The present invention relates to a method and apparatus of making a fiber optic array, and more particularly, to a method of making an array which has an increased packing density.
It is known in the prior art to use an array of optical fibers in a print head which is used to record information on a light-sensitive recording medium. The fibers can be arranged with their output ends in a linear array extending in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the recording medium. A light source, such as a light-emitting diode or a diode laser, is connected to each of the fibers at an input end. The light in each of the fibers is modulated in accordance with an information signal to produce a desired image. Focusing means can be used in front of each fiber to cause the light to be focused to a point on the recording medium.
It is desirable for the arrays of optical fibers to have a high packing density, i.e., a high number of fibers per unit width of the array, in order to limit the amount of data buffering needed to produce the output image. There is a problem, however, in using increasingly thinner fibers to increase the packing density. As the fibers are made thinner, handling and alignment of the fibers becomes more difficult, and the thinner fibers are more likely to break in the assembly process.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,389,655 an optical device is disclosed for non-impact recording in which the recording head includes a linear array of optical fibers. The recording head comprises an adjustment plate having a plurality of grooves therein, and an optical fiber is secured in each of the grooves. In one embodiment of the invention, the fibers have been arranged in grooves which converge toward the output end of the array to closely space the output ends of the fibers. In another embodiment, one row of fibers is arranged above another row, and the fibers in the top row are offset relative to the fibers in the bottom row. In both of these embodiments, however, the packing density of the fibers is limited by the relatively large diameter of the fibers at their output ends.
Briefly, according to one aspect of the present invention a fiber optic mechanical structure includes a substrate configured with plurality of grooves wherein the grooves are split into odd grooves slots and even grooves slots. A first group of plurality of fibers is placed on the substrate wherein the jackets of one end of each of the first group of plurality of fibers is removed and are secured in the odd grooves slots. A second group of plurality of fibers is placed on the first group of plurality of fibers wherein the jackets of one end of each of the second group of plurality of fibers is removed, and the fibers are secured in the even grooves slots.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described an illustrative embodiment of the invention.
In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the disclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the teachings of the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components and circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscure the teachings of the present disclosure.
The present invention describes an optical head configuration using plurality of fibers. The optical head uses fibers with exposed jacket 112 on a portion of the fibers (shown in
The difference in the diameters of fiber portion 116 (250 microns) and fiber portion 112 (125 microns) creates difficulties in arranging fibers portion 116 in an economical manner on stage 204. This is demonstrated in
The invention has been described in detail with particular reference to certain preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood that variations and modifications can be effected within the scope of the invention.