EP1329752A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Tip for optical waveguide
Assignee: Agilent Technologies Inc
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Filing: 2002-10-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2022-10-29
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a tip or end piece (110,202,302,402,502,602,702) for an optical waveguide (102) having an end (108) for guiding an optical signal. The tip comprises a transparent elastic material, such as silicone or polyamide, covering the end (108) of the optical waveguide.
Inventors
- 👤 Peter Thoma
- 👤 Emmerich Mueller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 15:31
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/241; G02B6/26; G02B6/262; G02B6/36; G02B6/3604; G02B6/30; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/4203; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4207; G02B6/4212; G02B6/4219; G02B6/422; G02B6/4225
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) for an optical waveguide (102)
having an end (108) and being adapted for guiding an optical signal,
comprising: a transparent elastic material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702)
covering the end (108).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1, comprising: an elastic material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) being more elastic
than a material of the waveguide (102).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
44 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1 or any one of the
above claims, comprising: an elastic material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) being at least one
magnitude more elastic than a material of the waveguide (102).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1 or any one of the
above claims, comprising at least one of the following materials (110, 202,
302, 402, 502, 602, 702): silicon, polyamide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1 or any one of the
above claims, comprising: a material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) having antireflective
properties with respect to the signal.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1 or any one of the
above claims, comprising: a material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) having a similar refractive
index as the waveguide (102).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1 or any one of the
above claims, comprising: a material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) reversibly movable into
different positions relative to the waveguide (102), preferably the material
(110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) having at least two sections (410)
with different refractive indices.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1 or any one of the
above claims, comprising: a material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) having focusing or
defocusing properties with respect to the optical signal.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
68 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1 or any one of the
above claims, comprising: a material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) having the shape of at
least one of the following: a coating of the waveguide (102), a film on the waveguide (102), the
thickness of the film being relatively small with respect to the thickness of
the waveguide (102).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
58 words
The tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of claim 1 or any one of the
above claims, comprising: a material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) having a refractive index at
least being substantially insensitive to a deformation of the material (110,
202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) in longitudinal direction of the waveguide
(102).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
An optical waveguide (102) having an end (108) and being adapted for
guiding an optical signal, comprising: a tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) on the end of the waveguide
(102) according to any one of the above claims.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
43 words
The waveguide (102) of claim 11, wherein the waveguide (102) is to be contacted with a device under test
(116) for transmitting an optical signal through optical contact between the
waveguide (102) and an optical path (114) in the device under test (116).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
An optical contact adapted for guiding an optical signal comprising: a device under test (116) in optical contact with an optical waveguide
(102) according to claims 9 or 10.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
124 words
A setup for providing an optical contact according to claim 13, comprising: a detector for detecting a substantial alignment between the waveguide
(102) according to claims 9 or 10 and an optical path (114) within the
device under test (116), a first moving unit to move the waveguide (102) laterally relative to a
longitudinal direction of the waveguide (102) and the device under test
(116) until the detector substantially detects the alignment, and a second moving unit to reduce the distance (208) between the tip (110,
202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) and the device under test (116) until the tip
(110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) comes in physical contact with the
device under test (116) when the detector has detected alignment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method for providing an optical contact according to claim 13,
comprising the steps of: detecting a substantial alignment between the waveguide (102) according
to claims 9 or 10 and an optical path (114) within the device under test
(116), moving the waveguide (102) laterally relative to a longitudinal direction of
the waveguide (102) and the device under test (116) until it is
substantially detected the alignment, and reducing the distance (208) between the tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502,
602, 702) and the device under test (116) until the tip (110, 202, 302, 402,
502, 602, 702) comes in physical contact with the device under test (116)
when it is substantially detected the alignment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method for providing an optical contact according to claim 13,
comprising the steps of: using the tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) of the waveguide (102)
not in contact with the device under test (116) to align the waveguide
(102) with an optical path (114) in the device under test (116) by using
focusing or defocusing properties of the tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602,
702).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
67 words
The method of claim 16, comprising the steps of: when detecting alignment between the waveguide (102) and an optical
path (114) of the device under test (116) reducing a distance (208)
between the tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) and the device under
test (116) until the tip (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) comes in
physical contact with the device under test (116).
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 17, comprising the step of: reducing the distance (208) between the waveguide (102) and the device
under test (116) until focusing or defocusing properties of the tip (110,
202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) have substantially disappeared.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
41 words
A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide (102) according to
claims 9 or 10, comprising the step of: spraying the material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) on at least an
end of an optical fiber comprising the waveguide (102).
Claim 20
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide (102) according to
claims 9 or 10, comprising the step of: the material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) is dispensed on at least
an end of an optical fiber comprising the waveguide (102).
Claim 21
Independent Claim
70 words
A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide (102) according to
claims 9 or 10, comprising the steps of: dipping an optical fiber comprising the waveguide (102) in the material
(110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702), preferably using either a large
quantity of a high viscous material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) or
a small quantity of a low viscous material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602,
702).
Claim 22
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide (102) according to
claims 9 or 10, comprising the step of: assembling a pre molded part (602) of the material (110, 202, 302, 402,
502, 602, 702) to an optical fiber comprising the waveguide (102).
Claim 23
Independent Claim
89 words
A method for manufacturing an optical waveguide (102) according to
claims 9 or 10, comprising the steps of: an optical fiber comprising the waveguide (102) is introduced in a tool
(701) for providing a predetermined shape for the tip (110, 202, 302, 402,
502, 602, 702), the material (110, 202, 302, 402, 502, 602, 702) for the tip (110, 202, 302,
402, 502, 602, 702) is injected in the tool (701), and the tool (701) is removed after curing of the material (110, 202, 302, 402,
502, 602, 702).
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