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US4793679A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical coupling system

Assignee: General Electric Co
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Filing: 1987-04-20
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Granted: 1988-12-27
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Expires: 2007-04-20
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Abstract

Abstract An optical coupling system comprises a radiation emitting device and a radiation receiver. The radiation emitting device has an emitting end face and emits radiation having an optical axis of symmetry which is inclined at an output angle relative to the direction perpendicular to the emitting end face. The radiation receiver has a receiving axis and a receiving end face which is inclined at a wedge angle relative to a plane perpendicular to the receiving axis and the receiving end face is positioned adjacent the emitting device. The receiving end face may be first inclined at the wedge angle such that the optical axis of incident radiation is inclined at an angle relative to the normal of the receiving end face. The receiver is then positioned such that the receiving axis is inclined at a receiving angle relative to the normal of the receiving end face such that the radiation propagates about in the direction of the receiving axis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Minoru Toda
  • 👤 Gerard A. Alphonse

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 06:36
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/4203

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim 128 words
An optical system comprising: a radiation emitting device having a first optical axis and an emitting end face wherein the emitted radiation has an output optical axis of symmetry, said optical axis of symmetry being inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to said emitting end face and relative to said first axis; and a radiation receiver having a receiving axis and a receiving end face wherein said receiving end face is inclined at a wedge angle relative to a plane perpendicular to said receiving axis to maximize the amount of radiation received by the receiver, said receiving end face being positioned adjacent said emitting end face so that said emitted radiation is incident upon said receiving end face, said receiver axis being inclined relative to said first axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 128 words
An optical system comprising: a radiation emitting device having a first optical axis and an emitting end face wherein the emitted radiation has an output optical axis of symmetry, said optical axis of symmetry being inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to said emitting end face and relative to said first axis; and a radiation receiver having a receiving axis and a receiving end face wherein said receiving end face is inclined at a wedge angle relative to a plane perpendicular to said receiving axis to maximize the amount of radiation received by the receiver, said receiving end face being positioned adjacent said emitting end face so that said emitted radiation is incident upon said receiving end face, said receiver axis being inclined relative to said first axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 18 words
The optical system of claim 1 wherein said receiving end face is parallel to said emitting end face.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 21 words
The optical system of claim 1 wherein said wedge angle is formed such that said radiation propagates along said receiving axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 55 words
The optical system of claim 3 wherein said wedge angle is about equal to the inverse sine of the refractive index of the medium adjacent the radiation receiver times the sine of angle of the emitted radiation relative to the normal of the receiving end face, divided by the refractive index of the radiation receiver.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The optical system of claim 1 wherein said receiving end face is inclined at an angle relative to a plane parallel to said emitting end face.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 17 words
The optical system of claim 5 wherein said receiving end face is inclined toward the Brewster angle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 35 words
The optical system of claim 1 wherein said optical axis is inclined at an angle of about 73° relative to the direction perpendicular to said emitting end face and said wedge angle is about 41°.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 14 words
The optical system of claim 1 wherein said radiation receiver is an optical fiber.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 142 words
An optical system comprising: a radiation emitting device having a first optical axis and an emitting end face through which radiation having an output optical axis of symmetry is emitted, said axis of symmetry being inclined relative to the first optical axis; and a radiation receiver having a receiving axis and a receiving end face wherein said receiving end face is inclined at a wedge angle relative to a plane perpendicular to said receiving axis and said radiation receiver is positioned such that said receiving axis is inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to said receiving end face to maximize the amount of said emitted radiation which propagates about in the direction of said receiving axis, said receiver being positioned so that the emitted radiation is incident upon said receiving end face, said receiver axis being inclined relative to said first axis.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 142 words
An optical system comprising: a radiation emitting device having a first optical axis and an emitting end face through which radiation having an output optical axis of symmetry is emitted, said axis of symmetry being inclined relative to the first optical axis; and a radiation receiver having a receiving axis and a receiving end face wherein said receiving end face is inclined at a wedge angle relative to a plane perpendicular to said receiving axis and said radiation receiver is positioned such that said receiving axis is inclined relative to the direction perpendicular to said receiving end face to maximize the amount of said emitted radiation which propagates about in the direction of said receiving axis, said receiver being positioned so that the emitted radiation is incident upon said receiving end face, said receiver axis being inclined relative to said first axis.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 56 words
The optical system of claim 9 wherein said receiving angle is about equal to the inverse sine of the refractive index of the medium adjacent the radiation receiver times the sine of the angle of the emitted radiation relative to the normal of the receiving end face, divided by the refractive index of the radiation receiver.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 14 words
The optical system of claim 9 wherein said radiation receiver is an optical fiber.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4165496A Cited
US4270134A Cited
US4251780A Cited
US4294510A Cited
US4432091A Cited
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JPS5924818A Cited
FR2556480A1 Cited
EP0147862A1 Cited
JPS61178601A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-12-27 1992-06-27 1992-12-27 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-12-27 1996-06-27 1996-12-27 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-12-27 2000-06-27 2000-12-27 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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