Jonathan W Couch

US Patent:

20020168157, Nov 14, 2002

Filed:

Dec 14, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/016841

Inventors:

James Walker - Gainesville FL, US
Jacob Tymianski - Gainesville FL, US
Yongcheng Li - Montgomery AL, US
Bongsoo Lee - Sungnam-Si, KR
Jonathan Couch - Archer FL, US

International Classification:

G02B006/04
B29D011/00

US Classification:

385/115000, 264/001280, 264/001290, 156/099000, 156/275500, 156/275700

Abstract:

This invention concerns a method and apparatus for manufacturing a sheet and a two-dimensional matrix of plastic optical fibers. The fibers may be of the step-index or graded-index type. Co-extrusion through a specially designed die is used to produce a sheet composed of a fiber array. The fiber sheet (ribbon) can be used for transmitting optical signals. These arrays may also be stacked and fused at high temperatures to form the two-dimensional matrix required for many applications such as large area image transfer. In addition, a high-speed, continuous manufacturing method is disclosed to produce a massive two-dimensional matrix of fibers. The method of manufacture permits high quality image transfer at low manufacturing cost in a wide array of geometries.

US Patent:

20050226574, Oct 13, 2005

Filed:

May 10, 2005

Appl. No.:

11/126074

Inventors:

James Walker - Gainesville FL, US
Jacob Tymianski - Gainesville FL, US
Yongcheng Li - Montgomery AL, US
Bongsoo Lee - Sungnam-Si, KR
Jonathan Couch - Archer FL, US

International Classification:

G02B006/04
B29D011/00
B05D005/10

US Classification:

385120000, 264001290, 427207100

Abstract:

This invention concerns a method and apparatus for manufacturing a sheet and a two-dimensional matrix of plastic optical fibers. The fibers may be of the step-index or graded-index type. Co-extrusion through a specially designed die is used to produce a sheet composed of a fiber array. The fiber sheet (ribbon) can be used for transmitting optical signals. These arrays may also be stacked and fused at high temperatures to form the two-dimensional matrix required for many applications such as large area image transfer. In addition, a high-speed, continuous manufacturing method is disclosed to produce a massive two-dimensional matrix of fibers. The method of manufacture permits high quality image transfer at low manufacturing cost in a wide array of geometries.