Shaped fiber elements for scanning fiber displays
A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system includes a motion actuator having longitudinal side members, an internal orifice, a first support region, a central region, and a second support region. The fiber optic element also includes a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice and having a first fiber joint as well as a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice. The second fiber optic cable has a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint, a second coupling region, a light delivery region, and a light emission tip. The light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.
1. A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system, the fiber optic element comprising:
a motion actuator having:
longitudinal side members;
an internal orifice disposed between the longitudinal side members;
a first support region disposed at one end of the motion actuator;
a central region; and
a second support region disposed at an opposing end of the motion actuator; and
a first fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice, the first fiber optic cable having a first coupling region disposed between the longitudinal side members and a first fiber joint disposed in the central region;
a second fiber optic cable passing through the internal orifice, the second fiber optic cable having:
a second fiber joint disposed in the central region and spliced to the first fiber joint;
a second coupling region disposed between the longitudinal side members and in mechanical contact with the second support region;
a light delivery region extending away from the second support region of the motion actuator; and
a light emission tip, wherein the light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.
2. The fiber optic element of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical fixture retaining the first coupling region of the first fiber optic cable with respect to the first support region.
3. The fiber optic element of claim 1 wherein the first coupling region of the first fiber optic cable is in mechanical contact with first support region.
4. The fiber optic element of claim 1 wherein the first fiber joint and the second fiber joint are separated from the longitudinal side members by a flexure distance.
5. The fiber optic element of claim 1 wherein:
the motion actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator; and
the longitudinal side members comprises a first piezoelectric element operable to contract/expand and a second piezoelectric element operable to expand/contract in opposition to the first piezoelectric element.
6. The fiber optic element of claim 1 wherein the internal orifice of the motion actuator is characterized by a cylindrical profile defined by an internal diameter and the second coupling region is characterized by an outside diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter.
7. A fiber optic element of a fiber scanning system, the fiber optic element comprising:
a motion actuator having:
longitudinal side members;
an internal orifice disposed between the longitudinal side members;
a first support region disposed at one end of the motion actuator;
a central region; and
a second support region disposed at an opposing end of the motion actuator;
a retaining element disposed in the first support region;
a first optical waveguide passing through the retaining element and the internal orifice, the first optical waveguide having a first mating joint disposed in the retaining element;
a second optical waveguide passing through the internal orifice, the second optical waveguide having:
a second mating joint disposed in the retaining element and joined to the first mating joint and a second coupling region disposed between the longitudinal side members and in mechanical contact with the second support region;
a light delivery region extending away from the second support region of the motion actuator; and
a light emission tip, wherein the light delivery region is characterized by a first diameter and the light emission tip is characterized by a second diameter less than the first diameter.
8. The fiber optic element of claim 7 wherein the first optical waveguide comprises a first fiber optic cable.
9. The fiber optic element of claim 7 wherein the second optical waveguide comprises a second fiber optic cable.
10. The fiber optic element of claim 7 wherein the retaining element is operable to retain the first mating joint with respect to the first support region.
11. The fiber optic element of claim 7 wherein the second optical waveguide comprises a flexure region disposed between the second mating joint and the second coupling region, wherein the flexure region is separated from the longitudinal side members by a flexure distance.
12. The fiber optic element of claim 7 wherein the motion actuator comprises a piezoelectric actuator.
13. The fiber optic element of claim 12 wherein the piezoelectric actuator is positioned in a plane including the first support region, the first mating joint, and the second mating joint.