Patent US4887880A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4887880A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Optical fiber connector structure
Assignee: Raynet Corp
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Filing: 1988-08-31
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Granted: 1989-12-19
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Expires: 2008-08-31
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber tap for connecting polymer optical fibers is achieved by heating an end section of the fibers to be connected and deforming the end sections into a non-circular cross-sectional shape so as to form a throughput cross-sectional area and a add/drop throughput area, the optical fiber ends being thereafter aligned so as to allow for efficient signal extraction and injection.
Inventors
- 👤 Frank H. Levinson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 13:28
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; H04B10/2581; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/02; G02B6/02033; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2552; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2808
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for tapping an optical fiber, comprising: an elongated first optical fiber having a noncircular end which has an end cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fiber which includes a throughput area and a light-add/light-drop area, a core of the throughput area being integral with a core of the light-add/light-drop area, the light-add/light-drop area and throughput area being enveloped by a common cladding; an elongated second optical fiber having an end which has an end cross-section optically coupled to the first optical fiber end throughput area; optical path means optically interconnecting the light-add/light-drop area and at least one of an electro-optic transducer and a sensor.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
112 words
An apparatus for tapping an optical fiber, comprising: an elongated first optical fiber having a noncircular end which has an end cross-section taken along a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the fiber which includes a throughput area and a light-add/light-drop area, a core of the throughput area being integral with a core of the light-add/light-drop area, the light-add/light-drop area and throughput area being enveloped by a common cladding; an elongated second optical fiber having an end which has an end cross-section optically coupled to the first optical fiber end throughput area; optical path means optically interconnecting the light-add/light-drop area and at least one of an electro-optic transducer and a sensor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the first optical fiber comprising a multimode optical fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the optical path means including a waveguide optically interconnecting the light-add/light-drop area and the at least one of the transducer and sensor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the second optical fiber end being non-circular, the end cross-section of the second optical fiber including a throughput area and an light-add/light-drop area, the throughput area of the first and second fibers being optically interconnected while the light-add/light-drop areas are maintained out of phase.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising at least one of a second electro-optic transducer and a second sensor optically coupled to the second fiber light-add/light-drop area.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the first and second fiber ends each including a polymer core surrounded by a polymer cladding.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the first and second optical fiber throughput areas being shaped, sized and arranged so as to induce an attenuation to an optical signal propagating therebetween which is less than 1.0 dB.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the first and second optical fiber throughput areas being shaped, sized and arranged so as to induce an attenuation to an optical signal propagating therebetween which is between 5 and 12 dB.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the first optical fiber end being part of a first optical fiber and the second optical fiber end being part of a second optical fiber, the first and second optical fibers having substantially uniform noncircular cross-sections throughout their length.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
50 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the first optical fiber end being part of a first optical fiber and the second optical fiber end being part of a second optical fiber, the first and second optical fibers having substantially uniform circular cross-sections in sections adjacent the first and second fiber ends.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus of claim 1, the optical path means optically interconnecting the light-add/light-drop area at a sensor, the sensor being arranged so as to modulate light withdrawn from the light-add/light-drop area and then reinjecting the modulated light into the light-add/light-drop area.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of tapping an optical fiber comprising the steps of: deforming an end section of a first preformed optical fiber from a first cross-sectional profile to a connectable second cross-sectional profile, the second profile being non-circular and including a throughput area and an light-add/light/drop area; optically connecting the throughput area to a second optical fiber end; optically connecting at least one of an electro-optic transducer and a sensor to the light-add/light-drop area.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
73 words
A method of tapping an optical fiber comprising the steps of: deforming an end section of a first preformed optical fiber from a first cross-sectional profile to a connectable second cross-sectional profile, the second profile being non-circular and including a throughput area and an light-add/light/drop area; optically connecting the throughput area to a second optical fiber end; optically connecting at least one of an electro-optic transducer and a sensor to the light-add/light-drop area.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 12, the first optical fiber end section including a polymer core and a polymer cladding.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 13, the first optical fiber end section being deformed by being heated to a softening temperature thereof and by applying pressure to the first optical fiber end section while in its softened state.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14, the first optical fiber having a substantially circular profile at a section thereof adjacent its deformed end, the end section being substantially circular prior to being deformed.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 14, the second optical fiber including a polymer core and a polymer cladding, the second optical fiber end being deformed by being heated to a softening temperature thereof and by applying pressure to the second optical fiber section while in its softened state.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
66 words
The method of claim 12, the end section of the optical fiber being deformed such that a dimensional tolerance of the throughput area is controlled so as to be within a predefined narrow range, the light-add/light-drop area having an uncontrolled variable size which is dependent on an amount of deviation of an undeformed cross-sectional size of the first optical fiber end section from a desired size.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of deforming an end section of a first preferred optical fiber from a first cross-sectional profile to a connectable second cross-sectional profile, comprising the steps of: disposing the end section within a cavity having a cross-sectional profile similar to the first cross-sectional profile, the cavity being surrounded by an unstable memory material and being formed thereby; heating the memory material to a temperature sufficient to cause it to dimensionally deform to a cross-sectional profile similar to the second profile.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
81 words
A method of deforming an end section of a first preferred optical fiber from a first cross-sectional profile to a connectable second cross-sectional profile, comprising the steps of: disposing the end section within a cavity having a cross-sectional profile similar to the first cross-sectional profile, the cavity being surrounded by an unstable memory material and being formed thereby; heating the memory material to a temperature sufficient to cause it to dimensionally deform to a cross-sectional profile similar to the second profile.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 18, the memory material comprising a metal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 18, the second profile being non-circular and including a throughput area and an light-add/light-drop area.
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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) | 1992-12-18 | 1993-06-19 | 1993-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-12-18 | 1997-06-19 | 1997-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-12-18 | 2001-06-19 | 2001-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |