Unclad Fiber Array for Parallel Random Beam Generation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional optical fiber arrays with cladding and jacketing limit the amount of information that can be captured due to the large inactive area, which diminishes system effectiveness in applications where information exchange between fibers is not undesirable.
Innovation Solution
An optical system comprising unclad, unjacketed optical fiber cores affixed in a tightly bound array to enhance light collection and transmission, allowing cross-talk between cores to induce randomization of the input beam, resulting in multiple parallel random output beams.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cladding and jacketing are applied to individual optical fibers, then fiber protection and light leakage prevention are improved, but the ratio of useful core space to overall array size deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple individual fibers into a tight bundle where the cladding of one fiber serves the protective function for adjacent fibers. By removing redundant cladding and jacketing from individual fibers and replacing it with a single coating layer on the entire bundle, the design eliminates the multiplicative overhead of individual fiber protections while maintaining overall structural integrity and light containment.
Solution Approach 2:
The single coating layer applied to the entire fiber bundle performs multiple functions simultaneously: it protects all fibers collectively, prevents light leakage from the bundle, and provides mechanical strength. This universal protective layer replaces the need for individual protective layers on each fiber, optimizing the space utilization while maintaining reliability.
2Loss of energy
If cladding is applied to individual fibers, then light leakage prevention is improved, but information capture capacity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the light containment function across all fibers in the bundle by using a single external coating layer. This allows the core areas of all fibers to be exposed and actively engaged in light collection, while the unified coating prevents light leakage from the entire bundle, thereby maximizing information capture capacity without sacrificing light containment.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If individual fiber protection is used, then fiber durability is improved, but system effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective function across all fibers by applying a single coating layer to the entire bundle rather than individual fibers. This unified protection maintains the durability of all fibers simultaneously while eliminating the space overhead and structural complexity of individual fiber protections, thereby enhancing system effectiveness and information transmission capacity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration significantly increases the ratio of useful core space to overall array size, enhancing light collection capacity and generating hundreds of parallel random optical beams for random number generation and position information analysis.
Implementation Method 1
an optical fiber is comprised of a core material, usually a glass; an outer coating known as a cladding, used to prevent leakage of the light outside of the core material
Implementation Method 2
unclad, unjacketed optical fiber cores affixed in a tightly bound array to enhance light collection and transmission, allowing cross-talk between cores
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
An optical array formed from unclad fibers that are affixed with a micro-coating of adhesive has been developed to allow for enhanced light collection translating into parallel streams of optical output. The system is designed to be used for applications requiring parallel output streams (e.g. random number generation for parallel computing architectures, observation of position information for optical sensing application, etc.). The system acts as a parallel, pixeled detector for a source where the individual pixels are simultaneously readout.