The Boeing Company

Scott T Yee

James Kevan Guy

An optical coupling system and method for transmitting optical signals around sharp bends or curves without the use of prisms, mirrors or other conventional reflecting elements. The coupling system includes a reflecting element having a curved outer reflecting surface shaped in accordance with an ellipsoid. First and second optical elements are arranged along the two focal planes of the ellipsoid in a manner to achieve Total Internal Reflection (TIR) of the optical signal transmitted from the first optical element to the second optical element. An alternative embodiment discloses a coupling system for coupling a signal from a single input optical element into a pair of output optical elements. The use of TIR achieves extremely high efficiency in the transmission of an optical signal around a curve or bend between two optical elements.

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Chandler, AZ, United States of America

Scott T Yee