus for receiving scattered light

  • US 5,461,476 A
  • Filed: 12/05/1994
  • Issued: 10/24/1995
  • Est. Priority Date: 11/30/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
Patent Images

1. Optical apparatus, comprising:

  • a) a lens which receives scattered light;

    b) an optical fiber bundle comprising a central optical fiber and at least one ring of optical fibers therearound, each optical fiber having a first end and a second end, wherein a first end of each of said central optical fiber and first ends of said at least one ring of optical fibers are positioned to receive light passing through said lens, said central optical fiber collecting light at the focus of said lens, the numerical aperture of the fibers being chosen to match the f/number of said lens, and the fiber core to clad diameter of each fiber being selected large enough to ensure maximum light throughput;

    c) a plurality of light detectors, wherein each light detector of said plurality of light detectors is positioned to receive light from one of said second end of said central optical fiber and said second ends of said at least one ring of optical fibers; and

    d) each of said plurality of light detectors having a respective active area, and each respective second end of said central optical fiber and said at least one ring of optical fibers having a respective image size and where a respective light detector of said plurality of light detectors receives light from a second end having an image size larger than said active area, a short focal-length lens being provided between said second end and its respective light detector, substantially all the light from a given ring being collected on to a respective detector, the fiber exit plane being imaged on to the plane of the respective detector with appropriate de-magnification.

View all claims
  • 0 Assignments
Timeline View
Assignment View
    ×
    ×