Liquid-core light guide designed to withstand interior bubble formation from temperature-induced volumetric variations
AssigneeSoutheastern Univ. Research Assn.
InventorsRandolph Frank Wojcik, Stanislaw Majewski, Carl John Zorn
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A termination for a light guide having optical cladding tubing and a liquid core includes a volumetric change device configured to allow fluid flow out of the tubing whenever the liquid core expands and to allow fluid flow into the tubing whenever the liquid core contracts, an end plug fixed to the tubing to retain the liquid in the liquid core within the tubing and the end piece and a crimping piece for holding the end plug in place.
Claims39
A termination for a light guide having optical cladding tubing and a liquid core, the termination comprising:
- volumetric change device configured to allow fluid flow out of the tubing whenever the liquid core expands and to allow fluid flow into the tubing whenever the liquid core contracts;
- an end plug fixed to the tubing to retain the liquid in the liquid core within the tubing and said end piece;
- and
- crimping piece for holding said end plug in place.
A method for terminating a light guide having optical cladding tubing and a liquid core, the method comprising:
- allowing fluid flow out of the tubing whenever the liquid core expands and to allow fluid flow into the tubing whenever the liquid core contracts using a volumetric change device;
- retaining the liquid in the liquid core within the tubing and said end piece with an end plug fixed to the tubing;
- and
- holding said end plug in place.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.