(under subclass 227.11) Subject matter with means used to increase the overall coupling efficiency of the light conductor and the photocell, i.e., to improve the ratio of light reaching the photocell from the light conductor to the light leaving the photoconductor on its way to the photocell.
(1) Note. Coupling enhancement means may or may not include structure to physically or mechanically connect a photocell to a light conductor. The enhancement means may, for example, simply include configurations to improve evanescent wave coupling phenomena, or modal coupling phenomena, or may include optomechanical connectors.
(2) Note. A light conductor coupled to a photocell may be classified here or in Class 356, subclasses 96+, depending on what is recited. If the photocell is just nominally recited, and the coupling enhancement means is recited nominally or in detail, then classification is proper in Class 385. If the photocell is recited more than nominally, i.e., including an
electrical output which is generated for utilization, then classification is in this subclass regardless of the claimed detail of the coupling enhancement means.
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
385, Optical Waveguides,
15+, for optical coupling means, per se. See Note (2), above.
