Optical waveguides – Optical fiber bundle – Imaging
Patent
1997-01-21
1999-09-28
Healy, Brian
Optical waveguides
Optical fiber bundle
Imaging
385115, 385117, 385118, G02B 506
Patent
active
059601450
ABSTRACT:
The image-receiving end of a flexible image conduit, which includes an optical fiber bundle enclosed in a flexible sheath, is movable throughout a generally dome-shaped area in response to movement of an actuator by a user. Additional fiber bundles illuminate objects at the image-receiving end of the conduit. The motion control system that steers the image-receiving end of the conduit facilitates inspection of objects in spaces that are beyond the user's line of sight. Two pairs of cables are enclosed in the flexible sheath along the length of the conduit. One end of each cable is attached to the image-receiving end of the conduit. The other end of each cable pair is attached to a rotatable actuator at the opposite end of the conduit. The cable pair moves in response to rotation of the actuator; one cable pulls the sheath near the transmitting end of the conduit, and the other cable releases slack. The conduit flexes in an arcuate shape in response to the pulling force. Two actuators are provided to flex the conduit along two perpendicular axes.
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patent: 4530568 (1985-07-01), Haduch et al.
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patent: 4770443 (1988-09-01), Yamamoto
patent: 4871229 (1989-10-01), Tashiro
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