Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-04
2001-12-04
Palmer, Phan T. H. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
C385S015000, C385S017000, C385S023000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06325553
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
There are several examples of redundancy designs being used in technologies in the prior art, for example, in the fields of electronics and circuit components, light source arrays, and row drivers for flat panel displays, including LCD displays. Some of these are described in the following references, all incorporated by reference herein:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,060, May 5, 1992, Asada, “Electronic circuit equipped with redundant or spare circuit elements for every circuit element”;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,612,968, March 1997, Zah, “Redundant multi-wavelength light source array”;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,619,223, Apr. 18, 1997, Lee et al., “Apparatus for increasing the effective yield of displays with integrated row select driver circuit”;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,719,634, Jan. 12, 1988, Streifer et al., “Semiconductor Laser Array with Fault Tolerant Coupling”.
“Flat Panel Manufacturing Costs”, Third Edition, 1996, Stanford Resources, Inc., Chapter 3, pages 80-81, “Repair Systems”.
Although the above references use redundancy designs, the problem surrounding redundancy designs to compensate for damaged optical devices in a manner which minimizes additional fabrication or manufacturing steps does not appear to have been addressed.
In addition, if one applies redundancy techniques known in other fields to systems incorporating optical guiding structures such as waveguides and waveguide combinations, there are additional considerations to contend with, for example the matter of attenuation or loss. The attenuation or loss is that experienced by the light as it travels through the waveguide, and as it scatters off non-smooth waveguide boundaries. This loss is generally attributable to three different mechanisms, scattering, absorption and radiation. Scattering loss results in redirection of guided optical light into radiation modes or other guided modes. Scattering can be caused by the roughness of waveguide boundaries, particulates, etc. Absorption loss is the conversion of the optical energy into the form of heat. Radiation losses are significant e.g. when waveguides are bent through a curve.
As with the manufacturing issues, loss issues also are not addressed adequately in the above-identified references with respect to optical waveguide structures.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, roughly described, a redundant optical connection system is manufactured in preliminary form. In response to information specifying which of the optical sources are functional, further structure is activated or introduced into the connection system which guides optical energy to optical outputs from those of the sources that are functional.
In one aspect of the invention, the preliminary form includes primary guiding structures coupling each of a plurality of primary optical sources to a respective application structure, and a secondary guiding structure coupled to a secondary optical source and terminating without yet coupling to any application structure. If the information indicates that one of the primary optical sources is non-functional, then structure can be added or activated which transfers optical energy from the secondary guiding structure into the primary guiding structure corresponding to the non-functional source.
In another aspect of the invention, the preliminary form includes a material having more than N optical sources and N output guiding structures. A gap region is provided in the material between the outputs of the optical sources and the inputs of the output guiding structures, Additional guiding structures are formed or activated in response to the information, to guide optical energy to the inputs of the output guiding structures from only functional ones of the optical sources.
This invention will be better understood upon reference to the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 6049641 (2000-04-01), Deacon et al.
Bischel William K.
Deacon David A. G.
Kowalczyk Tony C.
Tompane Richard B.
Gemfire Corporation
Haynes Beffel & Wolfeld
Palmer Phan T. H.
Wolfeld Warren S.
LandOfFree
Connection system for optical redundancy does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Connection system for optical redundancy, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Connection system for optical redundancy will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2588137