US4783143A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for suitably positioning light waveguides for coupling locations and for coupling elements in a light waveguide switch
Assignee: Siemens AG
•
Filing: 1987-03-09
•
Granted: 1988-11-08
•
Expires: 2007-03-09
Abstract
Abstract In a method and apparatus for suitably positioning light waveguides for coupling ends of function fibers at coupling locations, the coupling ends of the function fibers are aligned and fixed on a carrier element. Guide capillaries are formed to fit the jackets of the function fibers precisely and are aligned on both sides of a coupling location. The alignment is achieved with the assistance of a wrap-free auxiliary fiber after which the auxiliary fiber is removed and the function fibers are subsequently introduced into the guide capillaries and fixed therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Joachim Eicher
- 👤 Lothar Kiesewetter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 17:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3504; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3801; G02B6/3803; G02B6/3806; G02B6/354; G02B6/3544; G02B6/3548; G02B6/355; G02B6/3562; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3582; G02B6/3628; G02B6/3648; G02B6/3652; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S359/00; Y10S359/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for suitably positioning light waveguides for coupling ends of function fibers at coupling locations, the coupling ends of the function fibers aligned and fixed on a carrier element, comprising: providing a guide element on the carrier element for each function fiber; providing a guide capillary in said guide element substantially fitted to a jacket of said function fiber; providing a wrap-free auxiliary fiber having a diameter substantially the same as a diameter of said function fiber; inserting said auxiliary fiber through said guide capillaries of at least two guide elements to align said guide elements on the carrier element and on either side of the coupling location; attaching said guide elements to the carrier element; removing said auxiliary fiber from said guide elements; inserting the function fibers into said guide capillaries of each of said guide elements such that their coupling ends are in axial alignment at the coupling location; and attaching the function fibers to said guide elements.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
161 words
A method for suitably positioning light waveguides for coupling ends of function fibers at coupling locations, the coupling ends of the function fibers aligned and fixed on a carrier element, comprising: providing a guide element on the carrier element for each function fiber; providing a guide capillary in said guide element substantially fitted to a jacket of said function fiber; providing a wrap-free auxiliary fiber having a diameter substantially the same as a diameter of said function fiber; inserting said auxiliary fiber through said guide capillaries of at least two guide elements to align said guide elements on the carrier element and on either side of the coupling location; attaching said guide elements to the carrier element; removing said auxiliary fiber from said guide elements; inserting the function fibers into said guide capillaries of each of said guide elements such that their coupling ends are in axial alignment at the coupling location; and attaching the function fibers to said guide elements.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of proving a guide element and guide capillary comprises: applying a hardenable, solidifying material carrier element on both sides of the coupling location; forming said guide capillaries in said guide elements by casting said auxiliary fiber in said material such that said auxiliary fiber is cladded with said materials at both sides of the coupling location; and removing said auxiliary fiber after said material hardens.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said material adheres to said carrier element but does not substantially adhere to said auxiliary fiber, said material thereby forming said guide element.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said method further comprises: using as said material a viscous, hardenable plastic to form said guide elements.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said method further comprises: using a temporarily liquified solder to form said guide element.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 2, wherein said method further comprises: coating said auxiliary fiber with a film of parting agent before cladding with said material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the steps of providing guide elements and guide capillaries comprises: using prefabricated guide sleeves in said guide elements having said guide capillaries, said auxiliary fiber being threaded through said guide capillaries of said guide sleeves for arrangement of said guide elements on both sides of the coupling location and for adherence thereto.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said method further comprises: forming said guide sleeves from a material stable in shape; and forming said guide capillaries by drilling said guide sleeves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said method further comprises: forming said guide sleeves by cladding said auxiliary fiber with a plastic, hardenable, solidifying material; and subsequently removing said auxiliary fiber from said material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises: using a hardenable adhesive to attach said function fibers after said function fibers are inserted into their respective guide capillaries.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises: adjusting at least one of said function fibers by rotating said function fiber around its axis in the guide capillary before attaching said function fiber.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises: setting desired end facing spacing by aligning said function fibers in their longitudinal direction before attaching said function fibers.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said step of providing an auxiliary fiber comprises using a wire of a stiff and tensile material, particularly a SiC whisker wire, a steel wire or a boron fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said method further comprises: providing a funnel-shaped expansion for said guide capillaries in said guide elements on an end thereof facing away from the coupling location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
93 words
A method according to claim 2, said method further comprising: cladding said auxiliary fiber with a substantially coneshaped parting substance at a region of an end of said guide element facing away from the coupling location; casting both said auxiliary fibers and said parting substance with said material for forming said guide element; and removing both said auxiliary fiber and said parting substance after said material hardens thereby forming said guide element having a guide capillary with a funnel-shaped expansion on an end of said guide element facing away from the coupling locations.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
91 words
A method according to claim 1, said method further comprising: providing a stationary carrier element and a mobile carrier element, each having a guide element; after said auxiliary fiber has aligned said guide element on said stationary carrier element with said guide element on said mobile carrier element, removing said auxiliary fiber from only one of said guide elements; moving said mobile carrier element to a second coupling location; moving said auxiliary fiber across said second coupling location; aligning and attaching an additional guide element by means of said auxiliary fiber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method according to claim 16, said method further comprising: aligning and attaching said additional guide element on said guide element on said stationary carrier element.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 1, said method further comprising: providing said guide capillaries with a continuous slot parallel to a longitudinal axis thereof; and inserting said function fibers laterally into said guide capillaries through said slot.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method according to claim 18, said method further comprising: providing edges on said slot which are elastically spreadable, said slot having a width smaller than the diameter of said function fibers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 19, said method further comprising: forming an inside wall for said capillary by stripping a fiber coating from said auxiliary fiber when said auxiliary fiber is removed from said guide element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
DE2616071A1
Cited
US4325607A
Cited
US4452507A
Cited
US4529265A
Cited
DE3138686A1
Cited
JPS59102207A
Cited
DE3335673A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-11-08 | 1992-05-09 | 1992-11-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-11-08 | 1996-05-09 | 1996-11-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-11-08 | 2000-05-09 | 2000-11-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |