US4747652A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fiber coupler
Assignee: Raychem Corp
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Filing: 1984-05-25
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Granted: 1988-05-31
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Expires: 2004-05-25
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber coupler for injecting light into, and withdrawing light from, an optical fiber utilizes a deformable material (8) and a clamping member (4) which clamp a buffered optical fiber (6) therebetween. Both the clamping member and deformable material are curved causing the optical fiber to be bent when so clamped resulting in light coupling between an optical fiber core and the deformable material through the fiber buffer. The deformable material is substantially transparent and has an index of refraction substantially equal to that of an outer surface of the optical fiber. A light element has a surface embedded within the deformable material, and the deformable material and coupler are specifically formed so as to reduce microbend stresses induced in the fiber when so clamped so as to increase coupling efficiency.
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce D. Campbell
- 👤 James T. Triplett
- 👤 Richard E. Tylor
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 23:38
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2852; G01; G01M; G01M11/00; G01M11/30; G01M11/35; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4256; G02B6/4257; G02B6/4259; G02B6/4287; G02B6/4289
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
223 words
An optical coupler for coupling light between an optical fiber and a light element through an outer moisture barrier layer of an intermediate portion of an optical fiber without damaging said fiber, said fiber comprising a light guiding region and said outer moisture barrier layer which provides mechanical strength for said light guiding region and keeps moisture therefrom, comprising: a solid material for facilitating optical coupling with said moisture barrier layer; a member disposed opposite said solid material, said fiber being disposed between said member and said material; means for exerting pressure between said member and said solid material so as to bend said intermediate portion of said fiber therebetween; said member having a curved surface confronting a first moisture barrier layer surface of said intermediate portion of said fiber such that said intermediate portion of said fiber is bent by said member and said solid material when pressure is exerted therebetween by said pressure exerting means; and a light element having an end surface completely embedded within said deformable material, said light element comprising a waveguide having an end surface completely embedded within said solid material, said waveguide extending out of a casing of said optical coupler, said waveguide being capable of injecting light into or tapping light from said intermediate portion of said optical fiber having said moisture barrier layer thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
223 words
An optical coupler for coupling light between an optical fiber and a light element through an outer moisture barrier layer of an intermediate portion of an optical fiber without damaging said fiber, said fiber comprising a light guiding region and said outer moisture barrier layer which provides mechanical strength for said light guiding region and keeps moisture therefrom, comprising: a solid material for facilitating optical coupling with said moisture barrier layer; a member disposed opposite said solid material, said fiber being disposed between said member and said material; means for exerting pressure between said member and said solid material so as to bend said intermediate portion of said fiber therebetween; said member having a curved surface confronting a first moisture barrier layer surface of said intermediate portion of said fiber such that said intermediate portion of said fiber is bent by said member and said solid material when pressure is exerted therebetween by said pressure exerting means; and a light element having an end surface completely embedded within said deformable material, said light element comprising a waveguide having an end surface completely embedded within said solid material, said waveguide extending out of a casing of said optical coupler, said waveguide being capable of injecting light into or tapping light from said intermediate portion of said optical fiber having said moisture barrier layer thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical coupler of claim 1, said solid material having a curved surface which confronts and contacts a second moisture barrier layer surface of said intermediate portion of said fiber when said pressure is exerted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical coupler of claim 2, said member curved surface having a nonuniform radius of curvature.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical coupler of claim 3, said member curved surface being shaped into a curve selected from the group of curves consisting of parabolas and hyperbolas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
77 words
The optical coupler of claim 3, said member curved surface having a Young's modulus at least as large as a second material forming said fiber light guiding region, said solid material curved surface having a surface hardness less than said second material so that said solid material is deformed by said fiber when said pressure is exerted by said pressure exerting means, a Shore A hardness value of said solid material surface being between 45 and 70.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical coupler of claim 5, said Shore A value being between 48 and 55.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical coupler of claim 3, said solid material having an index of refraction substantially equal to or greater than an index of refraction of said moisture barrier layer, said solid material being substantially transparent.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical coupler of claim 3, said solid material having an index of refraction substantially equal to or less than an index of refraction of said moisture barrier layer, said solid material being substantially transparent.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical coupler of claim 1, said waveguide comprising a second optical fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
54 words
The optical coupler of claim 2, said pressure exerting means including means for completely releasing said pressure exerted on said intermediate portion of said fiber, said pressure exerting means further including means for effecting relative movement between said member and said deformable material, said relative effecting moving means including means for varying said pressure.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
39 words
The optical coupler of claim 10, said relative effecting moving means comprising a screw having one end embedded on screw threads in said member, and a knob connected to an opposite end of said screw for turning said screw.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical coupler of claim 2, further comprising means for interpreting information represented by light tapped from said intermediate portion of said optical fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical coupler of claim 12, said information interpreting means comprising a video component.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
The optical coupler of claim 12, said information interpreting means including means for determining when more than one of a plurality of optical fibers of a star coupler are attempting to substantially, simultaneously transmit light into an optically interconnected section of said plurality of optical fibers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical coupler of claim 9, said second optical fiber having a light guiding region less than 1000 microns in diameter.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
The optical coupler of claim 2, said light guiding region comprising a glass core surrounded by a glass cladding having an index of refraction lower than that of said core, said outer moisture barrier layer comprising a buffer surrounding said glass cladding.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
27 words
The optical coupler of claim 2, said light guiding region comprising a core and a plastic cladding, said plastic cladding corresponding to said outer moisture barrier layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
91 words
The optical coupler of claim 1, said end surface (23, 28) of said light element (22, 26, 27) being located within said solid material (8) at a location such that a line (32) interconnecting a center point of said end surface and a second point (34) where a center line (30) of an unbent portion of said fiber (6) departs from a center line of a bent portion of said fiber when said pressure is exerted forms an angle (θ) with said unbent center line of between 0 and 20 degrees.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical coupler of claim 2, said light element conprising a light emitter having a light emitting surface completely embedded with said deformable material.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
191 words
An optical coupler for coupling light between an optical fiber and a light element through an outer moisture barrier layer of an intermediate portion of an optical fiber without damaging said fiber, said fiber comprising a light guiding region and said outer moisture barrier layer which provides mechanical strength for said light guiding region and keeps moisture therefrom, comprising: a solid material for facilitating optical coupling with said moisture barrier layer, said material having a curved surface confronting a first moisture barrier layer surface of said intermediate portion of said fiber; a member disposed opposite said solid material, said fiber being disposed between said member and said material; means for exerting pressure between said member and said material so as to bend said intermediate portion of said fiber therebetween; said member having a curved surface confronting a second moisture barrier layer surface of said intermediate portion of said fiber such that said intermediate portion of said fiber is bent by said member and said material when pressure is exerted therebetween by said means for exerting pressure; and a light element having an end surface substantially flush with said curved material surface.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
191 words
An optical coupler for coupling light between an optical fiber and a light element through an outer moisture barrier layer of an intermediate portion of an optical fiber without damaging said fiber, said fiber comprising a light guiding region and said outer moisture barrier layer which provides mechanical strength for said light guiding region and keeps moisture therefrom, comprising: a solid material for facilitating optical coupling with said moisture barrier layer, said material having a curved surface confronting a first moisture barrier layer surface of said intermediate portion of said fiber; a member disposed opposite said solid material, said fiber being disposed between said member and said material; means for exerting pressure between said member and said material so as to bend said intermediate portion of said fiber therebetween; said member having a curved surface confronting a second moisture barrier layer surface of said intermediate portion of said fiber such that said intermediate portion of said fiber is bent by said member and said material when pressure is exerted therebetween by said means for exerting pressure; and a light element having an end surface substantially flush with said curved material surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical coupler of claim 20, said member curved surface having a nonuniform radius of curvature.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
26 words
The optical coupler of claim 21, said member curved surface being shaped into a curved selected from the group of curves consisting of parabolas and hyperbolas.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
21 words
The optical coupler of claim 21, said end surface of said light element being curved, said light element comprising a waveguide.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
25 words
The optical coupler of claim 23, said waveguide comprising a second optical fiber having a deformed end surface corresponding to said light element end surface.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-05-31 | 1991-11-30 | 1992-05-31 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-05-31 | 1995-11-30 | 1996-05-31 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-05-31 | 1999-11-30 | 2000-05-31 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |