Multichannel optical fiber bundle with ordered structure in its sensitive probe tip
AssigneeCeramOptec Industries, Inc.
InventorsGeorge L. Danielian, Wolfgang Neuberger
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Abstract
Multifunctional optical fiber bundles for image and signal transmission or sensor applications are proposed. The optical fiber bundles exhibit reduced speckle noise resulting from spatial inhomogeneity and asymmetry of radiation of specific fibers of the bundle. This is achieved by ordering of fiber positions in the bundle sensitive probe tips according to some prescribed rule.
Claims18
A flexible, multichannel optical fiber bundle for optical signal transmission and remote sensing applications which has reduced speckle noise and enhanced homogeneity of light intensity distribution between individual fibers of similar type comprising:
- a sensitive probe tip in which optical fibers are combined and said fibers have positions of their ends ordered within said probe tip;
- at least two remote ends of said bundle, each bundle end having light transmitting fiber channels and light receiving fiber channels, wherein said fiber channels have fiber ends that are ordered in said probe tip using a two dimensional pattern and wherein fibers selected for said channels are randomized within said channel;
- each fiber present in said probe tip is bundled into a prescribed channel;
- fibers within a fiber channel are ordered at said probe tip so that their positions form a structure wherein correlation between fibers of a given fiber type placed in different fiber channels is at a maximum or minimum;
- and
- whereby said optical fiber bundle exhibits reduced speckle noise resulting from spatial inhomogeneity and asymmetry of radiation of specific fibers within said bundle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.