Hermetic optical connection

• Main Authors: WALSH, III THOMAS J, RASZKA SCOTT A
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 15.04.2010
• Subjects: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS; OPTICS; PHYSICS

A light-transmission assembly includes a hermetic optical connection having a housing with a housing side wall extending between opposed first and second housing ends. The housing is configured for sealable securement within a bulkhead bore through a bulkhead separating regions of relatively low and high fluid pressure and includes an interior surface defining a housing bore that extends between and through the first and second housing ends. Sealably bonded within the housing bore is a light-transmissive, rigid optical component having opposed first and second optical-component faces and an optical-component side wall extending between the optical-component faces. The assembly further includes at least a first flexible light conduit having opposed first and second light-conduit faces through which light can enter and exit the first flexible light conduit. The first light-conduit face of the first light conduit is retained in optical alignment with the first optical-component face.