US PATENT CLASS 385
Class Notes
Current as of: June, 1999
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DEFINITION
Classification: 385/
GENERAL STATEMENT OF THE CLASS SUBJECT MATTER
A. Subject matter appropriate to this class falls into one of the following categories: (1) An optical waveguiding element, per se, or a grouping thereof which conveys light from one point to another through an optically transparent elongated structure by modal transmission, total internal reflection, or total reflectorization. (2) A combination of an optical waveguiding element with an additional broadly recited optical element which couples light thereto or therefrom or a combination including a broadly recited optical element which couples light between plural optical waveguiding elements. (3) A combination of an optical waveguiding element with structure which mechanically joins this waveguiding element with another or with a diverse optical element. (4) An optical modulator where the modulation of a light wave characteristic is performed exclusively within an optical waveguiding element. (5) Other miscellaneous devices formed of an optical waveguide (e.g., a waveguide sensing device) and supplemental devices which are limited to use with an optical waveguide (e.g., an external clamp or retainer) not otherwise classifiable.
B. Nominally claimed structure, external to this class in combination with apparatus under the class definition, is classified in this class unless provided for in the appropriate external class.
C. Significantly claimed structure, external to this class claimed in combination with structure under the class definition, is classified in the class appropriate to the external device unless specifically excluded therefrom.
(1) Note. A detailed optical amplifier/frequency converter, per se, or such subject matter in combination with additional wave guide structure is classified elsewhere. The nominal recitation of any type of optical amplifier/ converter together with additional waveguide structure is classified in this class (385) wherein such combination meets the class requirements.
(2) Note. Optical modulation that occurs within the area of total internal reflection of an optical waveguide belongs in
this class, whereas modulation occurring outside the optical waveguide is classified elsewhere.
(3) Note. If significant details beyond the nominal recitation of a detector or light source are claimed, classification is elsewhere.
(4) Note. A device having an optical wave going through a bulk material, such as a semiconductor, glass, etc., does not belong in this class since the wave is not totally confined within the boundaries of the bulk material. If, however, the wave is totally confined within an area but specified leakage, as designed, is built into the area for some desired results, this would then belong in this class. (5) Note. The optical fibers and waveguides classified in this class are final products, suitable for immediate optical transmission. Excluded from this class are articles of intermediate shape (e.g., blanks, preforms) from which optical fibers and waveguides are made (as by drawing or extruding). For the classification of such intermediate articles, see References to Other Classes, below.
(6) Note. Fiber optics refers to optical devices for conveying light or images through a particular configuration of glass or plastic fibers. Incoherent fiber optic bundles will transmit light but not an image. Coherent fiber optic bundles can transmit an image through small, clad optical fibers where the fiber ends have similar positions at opposite bundle ends.
(7) Note. An optical fiber waveguide is basically a light guidance system that is cylindrical in shape. The fiber relies upon modal transmission to transmit light along its axial length. Light enters one end of the fiber and emerges from the opposite end with only minimal loss.
(8) Note. The thin-film waveguide is a thin dielectric guide film of high refractive index formed adjacent to a substrate or support region of lower refractive index. The thin-film relies upon modal transmission to transmit light along its length. Light enters one end of the thin-film where it is processed (e.g., modulated or switched) and emerges from the opposite end.
(9) Note. Combinations including an optical waveguide and a device of the Class 257 type are classified here provided the combination does not meet the requirements of a still larger system class.
(10) Note. A tee coupler is an optical component used to interconnect a number of terminals through optical waveguides by using partial reflections at dielectric interfaces or metallic surfaces, or by splitting the optical waveguide bundle.
(11) Note. Modal Transmission is a form of guide-wave
propagation characterized by a particular field pattern.
(12) Note. A laser in an integrated optical circuit is classified herein (385).
REFERENCES TO OTHER CLASSES
SEE OR SEARCH CLASS
8, Bleaching and Dyeing; Fluid Treatment and Chemical Modification of Textiles and Fibers, appropriate subclasses for chemical treatment of fibers. 29, Metal Working,
700+, for various metal working jigs, and subclasses 854-873 for assembling electrical terminals to conductors or circuits (e.g., using ferrules, splicing, etc.).
33, Geometrical Instruments,
1, for optical readout therefrom and subclasses 227+ for straightline light ray type instruments.
40, Card, Picture, or Sign Exhibiting,
427+, for illuminated special effects display, subclasses 451 and 452 for illuminated changing exhibitor, and subclasses 546 and 547 for illuminated signs (e.g., by fiber optics).
57, Textiles: Spinning, Twisting, and Twining,
3+, for cable forming by twisting.
65, Glass Manufacturing,
385+, for processes of forming optical fibers, waveguides, and preforms, particularly subclass 386 for processes of forming planar waveguides; subclasses 388, 389, 390, and 397+ for forming optical fibers or waveguides having specified composition; subclasses 393, 402, and 403 for forming optical fibers or waveguides having particular cross section or configuration; subclasses 406+ for processes of forming combined with joining optical fibers or waveguides; subclasses 413+ and 430+ for processes of forming combined with coating optical fibers or waveguides; and subclasses 489+ for apparatus for forming optical fibers or waveguides.
70, Locks, digest 51 for light sensitive lock control.
73, Measuring and Testing, 293, for liquid level/depth gauge with illumination, subclasses 488+ for speed/ acceleration testing that may use optical waveguides, subclass 653 for optical indication of vibration, subclass 705 for an optical fluid pressure gauge, subclass 800 for optical stress or strain testing, and
subclass 861.08 for optical measurement of volume or rate of flow.
83, Cutting,
913, for filament-to-staple-fiber cutting.
102, Ammunition and Explosives,
201, for optical explosive ignition.
116, Signals and Indicators,
202, for visual light signal indicators.
126, Stoves and Furnaces,
569+, for solar heat collectors which may utilize optical waveguides.
138, Pipes and Tubular Conduits, appropriate subclasses for cable containing ducts.
156, Adhesive Bonding and Miscellaneous Chemical Manufacture, 158, for methods of joining fibers (bonding) end-to-end.
174, Electricity: Conductors and Insulators,
68.1+, for electrical cables, per se, and particularly subclass 70 for combined optical/electrical cables or a submarine repeater housing.
200, Electricity: Circuit Makers and Breakers,
310+, for illuminated switch indicators and digest 47 for light guide switch indicators.
204, Chemistry: Electrical and Wave Energy,
192.29, for forming a transparent optical conductor by sputtering.
211, Supports: Racks,
13+, for special article supports.
216, Etching a Substrate: Processes, especially
24+, for methods of making an optical device by chemical etching combined with an additional manufacturing step.
219, Electric Heating, 121.36+, for methods and apparatus for fusing (splicing) optical fibers.
225, Severing by Tearing or Breaking,
94+, for apparatus which scribes then breaks optical fibers.
226, Advancing Material of Indeterminate Length, appropriate subclasses for advancing fibers through a tube (i.e., cable).
235, Registers,
473, for optical fiber coded record sensors.
244, Aeronautics,
3.12, and 3.16+ for missiles guided by optical fibers.
250, Radiant Energy,
227.11+, for optical or pre-photocell systems having a light conductor and subclass 577 for a fluid level optical system.
257, Active Solid-State Devices (e.g., Transistors, Solid-State Diodes), 13, 79 through 103 and 918 for incoherent light emitting injection luminescent devices, subclasses 80 through 85 for semiconductor light emitting sources combined with semiconductor light responsive devices, subclasses 10, 11, 21, 53 through 56, 72, 113 through 118, 184 through 189, 225 through 234, 257, 258, 290 through 294, 414, and 431 through 466 for light responsive active semiconductor devices, and subclasses 446 and 499+ for integrated circuit devices with electrically isolated components, in general, and other appropriate subclasses for specific type devices in integrated circuits.
264, Plastic and Nonmetallic Article Shaping or Treating: Processes,
1.24+, for shaping, treating, or extruding optical fibers, waveguides, or preforms.
285, Pipe Joints or Couplings,
260, for coupling where both members are pliable and nonmetallic.
313, Electric Lamp and Discharge Devices,
372, for a cathode-ray tube with light conducting fiber or rod.
324, Electricity: Measuring and Testing,
96+, for electrical testing using radiant energy.
333, Wave Transmission Lines and Networks,
24+, for coupling networks; subclasses 141+, 150+ and 157+ for delay lines; and subclasses 209+ for waveguide tunable filters. 340, Communications: Electrical,
555+, for intrusion detection by light beam; subclass 815.42 for a visual indicator with light piping; and subclasses 853.1+ for wellbore telemetry which may include optical waveguides.
341, Coded Data Generation or Conversion,
137, for A-to-D or D-to-A conversion using fiber optics.
345, Computer Graphics Processing, Operator Interface Processing, and Selective Visual Display Systems,
180+, for light pen input visual display systems.
346, Recorders,
33, for well logging which may use optical waveguides.
348, Television,
13+, for two-way communication which may include a videophone, subclass 197 for mechanical-optical scanning with fiber optics, subclass 359 for camera with fiber optics, and subclass 804 for video display with fiber optics.
355, Photocopying,
1, for photocopying with fiber optics. 356, Optics: Measuring and Testing,
73.1, for optical fiber or waveguide inspection, subclass 241.1+ for inspection borescopes in general, subclass 350 for ring laser gyros including optical waveguides, and subclass 352 for Fabry-Perot cavities.
358, Facsimile,
484, for scanning with fiber optics or optical waveguides and subclass 901.1 for fiber optic cross-reference art collection.
359, Optics: Systems (Including Communication) and Elements, appropriate subclasses for optical systems such as communications systems which may utilize an optical waveguide, and for a detailed optical amplifier/frequency converter, per se, or such subject matter in combination with additional wave guide structure. Modulation occurring outside the optical waveguide is classified in Class 359.
361, Electricity: Electrical Systems and Devices,
748+, for housings with electrical connection of PC boards.
362, Illumination,
32, for illumination systems which utilize an optical fiber.
365, Static Information Storage and Retrieval,
112, for photoconductive static information storage or retrieval. 367, Communications, Electrical: Acoustic Wave System and Devices,
25, for well logging using fiber optics and subclasses 140+ for acoustic transducers in general.
369, Dynamic Information Storage or Retrieval,
18, for optical reading of a mechanical record.
372, Coherent Light Generators,
6, for optical fiber lasers; also see the Class Definition, References to Other Classes.
374, Thermal Measuring and Testing,
131, for thermal measurement using optical fibers.
379, Telephonic Communications,
56.1+, for light wave link for speech or paging signal.
399, Electrophotography,
64, for optical detector of toner in a developing unit, subclass 118 for optics with particular modular or displaceable structure, subclass 137 for optical intermediate storage of original image formation, subclasses 196+ for variable magnification, subclass 218 for exposure lens, and subclass 219 for exposure of an image formation having fiber optics. 425, Plastic Article or Earthenware Shaping or Treating: Apparatus,
802, (Cross-Reference Art Collection) for cable tube or rod splicing.
427, Coating Processes,
163.1+, for processes of coating optical fibers, filaments, rods, or waveguides.
428, Stock Material or Miscellaneous Articles,
364+, for miscellaneous filaments or fibers; subclass 542.8 for articles of intermediate shape (e.g., blanks, preforms) from which optical fibers and waveguides are made (as by drawing or extruding).
433, Dentistry,
29, for dental handpieces provided with optical transmission cables for illuminating the work.
439, Electrical Connectors, appropriate subclasses for connectors of electrical conductors.
446, Amusement Devices: Toys,
219, for toys having optical fibers. 451, Abrading,
41+, for a process of grinding glass.
501, Compositions: Ceramic,
37, for the ceramic composition of an optical fiber.
505, Superconductor Technology: Apparatus, Material, Process, appropriate subclasses.
600, Surgery,
101+, for surgical specula including endoscopes, subclasses 184+, 248+, and 249 for other surgical diagnostic implements.
601, Surgery: Kinesitherapy,
15+, for optical kinesitherapy.
GLOSSARY:
CONNECTING
The physical or mechanical joining of optical waveguiding structures to provide a stable region of light transfer therebetween. The waveguiding structures which are joined together are characterized by terminal ends which are mechanically prepared. This includes ferrule type housings for demountable as well as permanent connections, mechanical sleeves which partially or wholly surround and secure the ends of the structures or the light transfer regions, and "assistance-type" structures which serve to align and guide the ends of waveguiding structures into an effective light transfer relationship. The waveguiding structures which can be connected (as defined herein) include optical fibers, optical fiber bundles, nonfiber-like optical waveguides, and electro-optical transmitting or receiving devices (e.g., semiconductor laser diodes).
COUPLING
The interchange of light radiation among or between waveguiding structures, wherein the mechanical interconnection between the structures is of little or no importance. The radiation interchange may be accomplished through any of a number of physical phenomena, including the evanescent wave coupling phenomenon, various modal coupling phenomena, refraction, reflection, as well as through induced changes in structure parameters which govern light transmission (for example, electro-optically or electromagnetically induced refractive index changes in an "interaction" or coupling region). However, devices for input/output of a light wave to/from an optical confinement area, or devices for manipulating an optical wave within or adjacent to an optical confinement area, which employ holography, are classified in the holography area of the Class 359 schedule.
INPUT-OUTPUT COUPLING
The introduction of electromagnetic light radiation into an optical waveguiding structure from a source which is external to the structure, or the extraction of electromagnetic light radiation from an optical waveguiding structure to a detecting device at its exterior. This term ("input-output coupling") is specifically defined to include only the coupling of light from a source (e.g., a laser) into an optical waveguide or the coupling of light from an optical waveguide to a detector (e.g., a photodiode), and thus excludes the coupling of light between optical waveguides.
LIGHT TRANSMITTING ROD
Any optically transparent elongated structure used to transmit light from one end to the other end by other than modal transmission (e.g., in a random fashion).
OPTICAL FIBER
A light transmitting (optical) waveguide formed in a generally cylindrical form, often of extremely small diameter and of great length, which confines the transmitted radiation therewithin by means of the principle of total internal reflection. Optical fibers are usually comprised of a central light transmitting core of relatively high refractive index, surrounded by a concentric cladding of relatively low refractive index.
OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE
An optical waveguide is a waveguide which guides radiation in the visible and near-visible portions of the spectrum by
means of total internal reflection. TOTAL INTERNAL REFLECTION
A principle based upon Snell's Law, which defines the relationship between incident and refracted light rays at a boundary between two media of different refractive indices: n1 sin Q1 = n2 sin Q2 where n1 = refractive index of first medium; n2 = refractive index of second medium; Q1 = angle of incident ray at boundary; Q2 = angle of refracted ray at boundary; For Q2 = 90 degrees, the critical angle of incidence is given by Qc[supscrpt] [end supscrpt]= sin-[supscrpt]1 [end supscrpt](n2/n1). At angles of incidence greater than Qc, the light is reflected from the boundary.
TOTALLY REFLECTORIZED
The state of an optical element having all of its inward facing lateral surfaces made reflectors, as for example by the coating thereof with a reflective metal.
WAVEGUIDE
A waveguide is defined as any structure capable of guiding electromagnetic radiation in a direction parallel to its axis, while substantially confining the radiation to a region within and adjacent to its surfaces.