US4865413A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for splicing optical waveguides and method of manufacturing same
Assignee: US Philips Corp
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Filing: 1987-02-02
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Granted: 1989-09-12
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Expires: 2007-02-02
Abstract
Abstract The arrangement comprises a carrier (1) having fibre-guiding grooves (2), which carrier is made of glass-like carbon. In the manufacture of the carrier the fibre-guiding grooves are formed in a cured phenol-resin body preferably by means of an extrusion die whose shape corresponds to that of the fibre-guiding grooves to be formed. The phenol-resin body thus formed is converted into the glass-like carbon carrier by carbonization.
Inventors
- 👤 Horst H. Hubner
- 👤 Bernhard N. A. Lersmacher
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 18:20
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3885; C; C04; C04B; C04B35/00; C04B35/515; C04B35/52; C04B35/524; G02B6/3628; G02B6/3684; G02B6/3801; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/3648; G02B6/3652; G02B6/3854
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for splicing at least first and second optical fibers to each other, said fibers having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal to each other, said device comprising a carrier having first and second opposite surfaces, said carrier having at least one groove in the first surface for accommodating the first and second optical fibers, said carrier consisting essentially of glass-like carbon, said carrier having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second optical fibers and at least one strengthening pin arranged in the carrier substantially parallel to the groove in the first surface.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
107 words
A device for splicing at least first and second optical fibers to each other, said fibers having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal to each other, said device comprising a carrier having first and second opposite surfaces, said carrier having at least one groove in the first surface for accommodating the first and second optical fibers, said carrier consisting essentially of glass-like carbon, said carrier having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second optical fibers and at least one strengthening pin arranged in the carrier substantially parallel to the groove in the first surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the carrier has at least one strengthening profile in the second surface arranged substantially opposite the groove in the first surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
116 words
An optical fiber splice comprising: a first optical fiber having a coefficient of thermal expansion; a second optical fiber having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first optical fiber; a carrier having first and second opposite surfaces, said carrier having at least one groove in the first surface for accommodating the first and second optical fibers, said carrier consisting essentially of glass-like carbon, said carrier having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expanmsion of the first and second optical fibers; and at least one strengthening pin arranged in the carrier substantially parallel to the groove in the first surface.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
116 words
An optical fiber splice comprising: a first optical fiber having a coefficient of thermal expansion; a second optical fiber having a coefficient of thermal expansion which is substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first optical fiber; a carrier having first and second opposite surfaces, said carrier having at least one groove in the first surface for accommodating the first and second optical fibers, said carrier consisting essentially of glass-like carbon, said carrier having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expanmsion of the first and second optical fibers; and at least one strengthening pin arranged in the carrier substantially parallel to the groove in the first surface.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device as claimed in claim 1 or 3, wherein said strengthening pin is constructed from materials selected from the group consisting of steel, hardmetal, glass or ceramics.
Claim 7
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of manufacturing a device for splicing at least first and second optical fibers to each other, said fibers having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal to each other, said method comprising the steps of: forming a phenol-resin carrier having first and second opposite surfaces; p1 forming at least one groove in the first surface of the carrier; providing an aperture in said carrier, said aperture being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said carrier. disposing a strengthening pin in said aperture in said carrier, the diameter of said pin being less than that of said aperture to compensate for the shrinkage in the carbonizing step, and carbonizing the grooved carrier to convert the carrier substantially into glass-like carbon having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second optical fibers.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
145 words
A method of manufacturing a device for splicing at least first and second optical fibers to each other, said fibers having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal to each other, said method comprising the steps of: forming a phenol-resin carrier having first and second opposite surfaces; p1 forming at least one groove in the first surface of the carrier; providing an aperture in said carrier, said aperture being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said carrier. disposing a strengthening pin in said aperture in said carrier, the diameter of said pin being less than that of said aperture to compensate for the shrinkage in the carbonizing step, and carbonizing the grooved carrier to convert the carrier substantially into glass-like carbon having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second optical fibers.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that prior to forming the groove in the carrier, the method comprises the step of curing the carrier.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that the groove is formed by extruding the carrier through an extrusion die.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of manufacturing a device for splicing at least first and second optical fibers to each other, said fibers having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal to each other, said method comprising the steps of: forming a phenol-resin carrier having first and second opposite surfaces; providing an aperture in said carrier, said aperture being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said carrier, disposing a strengthening pin in said aperture in said carrier, the diameter of said pin being less than that of said aperture to compensate for the shrinkage in the carbonizing step, curing the carrier; carbonizing the cured carrier to convert the carrier substantially into glass-like carbon having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second optical fibers; and forming at least one groove in the first surface of the carbonized carrier.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
148 words
A method of manufacturing a device for splicing at least first and second optical fibers to each other, said fibers having coefficients of thermal expansion which are substantially equal to each other, said method comprising the steps of: forming a phenol-resin carrier having first and second opposite surfaces; providing an aperture in said carrier, said aperture being disposed substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said carrier, disposing a strengthening pin in said aperture in said carrier, the diameter of said pin being less than that of said aperture to compensate for the shrinkage in the carbonizing step, curing the carrier; carbonizing the cured carrier to convert the carrier substantially into glass-like carbon having a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially equal to the coefficient of thermal expansion of the first and second optical fibers; and forming at least one groove in the first surface of the carbonized carrier.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of manufacturing as claimed in claim 5 or 8, wherein the diameter of the strengthening pin is approximately 20-25% smaller than that of the aperture prior to the carbonizing step.
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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) | 1992-09-11 | 1993-03-13 | 1993-09-12 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-09-11 | 1997-03-13 | 1997-09-12 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-09-11 | 2001-03-13 | 2001-09-12 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |