Non-uniform fiber optic imaging system
Citation
Tosswill, C. H. (1978). Non-Uniform Fiber Optic Imaging System. U.S. Patent No. 4,099,833.
Keywords
- fiber optic imaging system
- non-uniform magnification
- fiber optic taper
- curved interface
- magnification function
- amplifying stage
- converging taper
- diverging taper
Brief
A fiber optic imaging system transforms a planar image field into a non-uniformly magnified or minified planar object field by curving the end surface of a fiber optic taper and coupling it to a mating curved surface of a fiber optic cylinder.
Summary
This document is a patent, not a typical article, and does not have a conventional TLDR. It describes a "Non-Uniform Fiber Optic Imaging System" invented by Christopher H. Tosswill. The invention uses fiber optic tapers with curved ends to create magnified or minified images where the level of magnification changes across the image.
Key Concepts:
- Fiber Optic Taper: A bundle of optical fibers arranged so the fiber diameters increase gradually from one end to the other. This allows for image magnification or minification.
- Curved Interface: By making the output end of the taper curved, the magnification becomes non-uniform. The fibers at different radial positions on the curved surface are effectively "cut" at different lengths, resulting in varying magnifications.
- Multiple Stages: The patent describes using multiple tapers in sequence to further increase the non-uniformity effect. By alternating converging and diverging tapers, and the direction of the curved interfaces, a high degree of non-uniform magnification can be achieved while maintaining a similar overall image size.
Applications: The patent mentions the system could be useful in fields like photography, astronomy, surveillance, and weapons control.