Patent US2289321A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent EP0331334A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0331334A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical connector
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1989-02-22
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2009-02-22
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is a connector for optical fibers and components, and a method of manufacture, which provides close alignment. Each fiber (16) is disposed within a plug comprising two blocks (10, 11) placed with their major surfaces in contact. Each block has an array of grooves (14, 15) formed in a major surface for accommodating the fibers. A pair of deeper grooves is also formed in each major surface at opposite edges of each block and at the same time as the array of grooves to form beveled edge surfaces (17, 18, 19, 20). Guiding rods (25, 26) are disposed against the beveled surfaces so that the rods are rectilinear with the fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Rocco Bonanni
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:22
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4292; G02B6/26; G02B6/30; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3882; G02B6/3885; G02B6/389; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/421; G02B6/3628; G02B6/3632; G02B6/3636; G02B6/3648; G02B6/3652; G02B6/3684; G02B6/3692
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
134 words
An optical fiber connector comprising: a block of material (10) with edge and major surfaces, said block including at least one groove (14) formed with sloping sidewalls in a major surface and adapted to receive therein an optical fiber (16), a spline (25 or 26) disposed in contact with the beveled portion of at least one edge surface, extending beyond said block, and adapted for engagement with the beveled portion of a similar block for alignment therewith; and means (27, 28 and 29) for maintaining the spline in contact with the beveled portion; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said block also includes a beveled portion (18 and 20) extending from the major surface on each edge surface such that the slope of each beveled portion is the same as one of the sidewalls of the groove.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
134 words
An optical fiber connector comprising: a block of material (10) with edge and major surfaces, said block including at least one groove (14) formed with sloping sidewalls in a major surface and adapted to receive therein an optical fiber (16), a spline (25 or 26) disposed in contact with the beveled portion of at least one edge surface, extending beyond said block, and adapted for engagement with the beveled portion of a similar block for alignment therewith; and means (27, 28 and 29) for maintaining the spline in contact with the beveled portion; CHARACTERIZED IN THAT said block also includes a beveled portion (18 and 20) extending from the major surface on each edge surface such that the slope of each beveled portion is the same as one of the sidewalls of the groove.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
26 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the major surface of the block includes a plurality of grooves adapted to receive an array of optical fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
110 words
The device according to claim 1 further comprising a second block with edge and major surfaces and with at least one groove having sloping sidewalls in a major surface, said block also including a beveled portion extending from the major surface on each edge surface such that the slope of each beveled portion is the same as one of the sidewalls of the groove; said second block having its major surface in contact with the major surface of the first block so that the two grooves form a housing for the optical fiber therein and the spline is in contact with the beveled portions of both blocks at one edge.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 1 wherein the block comprises silicon and the groove sidewalls and beveled portions are etched along the (111) crystallographic planes of the block.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The device according to claim 3 wherein the central axes of the fiber and the rod are rectilinear.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The device according to claim 4 wherein the beveled portions of the block and the groove are formed at the same time by anisotropically etching the major surface.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The device according to claim 3 wherein the spline is held in contact with the beveled portions by a spring force applied to the spline which is essentially parallel with the major surfaces of the blocks.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of forming an optical fiber connector from a block material having major surfaces comprising the step of forming a first groove in a major surface of the block adapted for receiving an optical fiber therein; CHARACTERIZED IN THE FURTHER STEPS OF: forming a pair of grooves in said major surface, one on either side of said first groove and essentially parallel therewith, said pair being deeper than the first groove and being formed essentially simultaneously with the first groove; and cutting said block of material through a bottom portion of said pair of grooves and along a line essentially parallel with the first groove thereby forming edge surfaces including beveled portions extending from the major surface of the block which includes the first groove.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
126 words
A method of forming an optical fiber connector from a block material having major surfaces comprising the step of forming a first groove in a major surface of the block adapted for receiving an optical fiber therein; CHARACTERIZED IN THE FURTHER STEPS OF: forming a pair of grooves in said major surface, one on either side of said first groove and essentially parallel therewith, said pair being deeper than the first groove and being formed essentially simultaneously with the first groove; and cutting said block of material through a bottom portion of said pair of grooves and along a line essentially parallel with the first groove thereby forming edge surfaces including beveled portions extending from the major surface of the block which includes the first groove.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the block comprises silicon, the major surface lies in the (100) crystallographic plane, and the walls of the grooves are formed in the (111) crystallographic planes.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method according to claim 8 wherein the deep groove is first etched to a predetermined depth, and the deep grooves and the first groove are then etched simultaneously.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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