EP0241724A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical connector and splicer
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1987-03-13
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-03-13
Abstract
Abstract An optical connector and splicer including an optical fiber positioning member for optical coupling of optical fibers where the coupling is assisted by at least two guide pins. The optical fiber positioning member comprises a substrate plate (1) and a flat plate (2). The substrate plate has optical fiber grooves (3) and guide pin grooves (4) each formed at one surface thereof for positioning the one optical fibers (11) and said guide pins, respectively. The flat plate has a flat surface confronting with the grooved surface of the substrate plate. An exposed area is formed on a part of the substrate plate where said flat plate is not joined for facilitating an insertion of the optical fibers into the optical fiber grooves. A method of the optical connector and splicer comprises the steps of: preparing a substrate plate assembly form a single wafer made of a hard and brittle material; continuously forming a predetermined pattern of optical fiber grooves and guide pin grooves on a surface of said substrate plate assembly; bonding at least one flat plate to said surface of said substrate plate assembly with an adhesive thin layer, so that optical fiber groove holes and guide pin groove holes are provided; cutting a bonded assembly into sections each having predetermined dimensions of said positioning member; and fixing the optical fibers in said optical fiber groove holes by bonding with an adhesive (16).
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiaki C/Oyokohama Works Kakii
- 👤 Yasuo C/Oyokohama Works Asano
- 👤 Shuzo C/Oyokohama Works Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 12:17
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/40; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3885; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/3854; G02B6/389; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1064; Y10T156/1075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
160 words
An optical connector including an optical fiber positioning member for use in an optical coupling of optical fibers, said coupling being assisted by at least two guide pins, said connector comprising: a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and guide pin grooves each formed at one surface thereof for positioning said at least one optical fiber and said guide pins, respectively; and a flat plate mounted on said substrate plate, and having a flat surface confronting with said one surface and having a length shorter than said substrate plate, said flat plate being joined to a part area of said substrate plate for defining at least one optical fiber groove hole and guide pin groove holes, a remaining area of said substrate plate, where said flat plate is not joined, defining an exposed area for facilitating an insertion of said optical fiber into said optical fiber groove hole, said positioning member comprising said substrate and flat plates.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
160 words
An optical connector including an optical fiber positioning member for use in an optical coupling of optical fibers, said coupling being assisted by at least two guide pins, said connector comprising: a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and guide pin grooves each formed at one surface thereof for positioning said at least one optical fiber and said guide pins, respectively; and a flat plate mounted on said substrate plate, and having a flat surface confronting with said one surface and having a length shorter than said substrate plate, said flat plate being joined to a part area of said substrate plate for defining at least one optical fiber groove hole and guide pin groove holes, a remaining area of said substrate plate, where said flat plate is not joined, defining an exposed area for facilitating an insertion of said optical fiber into said optical fiber groove hole, said positioning member comprising said substrate and flat plates.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim l, wherein said substrate and flat plates are made of a hard and brittle material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim l, said positioning member further comprising an adhesive thin layer formed between said substrate plate and said flat plate for bonding said flat plate to said part area of said substrate plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hard and brittle material is formed of silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hard and brittle material is formed of ceramics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hard and brittle material is formed of glass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adhesive thin layer is made of a low-viscosity and spin-coatable resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said low-viscosity and spin-coatable resin is a photoresist.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim l, further comprising a housing which surrounds said positioning member for protecting and pressing said positioning member.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
l0. An optical connector as claimed in claim l, wherein each of said guide pin groove holes has an open end portion, which portion provides enlarged clearance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim l, wherein said optical fiber groove and said guide pin grooves are V-shaped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim ll, wherein said optical fiber groove and said guide pin grooves have the same angle of V.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
28 words
l3 An optical connector as claimed in claim l, said optical fiber groove hole and guide pin groove holes are defined by an inscribed circle of a triangle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim l, wherein said positioning member has a step at a side of said exposed area for fixing a coated optical fiber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim l, wherein said flat plate is made of a transparent material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical splicer for permanently connecting an optical fiber, comprising: a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove formed on an upper surface thereof for positioning said at least one optical fiber along said optical fiber groove; a flat plate having a length shorter than said substrate plate, said flat plate being joined to a part area of said substrate plate for defining at least one optical fiber groove hole, remaining area of said substrate plate, where said flat plate is not joined, defining exposed areas for facilitating an insertion of said optical fiber into said optical groove hole, said exposed areas being formed on both longitudinal sides of the upper surface of said substrate plate, said substrate plate and flat plates being made of a hard and brittle material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical splicer for permanently connecting an optical fiber, comprising: a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove formed on an upper surface thereof for positioning said at least one optical fiber along said optical fiber groove; a flat plate having a length shorter than said substrate plate, said flat plate being joined to a part area of said substrate plate for defining at least one optical fiber groove hole, remaining area of said substrate plate, where said flat plate is not joined, defining exposed areas for facilitating an insertion of said optical fiber into said optical groove hole, said exposed areas being formed on both longitudinal sides of the upper surface of said substrate plate, said substrate plate and flat plates being made of a hard and brittle material.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical splicer as claimed in claim l6, wherein said flat plate is made of a transparent material.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of machining a optical connector and a splicer having a positioning member comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate plate assembly from a single wafer made of a hard and brittle material; continuously forming a predetermined pattern of optical fiber grooves and guide pin grooves on a surface of said substrate plate assembly; bonding at least one flat plate to said surface of said substrate plate assembly with an adhesive thin layer so that optical fiber groove holes and guide pin groove holes are provided; cutting a bonded assembly into sections each having predetermined dimensions of said positioning member; inserting optical fibers from at least one side of said positioning member into said optical fiber groove holes; and fixing inserted optical fibers in said optical fiber groove holes by bonding with an adhesive.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
135 words
A method of machining a optical connector and a splicer having a positioning member comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate plate assembly from a single wafer made of a hard and brittle material; continuously forming a predetermined pattern of optical fiber grooves and guide pin grooves on a surface of said substrate plate assembly; bonding at least one flat plate to said surface of said substrate plate assembly with an adhesive thin layer so that optical fiber groove holes and guide pin groove holes are provided; cutting a bonded assembly into sections each having predetermined dimensions of said positioning member; inserting optical fibers from at least one side of said positioning member into said optical fiber groove holes; and fixing inserted optical fibers in said optical fiber groove holes by bonding with an adhesive.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
41 words
A method as claimed in claim l8, wherein said groove forming step is performed by using a single cutting tool selectively varying cutting depth, deep cutting corresponding to said guide pin grooves, and shallow cutting corresponding to said optical fiber grooves.
Claim 23
Independent Claim
56 words
A method as claimed in claim l8, wherein said cutting step is performed by cutting parts of said flat plate to remove at least said parts, to provide an exposed area for facilitating an insertion of optical fibers into said optical fiber groove holes, and by cutting completely said bonded assembly, to provide respective positioning members.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
2l. A method as claimed in claim 20, further comprising the step of cutting a part of said substrate plate to provide a step for receiving coated optical fibers.
Claim 25
Independent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claims 20 and 2l, wherein said cuttings are carried out by using a single whetstone.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim l8, wherein said bonding is performed by spin coating.
Claim 27
Independent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim l8, wherein said bonding is performed by sputtering.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim l8, wherein said bonding is performed by vacuum vapor.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
15 words
A method as claimed in claim l8, wherein said bonding is performed by photo-resist method.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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