An image fiber includes an image fiber body having a twisted portion which is formed by heating, softening, and twisting a portion of the image fiber body. The rate of twist in the twisted portion is made to be constant. Moreover, the rate of twist may preferably be set in a range from 1Â°/mm to 4000Â°/mm. In addition, the rate of twist at the beginning portion of the twisted portion and the rate of twist at the end portion of the twisted portion may preferably be set in a range from 3Â°/mm to 400Â°/mm. The twisted portion may be provided with a protective element.

Claims

14 · 5 independent · depth 5

14 granted claims

›1.independentAn image fiber comprising:nan image fiber body comprising a plurality of cores and having a twisted portion with a beginning portion, a middle portion…+9

›2.↳ 1An image fiber according to claim 1, wherein the rate of twist in the middle portion is set in a range from 1 °/mm to 1000°/mm.d2

›3.↳ 1An image fiber according to claim 1, wherein the rate of twist in the middle portion is set in a range from 5°/mm to 100°/mm.d2

›4.↳ 1An image fiber according to claim 1, wherein the rate of twist in the beginning portion and the rate of twist in the end portion vary in a range from …d2

›5.↳ 1An image fiber according to claim 1, further comprising a protective element covering the twisted portion.d2+4

›14.↳ 1An image fiber according to claim 1, wherein the rate of twist in the twisted portion is set so that the elongated lengths of the cores due to twistin…d2

›10.independentAn image fiber comprising:nan image fiber body comprising a plurality of cores and having a protective element covering a twisted portion with a begin…

›11.independentAn image fiber comprising:nan image fiber body comprising a plurality of cores and having a protective element covering a twisted portion with a begin…

›12.independentAn image fiber comprising:nan image fiber body comprising a plurality of cores and having a protective element covering a twisted portion with a begin…

›13.independentAn image fiber comprising:nan image fiber body comprising a plurality of cores and having a protective element covering a twisted portion with a begin…

Classifications

3 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section G — Physics

G02B6/06

USPC · US Patent Classification

385/116385/117

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Pendency

3.4 y

1,224 days filing → grant

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after a restriction

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2 RCE

Examiner

Kevin S. Wood

art unit 2874 · TC 2800

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Citations: 9 back · 0 forward

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1 priority documents

›Priority documents — 1

Type	Document	Date
related publication	US 20040042745 A1	4 Mar 2004

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