Mr. Thomas R. Ouellette Profile

Thomas R. Ouellette

Development Engineer at Karl Storz Endovision Inc

SPIE Involvement:

Author

Publications (2)

This will count as one of your downloads.

You will have access to both the presentation and article (if available).

DOWNLOAD NOW

This content is available for download via your institution's subscription. To access this item, please sign in to your personal account.

Email or Username Forgot your username?

Password Forgot your password?

Show

Keep me signed in

No SPIE account? Create an account

Proceedings Article | 31 May 1999 Paper

Miniature fiber optic loop subcomponent for compact sensors and dense routing

Frederick Gillham, David Stowe, Thomas Ouellette, Adrian Pryshlak

Proceedings Volume 3670, (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.349733

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Fiber optics sensors, Glasses, Fiber optics, Signal attenuation, Polarization, Smart structures, Optical fibers, Reflectivity, Fiber optic components

Read Abstract +

Fiber optic data links and embedded sensors, such as Fabry- Perot and Mach-Zehnders, are important elements in smart structure architectures. Unfortunately, one problem with optical fiber is the inherent limit through which fibers and cables can be looped. A revolutionary, patented technology has been developed which overcomes this problem. Based on processing the fiber into low loss miniature bends, it permits routing the fiber to difficult areas, and minimizing the size of sensors and components. The minimum bend diameter for singlemode fiber is typically over two inches in diameter, to avoid light attenuation and limit stresses which could prematurely break the fiber. With the new miniature bend technology, bend diameters as small as 1 mm are readily achieved. One embodiment is a sub-component with standard singlemode fiber formed into a 180 degree bend and packaged in a glass tube only 1.5 mm OD X 8 mm long, Figure 1. Measured insertion loss is less than 0.2 dB from 1260 nm to 1680 nm. A final processing step which anneals the fiber into the eventual curvature, reduces the internal stress, thereby resulting in long life expectancy with robust immunity to external loading. This paper addresses the optical and physical performance of the sub-component. Particular attention is paid to attenuation spectra, polarization dependent loss, reflectance, thermal cycle, damp heat, and shock tests. Applications are presented which employs the bend technology. Concatenating right angle bends into a 'wire harness' demonstrates the ability to route fiber through a smart engine or satellite structure. Miniature optical coils are proposed for sensors and expansion joints.

Proceedings Article | 3 February 1999 Paper

Miniature fiber optic loop for compact optical sensors

Frederick Gillham, Thomas Ouellette, Adrian Pryshlak, David Stowe

Proceedings Volume 3541, (1999) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.339115

KEYWORDS: Sensors, Optical sensors, Mirrors, Fiber optics sensors, Cladding, Fiber optics, Multimode fibers, Head, Optical fibers, Refractive index

Read Abstract +

We have developed a technology to bend both singlemode and multimode optical fibers in radii as small as 0.45 mm without significant optical loss or breakage. This technology is of tremendous benefit for compact optical sensors in which it may be desired to reverse the direction of travel of the fiber within a very small sensing head. The bends utilize 'air cladding' to guide the light around the tight radius of the bend without loss. The bends can be packaged in small capsules 1.5 mm in diameter and less than 1 cm long. This miniature-bend technology avoids the 50 mm bend diameter required to reverse the direction of travel for conventional fibers. Miniature 180 degrees bends have been demonstrated with very low optical losses across the entire 1250 to 1650 nm spectral band. The same performance can be obtained in the 820 nm wavelength region. This revolutionary 'kernel' can be included within the sensing head, providing a very small cylindrical sensor whose pigtails exist from the same direction. This paper describes the optical and physical performance of the miniature fiber bend. Particular attention is paid to the measured IR attenuation spectra, polarization dependent loss, and reflectance. A long lifetime is estimated as a consequence of the annealing of the bend region during the fabrication procedure.

My Library

You currently do not have any folders to save your paper to! Create a new folder below.

Folder Name

Folder Description

View contact details

UPDATE YOUR PROFILE

Is this your profile? Update it now.

Sign into your SPIE.org account

Don’t have a profile and want one?

Create an account on SPIE.org

Access to the requested content is limited to institutions that have purchased or subscribe to SPIE eBooks. You are receiving this notice because your organization may not have SPIE eBooks access.*

*Shibboleth/Open Athens users─please sign in to access your institution's subscriptions.

To obtain this item, you may purchase the complete book in print or electronic format on SPIE.org.

ORGANIZATIONAL
Sign in with credentials provided by your organization.

Organizational Username

Organizational Password

Show/Hide Password

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available

Members:

Non-members: ADD TO CART

Keywords/Phrases

Search In:

Publication Years