IMAGE TRANSMISSION DEVICE

Abstract: An improved image transmission path formed of indi­ vidual optical fibers bundled together in side-by-side relation and which is capable of transmitting a high-contrast image is disclosed. Each fiber consists of a core having a higher refrac­ tive index and an encircling cladding having a lower refractive index. In front of the sending end of the transmission path a mask member is placed, the mask member being enlarged in size in comparison with the sending end of the transmission path and having a lower light transmissivity in said area cor­ responding to the area of the sending end of the transmission path that makes no contribution to image transmission.

Description: IMAGE TRANSMISSION PATH The present invention relates to an image transmission path according to the precharacterizing portion of claim 1. One prior art image transmission path is formed of individual optical fibers bundled together in side-byside relation, each fiber serving as a picture element and consisting of a core having a higher refractive index and a surrounding cladding having a lower refractive index. Due to the difference in refractive index between the core and cladding, light input to the core is totally reflected a great many times at the interface between the core and cladding before reaching the receiving end of the fiber. But light impinging upon the cladding becomes a leaky mode, and as it is reflected or scattered at various interfaces in the interior of the transmission path, it is carried over to the receiving end as noise light, providing only a low-contrast image at that end. Moreover, the cladding that insulates two adjacent optical fibers is usually made of a glass material having fairly high light transmissivity, so crosstalk sometimes occurs between the fibers. If the diameter of each fiber and the distance between adjacent fibers are as small as the wavelength of the light, a significantly large energy is transmitted by the light that travels outside the fibers. The occurrence of crosstalk becomes more conspicuous as the difference in refractive index between the core and cladding is decreased, and this gain reduces the contrast of the image transmitted to the receiving end. There have been proposed many image fiber devices wherein the difference in refractive index between the core and cladding is 4 % or less of the refractive index of the core, but no great attention has been paid to the ratio of illumination through one core that crosses through to the next adjacent one, although this ratio is a factor that determines the contrast of the image transmitted to the receiving end. This is mainly because in the early state of their development, image fibers were most frequently used only for the purpose of viewing objects. Recently, however, they have come to be used for pattern recognition and size measurement, and an image fiber that can transmit a high-contrast image suitable for these purposes is demanded. A method of directly covering the cladding to prevent crosstalk has been devised (this method is conventionally called direct masking), but it is difficult to apply to an image transmission path wherein the distance between adjacent cores is as small as a few microns. Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide an image transmission path that is free from this defect and is capable transmitting a high-contrast image. According to the present invention this object is achieved by providing the characterizing features of the claim. Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description which follows when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing the structure of an image transmission path according to an embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 is a front view of the mask used in Fig. 1, and Figure 3 illustrates the preparation of the mask. Figure 1 shows an image fiber device 9, the connected end of which is fitted into a cylindrical connector 13. A mask member 16 is placed in front of the sending end of the transmission path, the mask member being enlarged in size in comparison with the sending end of the transmission path and having a lower light transmissivity in said area corresponding to the corresponding areas of the sending end of the transmission path that makes no contribution to image transmission. That area of the mask which is indicated by 19 represents a plurality of light-transmitting areas that are arranged in pattern corresponding to the core array of the optical fibers 9 on the transmission side. Fig. 1 further includes an imaging lens system 20 that is positioned in front of the mask 16 to project the incident light toward the mask. The light incident on the mask 16 is projected onto the sending end of the image transmission path I by a mask projecting lens system 21 provided in the adapter 15. In the image transmission path shown in Figs. 1 and 2, any incident light that would enter the cladding is absorbed by the non-transmitting area 18 of the mask 16, and only the incident light that would enter the cores passes through the transmitting area 19 and is projected by the lens system 21 onto the core array of the sending end 17. One method of preparing the mask 16 is illustrated in Fig. 3. First, a photographic film 16' is attached to the tip of-the mask adapter 15 connected to one end of the image transmission path I which includes the mask projecting lens system 21. The film has at least one notch 22 for ensuring good matching with the mask adapter 15, and the mask adapter has a corresponding projection at the end thereof. A light source 24 is placed at the back of the image transmission path I, with a diffusion plate 23 placed inbetween. The fiber array 9 is then projected on the sending end of the transmission path I onto the film 16' through the lens system 21. The film is then removed and printed to a hard tone and converted to either a positive or negative mask 16. The thus prepared mask has a light-transmitting area 19 in the area that corresponds to the coe array of the optical fibers 9, and a non-transmitting area 18 having low light transmissivity in the area corresponding to the cladding array. The mask 16 is then attached to the end of the mask adapter 15 by matching the notch 22 with the projection on the adapter. It is to be understood that the mask 16 can be prepared by any other suitable method, such as by etching a thin metal film. The present invention can be applied to general types of image transmission paths and to devices such as endoscopes and gastroscopes which use such an image transmission path. The image transmission path of the present invention eliminates the possiblity of light falling on the cladding, so it is capable of transmitting an image of improved contrast. This result can be achieved by simply making a mask according to the present invention and attaching it to a conventional image transmission path together with a lens system. Moreover, the image transmission path of the present invention can be fabricated more easily than the prior art system using the direct masking method.

Claims: CLAIM An image transmission path, comprising: a plurality of individual optical fibers (9) bundled together in side-by-side relation, each fiber consisting of a core having a higher refractive index and an encircling cladding having a lower refractive index, characterized in further comprising means for achieving the-substantial elimination of crosstalk by which the amount of light that falls on only a single.core and which is transmitted through that core and which can be viewed at the receiving end is made to be not smaller than 100 times the amount of that light that is transmitted through the next adjacent core, said means comprising a combination of a mask member (16) and a lens system (20), said mask member (16) being placed in front of a transmission end (17) of the transmission path and being enlarged in size in comparison with said end of the transmission path and having a lower light transmissivity in an area corresponding to an area of said end that makes no contribution to image transmission, said lens system being placed between said mask member (16) and said end of the transmission path and projecting incident light onto said end.

Inventors: NISHIKAWA, MITSURU C/O OSAKA WORKS, ONO, KIMIZO C/O OSAKA WORKS, TSUNO, KOICHI C/O OSAKA WORKS, YOSHIDA, KENICHI C/O OSAKA WORKS
Applicants: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES LIMITED
Application year: 1982
Main classification: G02B6
IPC codes: G02B6