US 12,292,594 B2
Multi-fiber light guide, device with a multi-fiber light guide and method for producing the same
Wee Kiat Chai, Singapur (SG); Robert Hettler, Kumhausen (DE); Julia Weisshuhn, Mainz (DE); and Jan Philipp Steigleder, Budenheim (DE)
Assigned to Schott AG, Mainz (DE)
Filed by Schott AG, Mainz (DE)
Filed on Oct. 28, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/975,979.
Application 17/975,979 is a continuation in part of application No. PCT/EP2021/060852, filed on Apr. 26, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 20172235 (EP), filed on Apr. 30, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0067347 A1, Mar. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. G02B 6/02 (2006.01); A61B 5/024 (2006.01); C03B 37/012 (2006.01); C03B 37/027 (2006.01); C03C 13/04 (2006.01); C03C 25/602 (2018.01); G01J 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/02395 (2013.01) [A61B 5/02427 (2013.01); A61B 5/02438 (2013.01); C03B 37/01214 (2013.01); C03B 37/027 (2013.01); C03C 13/04 (2013.01); C03C 25/602 (2013.01); G01J 1/0425 (2013.01); C03B 2203/40 (2013.01)] 14 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A multi-fiber light guide, comprising:
a plurality of light guiding fibers, each of the plurality of light guiding fibers including a glass core which is elongated, the plurality of light guiding fibers thereby including a plurality of the glass core which includes a glass;
a glass cladding which includes a glass, the plurality of the glass core being surrounded by the glass cladding such that the glass cladding with the plurality of the glass core form a glass element which is rigid and continuous, the plurality of the glass core having a higher refractive index than the glass cladding and thereby being configured such that a light can be guided by a total reflection along the plurality of the glass core, the glass element of the multi-fiber light guide including two abutting faces, with the plurality of the glass core ending in respective ones of the two abutting faces and thereby being configured such that the light can be guided along the plurality of the glass core from a respective one of the two abutting faces to another respective one of the two abutting faces, the glass element further including a glass shell which encompasses the glass cladding with the plurality of the glass core which are embedded, the glass shell extending between the two abutting faces; and
an ion exchange layer at each of the two abutting faces, the glass of the plurality of the glass core and the glass of the glass cladding including a plurality of alkali ions, which are at least partly exchanged by a plurality of alkali ions of a higher atomic number within the ion exchange layer at each of the two abutting faces, exchanged ones of the plurality of alkali ions within the ion exchange layer imparting a compressive stress at the two abutting faces, the ion-exchange layer also extending along the glass shell of the glass element.