US4830456A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical connector and process for producing the same
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
•
Filing: 1987-11-13
•
Granted: 1989-05-16
•
Expires: 2007-11-13
Abstract
Abstract An optical connector comprises an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin grooves each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to the substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove holes into which an optical fiber is inserted; a guide pin means to be inserted into the pin grooves for coupling the optical fiber connector ferrule with another; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of the guide pin means. A process for producing an optical connector comprises the steps of: preparing a substrate plate wafer and a cover plate wafer; forming a plurality of optical fiber grooves on a top surface of said substrate plate wafer and a plurality of windows in said cover plate wafer; stacking the cover plate wafer on the substrate plate wafer; heating the cover and substrate plate wafers at an elevated temperature to join them into a unitary assembly; cutting the unitary assembly in a direction that is parallel to the plurality of optical fiber grooves and in a direction that is perpendicular to the plurality of optical fiber grooves and in traversing the centers of the plurality of windows in the cover plate wafer to produce a plurality of chips of optical fiber connector ferrule having a cutout in the rear portion of each cover plate; and fixing a plurality of optical fibers in a fiber array in position in a plurality of optical fiber holes.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiaki Kakii
- 👤 Kazuhito Saito
- 👤 Shuzo Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/389; G02B6/3628; G02B6/3648; G02B6/3656; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3885; G02B6/3632; G02B6/3636; G02B6/3652; G02B6/3684; G02B6/3692; G02B6/3696; G02B6/3854; G02B6/3882
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 58
Claim 1
Independent Claim
94 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position, said pin means being made of plastic for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
94 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position, said pin means being made of plastic for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
138 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; a core member to be inserted into said pin groove or coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and at least one outer layer covering said core member for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said core member, said at least one outer layer covering said core member having a lower Young's modulus than said core member, and said cover plate being joined to said substrate plate to form pin groove holes into which said core member is inserted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
138 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; a core member to be inserted into said pin groove or coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and at least one outer layer covering said core member for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said core member, said at least one outer layer covering said core member having a lower Young's modulus than said core member, and said cover plate being joined to said substrate plate to form pin groove holes into which said core member is inserted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, in which said outer layer is made of plastic.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, in which said outer layer is formed by elastic material coating.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, in which at least part of said pin means forms a small-diameter portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, in which said pin holes have triangular cross sections.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 2, in which said pin holes have polygonal cross sections.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole and pin hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; pin means to be inserted into said pin grooves for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and a clamper for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means, said clamper having a resilient compressive force and said pin means being positioned in said pin grooves which are exposed and are fixed by said clamper.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
119 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises a substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole and pin hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; pin means to be inserted into said pin grooves for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and a clamper for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means, said clamper having a resilient compressive force and said pin means being positioned in said pin grooves which are exposed and are fixed by said clamper.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 8, in which said pin means is made of ceramics.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 8, in which said pin means is made of zirconia.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
61 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 8, in which said substrate plate is joined to said cover plate with a layer of an adhesive material interposed therebetween to form said at least on optical fiber hole and pin holes, no layer of said adhesive material being present over said at least one optical fiber guide groove and said pin grooves.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 11, in which said adhesive material has low adhesion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 12, in which said adhesive material is made of resist.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 8, in which at least one of said substrate and cover plates is made of silicon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 8, in which at least one of said substrate and cover plates is made of ceramics.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 8, in which said cover plate is joined to said substrate plate without an adhesive material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 16, in which said cover plate and said substrate plate are made of silicon, the former being joined to the latter with Si--O--Si bonds.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 16, in which said cover plate and said substrate plate are made of silicon, the former being joined to the latter with Si--Si bonds.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
38 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 8, in which said pin means has a circular cross section and said pin grooves have a non-circular cross section, the former coming in contact with the latter at three points.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 19, in which said cover plate is joined to said substrate plate to form said at least one optical fiber hole and pin holes, the portion of said cover plate, which lies over the rear part of said at least one optical fiber groove, being removed to form a cutout in which the rear part thereof is exposed and the portion o said cover plate which lies over the rear part of said pin holes is not removed.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
50 words
An optical fiber as claimed in claim 8, in which said cover plate is joined to said substrate plate to form pin holes each being partly exposed from said optical fiber connector ferrule, said pin means being exposed in the exposed area even when two optical connectors are coupled together.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
22 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 21, in which said clamper acts in the area where said pin means are exposed.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
34 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 22, in which said pin means is provided with a recess in the area where said pin means are exposed and said clamper acts on said recess.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and in groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate by a layer of adhesive interposed therebetween to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, no layer of said adhesive material being present over said a least one optical fiber guide groove and said pin grooves; pin means to be inserted into said grooves for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
115 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and in groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate by a layer of adhesive interposed therebetween to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, no layer of said adhesive material being present over said a least one optical fiber guide groove and said pin grooves; pin means to be inserted into said grooves for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
16 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 24, in which said adhesive material has low adhesion.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 25, in which said adhesive material is made of resist.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical connector comprising; an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and in groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted at least one of said at least one optical fiber groove and said pin groove being provided with a slit which runs substantially parallel to the axial direction of said at least one optical fiber groove and said pin groove, said slit communicating with said at least one optical fiber groove and said pin groove; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
143 words
An optical connector comprising; an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and in groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted at least one of said at least one optical fiber groove and said pin groove being provided with a slit which runs substantially parallel to the axial direction of said at least one optical fiber groove and said pin groove, said slit communicating with said at least one optical fiber groove and said pin groove; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed n claim 27, in which said pin means is made of ceramics.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 27, in which said pin means is made of zirconia.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 27, in which at least one of said substrate and cover plates is made of silicon.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 27, in which at least one of said substrate and cover plates is made of ceramics.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, one of said substrate and cover plate is made of plastic; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
99 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, one of said substrate and cover plate is made of plastic; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 32, in which said pin means is made of ceramics.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 32, in which said pin means is made of zirconia.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
111 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole and pin hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, said cover plate being provided with a groove disposed over said pin holes; pin means to be inserted into said pi groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and an elastic layer in said cover plate groove for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
111 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole and pin hole into which an optical fiber is inserted, said cover plate being provided with a groove disposed over said pin holes; pin means to be inserted into said pi groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and an elastic layer in said cover plate groove for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 35, in which at least one of said substrate and cover plates is made of silicon.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 35, in which at least one of said substrate and cover plate is made of ceramics.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
92 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate without an adhesive material to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
92 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate without an adhesive material to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 38, in which said cover plate and said substrate plate are made of silicon, the former being joined to the latter with Si--O--Si bonds.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
31 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 38, in which said cover plate and said substrate plate are made of silicon, the former being joined to the latter with Si--O--Si bonds.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
111 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove having a non-circular cross section each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; pin means having a circular cross section to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position, said pin means coming in contact with said pin groove at three points; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
111 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove having a non-circular cross section each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted; pin means having a circular cross section to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position, said pin means coming in contact with said pin groove at three points; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
85 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 41, in which said cover plate is joined to said substrate plate to form said at least one optical fiber hole and pin hole, the portion of said cover plate, which lies over the rear part of said at least one optical fiber groove, being removed to form a cutout in which the rear part thereof is exposed and the portion of said cover plate which lies over the rear part of said pin holes is not removed.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
117 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted and pin holes each being partly exposed from said optical fiber connector ferrule; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position, said pin means being exposed in the exposed area when two optical connectors are coupled together; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
117 words
An optical connector comprising: an optical fiber connector ferrule which comprises substrate plate having at least one optical fiber groove and pin groove each being formed at one surface thereof, and a cover plate joined to said substrate plate to form at least one optical fiber groove hole into which an optical fiber is inserted and pin holes each being partly exposed from said optical fiber connector ferrule; pin means to be inserted into said pin groove for coupling said optical fiber connector ferrule with another in position, said pin means being exposed in the exposed area when two optical connectors are coupled together; and means for absorbing the variation in the diameter of said pin means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
23 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 43, further comprising clamper means for acting in the area where said pin means are exposed.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical connector as claimed in claim 44, in which said pin means is provided with a recess in the area where said pin means are exposed and said clamper means acts on said recess.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for producing an optical connector, comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate plate wafer and a cover plate wafer; forming a plurality of optical fiber grooves on a top surface of said substrate plate wafer and a plurality of windows in said cover plate wafer; stacking said cover plate wafer on said substrate plate wafer; heating said cover and substrate plate wafers at an elevated temperature to join them into a unitary assembly; cutting said unitary assembly in a direction that is parallel to said plurality of optical fiber grooves and in a direction that is perpendicular to said plurality of optical fiber grooves and in traversing the centers of said plurality of windows in said cover plate wafer to produce a plurality of chips of optical fiber connector ferrule having a cutout in part of the rear portion of each cover plate; and fixing a plurality of optical fibers in a fiber array in position in a plurality of optical fiber holes.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
165 words
A process for producing an optical connector, comprising the steps of: preparing a substrate plate wafer and a cover plate wafer; forming a plurality of optical fiber grooves on a top surface of said substrate plate wafer and a plurality of windows in said cover plate wafer; stacking said cover plate wafer on said substrate plate wafer; heating said cover and substrate plate wafers at an elevated temperature to join them into a unitary assembly; cutting said unitary assembly in a direction that is parallel to said plurality of optical fiber grooves and in a direction that is perpendicular to said plurality of optical fiber grooves and in traversing the centers of said plurality of windows in said cover plate wafer to produce a plurality of chips of optical fiber connector ferrule having a cutout in part of the rear portion of each cover plate; and fixing a plurality of optical fibers in a fiber array in position in a plurality of optical fiber holes.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
46 words
A process for producing an optical connector as claimed in claim 46, further comprising the step of surrounding each of said plurality of chips of optical fiber connector ferrule with a plastic housing except in the area corresponding to said cutout in said each cover plate.
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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) | 1992-05-15 | 1992-11-14 | 1993-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-05-15 | 1996-11-14 | 1997-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-05-15 | 2000-11-14 | 2001-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |