Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-07
2001-03-27
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Particular coupling structure
C385S002000, C385S146000, C385S147000, C385S031000, C385S039000, C359S199200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06208784
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to the field of coupling light into or out of an optical fiber and more particularly to a raceway for providing selective access to an optical signal in free space.
BACKGROUND ART
For many types of communication signals or power supply, it is useful to provide a raceway so that connections can be made to the communication signal or power supply at any desired location along a continuum. By way of example is the present co-inventors U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,937 issued Oct. 1, 1991 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,406 issued Feb. 2, 1993, both entitled “Baseboard with Movable Electrical Outlet” which disclose a baseboard having a continuous raceway in which an electrical outlet, cable TV outlet, telephone jack or the like can be selectively positioned at any point on the raceway for connecting a telephone, TV or electrical appliance. Increasingly, communications signals are being transmitted by fiber optic cable. Data and voice signals are transmitted by fiber optic cable in telephone systems and computer networks utilize optical fiber connections. However useful means are not available to permit a raceway arrangement for optically transmitted signals which would allow flexible access to such signals.
Various arrangements are available to tap into a fiber optic cable, but these involve connections at a fixed location where the cladding on the cable has been removed and the cable bent to permit light to escape. See for example U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,585 Uken issued May 3, 1988. Such arrangements do not permit access to the signal at a randomly selected location along a continuum. There is therefore a need for a continuous optical access system.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a raceway-like system for permitting access to an optical signal at a selected locations along a continuum.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
The present invention provides a system for providing multiple access to a fiber optic transmission at selected locations along a continuum comprising:
a) an elongated housing having a front panel defining a hollow interior within the housing, having input and output ends and an elongated slot extending along the length of the front panel;
b) input fiber optic transmission means for supplying an input optical signal to the input end of the housing;
c) output fiber optic transmission means for carrying an output optical signal from the output end of the housing;
d) means communicating with the input fiber optic transmission means for converting the input optical signal into a light signal travelling in free space within the hollow interior of the housing;
e) means communicating with the output fiber optic transmission means for converting the light signal travelling in free space within the hollow interior of the housing into an output optical signal; and
f) tapping means extending through the slot for removably positioning at a selected location along the length of the slot and redirecting a portion of the light signal into a Tapping output fiber optic transmission means.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4650278 (1987-03-01), Maciejko et al.
patent: 4741585 (1988-05-01), Uken
patent: 5039189 (1991-08-01), Lytel et al.
patent: 5052937 (1991-10-01), Glen
patent: 5183406 (1993-02-01), Glen
patent: 5206497 (1993-04-01), Lee
patent: 5410628 (1995-04-01), Paton et al.
patent: 5673344 (1997-09-01), Li et al.
patent: 5825960 (1998-10-01), Woodward et al.
patent: 6088497 (2000-07-01), Phillips et al.
Denen Dennis Joseph
Glen Bryan David
Font Frank G.
Klarquist Sparkman Campbell & Leigh & Whinston, LLP
Lauchman Layla
Multiplex Raceway Systems, Inc.
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