Claims
- 1. A device for transmitting a plurality of spatially separate laser beams over a single fiberoptic monofilament and, for conveying said plurality of signals, comprising:
- (a) laser means for generating a plurality of spatially separate laser beams;
- (b) means for inputting a signal into at least one of said laser beams;
- (c) a fiberoptic glass monofilament having a glass core with a predetermined refractive index and a cladding layer having a different refractive index, having a receiving end and exiting end for receiving and conveying a plurality of laser beams;
- (d) means for directing each of said spatially separate laser beams into said receiving end of said monofilament, at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said monofilament, each of which differs from the angle of each of the other laser beams whereby each of said laser beams exits from exiting end of said monofilament in a conical annulus having the same angle as the angle said laser beam was directed into the receiving end of said monofilament; and
- (e) means spaced from each other for intersecting each of said annuli for extracting energy contained therein.
- 2. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said laser means comprises a plurality of laser generating devices.
- 3. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said laser means comprises means for generating at least one laser beam and means for dividing the said at least one laser beam generated by said laser means into at least two beams each of is which directed into said monofilament at a different angle to the longitudinal axis of said monofilament.
- 4. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 3, wherein said at least one laser beam is split by prisms.
- 5. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein at least one of said laser beams carries data.
- 6. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 5, wherein said at least one laser beam, which carries said data, extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said monofilament.
- 7. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spaced means for intersecting said conical annuli comprises a conical reflector for reflecting one or more said laser beams onto a plurality of photovoltaic cells evenly spaced about said conical reflector means.
- 8. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 7, wherein said spaced means for intersecting said annuli comprises a control device for intercepting a laser beam carrying data.
- 9. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said spaced means for intersecting said annuli comprises two rows of a plurality of photovoltaic cells.
- 10. A transmitting device as set forth in claim 9, wherein said photovoltaic cells are connected in series.
DEDICATORY CLAUSE
The invention described herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to us of any royalties thereon.
US Referenced Citations (3)
Non-Patent Literature Citations (1)
Entry |
"Engineers Design New Power Sources for Missile tests" The Redstone Rocket,untsville, Ala., Jul. 26, 1989, pp. 6 and 7. |