Patent US4755037A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
← Back to Patent Explorer
US4755037A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fiber optic coupler

Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corp
•
Filing: 1987-04-13
•
Granted: 1988-07-05
•
Expires: 2007-04-13
📄 Original PDF 🌐 Google Patents 🔄 Sync Now

Abstract

Abstract A fiber optic coupler is provided having first and second optical fibers fused together along a predetermined length having fused tapered ends for the input and output of optical energy and a constant diameter section therebetween to facilitate coupling of optical energy between the first and second optical fibers. The constant diameter section provides a higher efficient coupling action and a stronger, more rugged coupler.

Inventors

  • 👤 Harvey C. Bjornlie
  • 👤 Timothy E. Clark

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-02 14:12
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2835; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 2
Claim 1
Independent Claim 89 words
A method of producing a fiber optic coupler, comprising: (a) stripping away the protective jacket and cleaning at least two fiber optic waveguides; (b) placing the stripped and cleaned sections of the waveguides longitudinally side by side in intimate contact under slight tension; (c) heating the fiber optic waveguides along the longitudinally placed sections to cause the outer cladding materials to fuse and melt together; and (d) reheating and stretching the fused waveguides differentially forming a reduced cylindrical constant diameter coupling region at the midsection of the fused waveguides.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 89 words
A method of producing a fiber optic coupler, comprising: (a) stripping away the protective jacket and cleaning at least two fiber optic waveguides; (b) placing the stripped and cleaned sections of the waveguides longitudinally side by side in intimate contact under slight tension; (c) heating the fiber optic waveguides along the longitudinally placed sections to cause the outer cladding materials to fuse and melt together; and (d) reheating and stretching the fused waveguides differentially forming a reduced cylindrical constant diameter coupling region at the midsection of the fused waveguides.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4392712A Cited
US4291940A Cited
US4449781A Cited
DE2942318A1 Cited
US4402570A Cited
US4632513A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1991-07-05 1992-01-04 1992-07-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1995-07-05 1996-01-04 1996-07-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1999-07-05 2000-01-04 2000-07-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

Assigned Categories & Tags

No categories assigned to this patent yet.

Assign Category Tag