Fiber optic probe having fibers with endfaces formed for improved coupling efficiency and method using same

Patent · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:869809

O'Rourke, Patrick E ^[1]; Livingston, Ronald R ^[2]

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1. Martinez, GA
2. Aiken, SC

A fiber optic probe for detecting scattered light, with transmitting and receiving fibers having slanted ends and bundled together to form a bevel within the tip of the probe. The probe comprises a housing with a transparent window across its tip for protecting the transmitting and receiving fibers held therein. The endfaces of the fibers are slanted, by cutting, polishing and the like, so that they lie in a plane that is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the respective fiber. The fibers are held in the tip of the probe using an epoxy and oriented so that lines normal to the slanted endfaces are divergent with respect to one another. The epoxy, which is positioned substantially between the transmitting and receiving fibers, is tapered so that the transmitting fiber, the epoxy and the receiving fiber form a bevel of not more than 20 degrees. The angled fiber endfaces cause directing of the light cones toward each other, resulting in improved light coupling efficiency. A light absorber, such as carbon black, is contained in the epoxy to reduce crosstalk between the transmitting and receiving fibers.

• Research Organization: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC09-89SR18035
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 5402508
• OSTI ID: 869809
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

fiber
optic
probe
fibers
endfaces
formed
improved
coupling
efficiency
method
detecting
scattered
light
transmitting
receiving
slanted
bundled
form
bevel
tip
comprises
housing
transparent
window
protecting
held
therein
cutting
polishing
lie
plane
perpendicular
longitudinal
axis
respective
epoxy
oriented
lines
normal
divergent
respect
positioned
substantially
tapered
20
degrees
angled
directing
cones
resulting
absorber
carbon
black
contained
reduce
crosstalk
receiving fiber
transparent window
improved coupling
receiving fibers
scattered light
fiber optic
longitudinal axis
carbon black
optic probe
probe comprises
transmitting fiber
coupling efficiency
improved light
fibers held
detecting scattered
light absorber
/385/73/250/