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US4943130A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Integrated optical component

Assignee: Corning Glass Works
•
Filing: 1988-03-10
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Granted: 1990-07-24
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Expires: 2008-03-10
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Abstract

Abstract An integrated optical component with ion diffused optical circuit paths in glass connected to optical fibers, comprising a transverse exit groove machined adjacent the paths, a plateau for supporting an uncoated portion of the optical fibers for connection to the paths, and a shoulder adjacent the plateau for supporting a coated portion of the fiber, the fiber endfaces being secured to the terminations of the paths by means of an adhesive; and, a method for manufacturing such a component comprising machining, approximately alignment, precise alignment, and gluing steps.

Inventors

  • 👤 Thierry L. Dannoux
  • 👤 Pierre J. Laroulandie
  • 👤 Jean-Pierre Themont

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-01 19:29
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/10; G02B6/12; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4219; G02B6/4236; G02B6/4239; G02B6/122; G02B6/125; G02B6/26; G02B6/30; G02B6/36; G02B6/3628; G02B6/3648; G02B6/3652; G02B6/3684; G02B6/3696; G02B6/422; G02B6/4225

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 131 words
An integrated optical component comprising a glass substrate with at least one ion diffused optical circuit path connected to at least one optical fiber and further comprising: at least one transverse exit groove (6,10) forming a vertical lateral surface (7) at a termination of said optical circuit path, an endface of said optical fiber abutting said termination at said vertical lateral surface; plateau support means (5,11) adjacent the side of said transverse exit groove opposite said optical circuit path, for supporting an uncoated portion of said optical fiber; second support means (4,12) adjacent the side of said plateau support means opposite said optical circuit path, for supporting a coated or sheathed portion of said optical fiber; and, first adhesive means for securing said optical fiber endface to said vertical lateral surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 131 words
An integrated optical component comprising a glass substrate with at least one ion diffused optical circuit path connected to at least one optical fiber and further comprising: at least one transverse exit groove (6,10) forming a vertical lateral surface (7) at a termination of said optical circuit path, an endface of said optical fiber abutting said termination at said vertical lateral surface; plateau support means (5,11) adjacent the side of said transverse exit groove opposite said optical circuit path, for supporting an uncoated portion of said optical fiber; second support means (4,12) adjacent the side of said plateau support means opposite said optical circuit path, for supporting a coated or sheathed portion of said optical fiber; and, first adhesive means for securing said optical fiber endface to said vertical lateral surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 39 words
The integrated optical component of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said transverse exit groove are sufficiently large to allow positioning of said optical fiber by a micromanipulator in contact with said optical fiber within said transverse exit groove.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 49 words
The integrated optical component of claim 1, wherein said transverse exit groove further comprises a transverse interface shoulder which includes said vertical lateral surface and which also includes a horizontal surface whose depth is approximately the same as or slightly greater than the depth of said optical circuit path.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 37 words
The integrated optical component of claim 1, wherein said plateau support means comprises a raised surface whose height is approximately the same as or slightly less than the height of the bottom of said optical circuit path.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
The integrated optical component of claim 1, wherein said second support means comprises a transverse support shoulder.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 41 words
The integrated optical component of claim 5, further comprising second adhesive means for securing said uncoated portion of said optical fiber to said plateau support means and for securing said coated portion of said optical fiber to said transverse support shoulder.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
The integrated optical component of claim 6, wherein said second adhesive means comprises a single glue joint.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 23 words
The integrated optical component of claim 1, wherein at least two optical circuit paths are arranged to form a single-mode coupler or coupler-divider.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 38 words
The integrated optical component of claim 1, wherein said plateau support means comprises a raised plateau with at least one sectioned cavity for receiving an optical fiber and approximately aligning its endface with said optical circuit path termination.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 49 words
The integrated optical component of claim 9, wherein said transverse exit groove further comprises a transverse interface shoulder which includes said vertical lateral surface and which also includes a horizontal surface whose depth is approximately the same as or slightly greater than the depth of said optical circuit path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 52 words
The integrated optical component of claim 10, wherein said second support means comprises a transverse support shoulder, and further comprising second adhesive means for securing said uncoated portion of said optical fiber to said plateau support means and for securing said coated portion of said optical fiber to said transverse support shoulder.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 37 words
The integrated optical component of claim 11, further comprising a covering means in addition to said second adhesive means for securing said uncoated portion of said optical fiber within said sectioned cavity to said plateau support means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 17 words
The integrated optical component of claim 11, wherein said second adhesive means comprises a single glue joint.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 23 words
The integrated optical component of claim 9, wherein at least two optical circuit paths are arranged to form a single-mode coupler or coupler-divider.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4474429A Cited
US4767174A Cited
JPS6172206A Cited
US4732449A Cited
US4765720A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1993-07-23 1994-01-22 1994-07-24 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1997-07-23 1998-01-22 1998-07-24 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2001-07-23 2002-01-22 2002-07-24 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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