US4818059A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical connector and splicer
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1987-03-13
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Granted: 1989-04-04
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Expires: 2007-03-13
Abstract
Abstract An optical connector and splicer including an optical fiber positioning member for optical coupling of optical fibers where the coupling is assisted by at least two guide pins. The optical fiber positioning member comprises a substrate plate and a flat plate. The substrate plate has optical fiber grooves and guide pin grooves each formed at one surface thereof for positioning the one optical fibers and said guide pins, respectively. The flat plate has a flat surface confronting with the grooved surface of the substrate plate. An exposed area is formed on a part of the substrate plate where said flat plate is not joined for facilitating an insertion of the optical fibers into the optical fiber grooves. A method of the optical connector and splicer comprises the steps of: preparing a substrate plate assembly form a single wafer made of a hard and brittle material; continuously forming a predetermined pattern of optical fiber grooves and guide pin grooves on a surface of said substrate plate assembly; bonding at least one flat plate to said surface of said substrate plate assembly with an adhesive thin layer, so that optical fiber groove holes and guide pin groove holes are provided; cutting a bonded assembly into sections each having predetermined dimensions of said positioning member; and fixing the optical fibers in said optical fiber groove holes by bonding with an adhesive.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiaki Kakii
- 👤 Yasuo Asano
- 👤 Shuzo Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:58
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/40; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3885; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/3854; G02B6/389; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1064; Y10T156/1075
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
178 words
An optical connector for use in the coupling of optical fibers, said connector being disposed to be connected to an identical optical connector by two guide pins only, said connector comprising: a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and at least one guide pin groove each formed at one surface thereof for positioning said at least one optical fiber and said guide pins, respectively; and a flat plate mounted on said substrate plate, and having a flat surface confronting said one surface on said substrate plate so as to expose at least a part of said optical fiber, said flat plate being joined to a partial area of said substrate plate for defining at least one optical fiber holding portion and at least one guide pin holding portion, a remaining area of said substrate plate, where said flat plate is not joined, defining an exposed area for facilitating insertion of said optical fiber into said optical fiber holding portion said exposed area having a step at a side thereof for fixing a coated optical fiber.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
178 words
An optical connector for use in the coupling of optical fibers, said connector being disposed to be connected to an identical optical connector by two guide pins only, said connector comprising: a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and at least one guide pin groove each formed at one surface thereof for positioning said at least one optical fiber and said guide pins, respectively; and a flat plate mounted on said substrate plate, and having a flat surface confronting said one surface on said substrate plate so as to expose at least a part of said optical fiber, said flat plate being joined to a partial area of said substrate plate for defining at least one optical fiber holding portion and at least one guide pin holding portion, a remaining area of said substrate plate, where said flat plate is not joined, defining an exposed area for facilitating insertion of said optical fiber into said optical fiber holding portion said exposed area having a step at a side thereof for fixing a coated optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said substrate and flat plates are made of a hard and brittle material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an adhesive thin layer formed between said substrate plate and said flat plate for bonding said flat plate to said part area of said substrate plate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hard and brittle material is formed of silicon.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hard and brittle material is formed of ceramics.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein said hard and brittle material is formed of glass.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 3, wherein said adhesive thin layer is made of a low-viscosity and spin-coatable resin.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 7, wherein said low-viscosity and spin-coatable resin is a photoresist.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a housing which surrounds said substrate plate and flat plate for protecting and pressing said substrate plate and flat plate together.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said guide pin holding portion has an open end portion, which portion provides enlarged clearance.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said optical fiber groove and said guide pin grooves are V-shaped.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 11, wherein said optical fiber groove and said guide pin grooves have the same angle of V.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 1, said optical fiber holding portion and guide pin holding portion are defined by an inscribed circle of a triangle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said flat plate is made of a transparent material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical splicer for permanently connecting an optical fiber, comprising: a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove formed on an upper surface thereof for positioning said at least one optical fiber along said optical fiber groove; a flat plate having a length shorter than said substrate plate, and flat plate being joined to a part area of said substrate plate for defining at least one optical fiber groove hole, remaining area of said substrate plate, where said flat plate is not joined, defining exposed areas for facilitating an insertion of said optical fiber into said optical groove hole, said exposed areas being formed on both longitudinal sides of the upper surface of said substrate plate, said substrate plate and flat plates being made of a hard and brittle material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
132 words
An optical splicer for permanently connecting an optical fiber, comprising: a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove formed on an upper surface thereof for positioning said at least one optical fiber along said optical fiber groove; a flat plate having a length shorter than said substrate plate, and flat plate being joined to a part area of said substrate plate for defining at least one optical fiber groove hole, remaining area of said substrate plate, where said flat plate is not joined, defining exposed areas for facilitating an insertion of said optical fiber into said optical groove hole, said exposed areas being formed on both longitudinal sides of the upper surface of said substrate plate, said substrate plate and flat plates being made of a hard and brittle material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
18 words
An optical splicer as claimed in claim 15, wherein said flat plate is made of a transparent material.
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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) | 1992-04-03 | 1992-10-03 | 1993-04-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-04-03 | 1996-10-03 | 1997-04-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-04-03 | 2000-10-03 | 2001-04-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |