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EP0106116A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Arrangement for protecting an optical fiber coupler and a method of manufacturing the same
Assignee: Alcatel Lucent NV
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Filing: 1983-09-07
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2003-09-07
Abstract
Abstract A protective arrangement for an optical fiber coupler (2) includes a substantially cross-sectionally V-shaped support element (11) which bounds an open channel (12) that receives a portion of the optical fiber coupler (2). The portion received in the open channel includes jacketed regions, continuing into bare regions (22) and a coupling region (23). Respective adhesive bodies (13) secure the jacketed regions of the optical fiber coupler (2) in the open channel (12) of the V-shaped support element (11). A strip-shaped support element (14) is connected by respective additional bodies (15) of adhesive to the bare regions of the fiber just outside the coupling region. The support elements (11, 14) are of a material having a coefficient of thermal expansion approximating that of the material of the optical fiber coupler (2). A shrunk tubular shielding element (16) tightly surrounds the V-shaped support element (11) over most of its length and its open ends are closed by respective seals (18). Shrunk tubular bend limiters (17) surround the jacketed regions of the optical fiber coupler and pass through the respective seals (18). This sub-package (1) is so inserted into a receiving channel (31) of a housing member (3) that the open side of the open channel of the V-shaped support element (11) faces the bottom surface of the receiving channel (31). A body of encapsulating material (4) embeds the subpackage (1) and holds the same in position within the receiving channel (31).
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur James Hoffman
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 21:53
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2835; G02B6/3887; G02B6/38875
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
58 words
Arrangement for protecting an optical fiber coupler of an optical material characterized in that at Least one elongated support element (11) is extending along the coupler (2), and that means (13) are provided for attaching the coupler (2) to said support element (11) at Least at two Locations spaced from one another LongitudinaLLy of said support element (11).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
58 words
Arrangement for protecting an optical fiber coupler of an optical material characterized in that at Least one elongated support element (11) is extending along the coupler (2), and that means (13) are provided for attaching the coupler (2) to said support element (11) at Least at two Locations spaced from one another LongitudinaLLy of said support element (11).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the support element (11) is of a metaLLic material having a coefficient of thermal expansion close to that of the optical material of the coupler (2).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the support element (11) has a substantially trough-shaped configuration with a substantially V-shaped cross section so as to bound an open channel (12); and wherein at Least that portion of the coupler (2) which extends between said two Locations is received in said open channel.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 3, characterized in that there is provided further a tubular shielding element (16) surrounding at Least that part of said trough-shaped support element (11) which extends between said two Locations.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
81 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 4, characterized in that the shielding element (16) is in tight contact with the exterior of said part of said trough-shaped support element (11) and extends across said open channel (12) and is of a shrinkable material and is shrunk in place to obtain said tight contact and has two LongitudinaLLy spaced end portions; and further comprising means for sealingly closing said end portions, including seals (18) extending at Least inwardly from said end portions.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
75 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 5, characterized in that there is provided further a pair of tubular end Limiters (17) each snugly surrounding the coupler (2) at the region of one of said end portions of said tubular shielding element (16) and wherein each of said bend limiters (17) is of a shrinkable material and is shrunk in place on the coupler (2) and wherein said seals (18) sealingly engage said bend Limiters (17).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 3, characterized in that there is provided further an additional support element (14) of a strip-shaped configuration extending along the coupler (2) and having a shorter Length than said support element (11), and means for securing said additional support element to the coupler (2) at Least at two zones spaced a smaller distance from one another than said two Locations and wherein said zones are situated between said Locations upon assembly and wherein said securing means includes respective bodies (15) of an adhesive substance at said zones.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that the attaching means includes respective bodies (15) of an adhesive at said Locations.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
73 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 1, characterized in that further means are provided for encasing said support element (11) and at Least that portion of the coupler (2) which is coextensive with the latter, including a rigid housing member (3) bounding a receiving channel (31) dimensioned to receive said support element and said part of the coupler (2) with a clearance, and a body (4) of filling material substantially filling said clearance.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 9, characterized in that the housing member (3) includes two LateraL walls (34) and an interconnecting wall (35) interconnecting said LateraL walls and bounding said receiving channel (31) therewith; and wherein said trough-shaped support member (11) is so oriented in said receiving channel (31) that the open side of said open channel (12) faces said interconnecting waLL (35).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
55 words
An arrangement as defined in claim 10, characterized in that the seals (18) arranged at and closing the open end portions of the shielding element have outer dimensions substantially corresponding to those of said receiving channel (31) to be fittingly received therein and to deLimit a receiving space for said body (4) of filling material.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of manufacturing a protecting arrangement for an optical fiber coupler of an optical material comprising the steps of:providing a trough-shaped element with an open channeL; placing the coupler into the open channel; adhesively attaching the coupler to the support element in the open channel; surrounding the support element with a tubular shielding element of a shrinkable material; shrinking the shielding element around said trough-shaped element to form a subassembly; inserting the subassembly with clearance into a receiving channel of a housing member; sealing the open ends of the tubular shielding element around the coupler with respective seals which are so dimensioned as to simultaneously delimit a receiving space in the clearance between the shielding element and the housing member; substantially filling the receiving space with a body of a hardenable material to embed the subassembly; and causing the hardenable material to harden.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
144 words
A method of manufacturing a protecting arrangement for an optical fiber coupler of an optical material comprising the steps of:providing a trough-shaped element with an open channeL; placing the coupler into the open channel; adhesively attaching the coupler to the support element in the open channel; surrounding the support element with a tubular shielding element of a shrinkable material; shrinking the shielding element around said trough-shaped element to form a subassembly; inserting the subassembly with clearance into a receiving channel of a housing member; sealing the open ends of the tubular shielding element around the coupler with respective seals which are so dimensioned as to simultaneously delimit a receiving space in the clearance between the shielding element and the housing member; substantially filling the receiving space with a body of a hardenable material to embed the subassembly; and causing the hardenable material to harden.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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