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US 11,899,193 B2Granted
Shaped reflector for alternative microscopy lighting techniques
AssigneeViavi Solutions Inc.
InventorsKevin Cassady, Jay Gregory Brace, Robert Matthew Adams
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A microscope may receive a fiber optic connector via a connector adapter of the microscope, wherein the connector adapter includes an opening and a shaped reflective surface surrounding the opening. The microscope may align a ferrule of the fiber optic connector with the opening of the connector adapter of the microscope, wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule endface. The microscope may transmit light onto the shaped reflective surface and may receive reflected light from the ferrule endface and with a camera of the microscope.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- receiving, by a microscope, a fiber optic connector via a connector adapter of the microscope,
- wherein the connector adapter includes an opening and a shaped reflective surface surrounding the opening;
- aligning, by the microscope, a ferrule of the fiber optic connector with the opening of the connector adapter of the microscope,
- wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule endface;
- transmitting, by the microscope, light onto the shaped reflective surface,
- wherein the light is a single light source configurable for multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques,
- wherein the single light source is configured to be used with the shaped reflective surface to provide a first microscopy lighting technique of the multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques, and
- wherein the single light source is configured to provide a second microscopy lighting technique, different than the first microscopy lighting technique and of the multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques, when used with another shaped reflective surface;
- and
- receiving, by the microscope, reflected light from the ferrule endface and with a camera of the microscope.
7 more elements
A microscope, comprising:
- a connector adapter that includes an opening and a shaped reflective surface surrounding the opening,
- wherein the connector adapter is configured to align a ferrule of a fiber optic connector with the opening of the connector adapter,
- wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule endface;
- a light source configured to transmit light to the shaped reflective surface and onto the ferrule endface,
- wherein the light is a single light source configurable for multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques,
- wherein the single light source is configured to be used with the shaped reflective surface to provide a first microscopy lighting technique of the multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques, and
- wherein the single light source is configured to provide a second microscopy lighting technique, different than the first microscopy lighting technique and of the multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques, when used with another shaped reflective surface;
- and
- a camera configured to receive reflected light from the ferrule endface.
6 more elements
A connector adapter, comprising:
- a body portion configured to connect with an optical microscope,
- wherein the body portion includes an opening that is configured to receive and retain a ferrule of a fiber optic connector,
- wherein the ferrule includes a ferrule endface;
- and
- a shaped reflective surface surrounding the opening and being configured to:
- receive light from a light source of the optical microscope,
- wherein the light is a single light source configurable for multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques,
- wherein the single light source is configured to be used with the shaped reflective surface to provide a first microscopy lighting technique of the multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques, and
- wherein the single light source is configured to provide a second microscopy lighting technique, different than the first microscopy lighting technique and of the multiple alternative microscopy lighting techniques,
- when used with another shaped reflective surface, and
- reflect the light, as reflected light, to a camera of the optical microscope and via the ferrule endface.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.