Plastic optical fibres
AssigneeBAE SYSTEMS plc
InventorsHenry Jameson White, Geoffrey Martland Proudley, Ying Lia Li
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention relates to methods and devices for shaping plastic optical fibres (POFs), more specifically for optically modifying and yet more specifically for rapidly joining two portions of the plastic optical fibres to create a new optical connection. The plastic optical fibres may be heated under controlled conditions, to soften them and lens, sensor or patterns may be imprinted on portions of the fibre. Methods are provide to optical joints, and combined physical and optical joints.
Claims16
A method of shaping a plastic optical fibre, comprising:
- selecting a portion of fibre to be shaped;
- providing a shaping surface, which comprises a template which imparts a pattern onto the portion of fibre;
- causing heating and mating of the portion of fibre and said shaping surface;
- causing the portion of fibre to be softened, such that it is capable of moulding to the surface structure defined on the template on said shaping surface, during mating, so as to impart the pattern onto the portion of fibre;
- and
- causing the surface of the portion of fibre to cool such that portion of fibre comprising the pattern sets.
A method creating a link between an LED and at least one plastic optical fibre, comprising:
- providing a plastic optical fibre comprising a first terminal end with a first pattern, which is the reciprocal of an outer surface of the LED;
- optionally comprising heating said first terminal end to the point of melting, mating together with said LED, and causing cooling of said joined LED-plastic optical fibre.
(canceled)
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.