Micro optical fiber light source and sensor and method of fabrication thereof

Patent · Wed Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1997

OSTI ID:870943

Kopelman, Raoul ^[1]; Tan, Weihong ^[2]; Shi, Zhong-You ^[1]

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1. Ann Arbor, MI
2. Ames, IA

This invention relates generally to the development of and a method of fabricating a fiber optic micro-light source and sensor (50). An optical fiber micro-light source (50) is presented whose aperture is extremely small yet able to act as an intense light source. Light sources of this type have wide ranging applications, including use as micro-sensors (22) in NSOM. Micro-sensor light sources have excellent detection limits as well as photo stability, reversibility, and millisecond response times. Furthermore, a method for manufacturing a micro optical fiber light source is provided. It involves the photo-chemical attachment of an optically active material onto the end surface of an optical fiber cable which has been pulled to form an end with an extremely narrow aperture. More specifically, photopolymerization has been applied as a means to photo-chemically attach an optically active material (60). This process allows significant control of the size of the micro light source (50). Furthermore, photo-chemically attaching an optically active material (60) enables the implementation of the micro-light source in a variety of sensor applications.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: FG02-90ER60984; FG02-90ER61085
• Assignee: Regents of University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
• Patent Number(s): US 5627922
• Application Number: 08/397331
• OSTI ID: 870943
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

micro
optical
fiber
light
source
sensor
method
fabrication
relates
fabricating
optic
micro-light
50
aperture
extremely
intense
sources
type
wide
ranging
applications
including
micro-sensors
22
nsom
micro-sensor
excellent
detection
limits
photo
stability
reversibility
millisecond
response
times
furthermore
manufacturing
provided
involves
photo-chemical
attachment
optically
active
material
surface
cable
pulled
form
narrow
specifically
photopolymerization
applied
means
photo-chemically
attach
60
process
allows
significant
control
size
attaching
enables
implementation
variety
micro optical
micro-light source
active material
light source
fiber optic
optical fiber
response time
light sources
optically active
fiber light
process allows
response times
detection limits
chemical attach
extremely narrow
intense light
fiber micro-light
detection limit
/385/250/359/