US5109448A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Injection molded star-couplers and methods of making same
Assignee: Commscope Connectivity LLC
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Filing: 1991-05-23
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Granted: 1992-04-28
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Expires: 2011-05-23
Abstract
Abstract A star-coupler and a method for constructing the star-coupler employing injection molding technology are disclosed. The star-coupler may be constructed from a single injection molded block or a plurality of mating sections, and is supplied with a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports. Each input port as well as each output port is connected to at least one channel. The channels are filled with a fiber optical core material and the single block or mating sections are fabricated from fiber optical core material. Alternatively, a separate cladding material may be coated on the surfaces of the block or mating sections which define the channels. Optical signals are guided and confined by the core and cladding material from input ports to output ports along the channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael H. Coden
- 👤 Bulusu V. Dutt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 09:51
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/0074; B29D11/0075; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
An injection molded star-coupler comprising: a first injection molded section having a plurality of channels therein including a mixing zone, a second injection molded section having a corresponding plurality of channels therein including a mixing zone, a plurality of injection molded input connector portions, each of said input portions being adapted for connection to a mating fiber optic connector, being connected to at least one of said channels, and being integral with the section in which it is molded, a plurality of injection molded output connector portions, each of said output portions being adapted for connection to a mating fiber optic connector, being connected to at least one of said channels, and being integral with the section in which it is molded, and a core material for transmitting optical signals, said core material filling said channels in said first and second sections, said plurality of channels and connector portions in said first section mating with said plurality of channel and connector portions in said second section to form a corresponding plurality of channels which connect each of said input connector portions with at least one of said output connector portions.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
An injection molded star-coupler comprising: a first injection molded section having a plurality of channels therein including a mixing zone, a second injection molded section having a corresponding plurality of channels therein including a mixing zone, a plurality of injection molded input connector portions, each of said input portions being adapted for connection to a mating fiber optic connector, being connected to at least one of said channels, and being integral with the section in which it is molded, a plurality of injection molded output connector portions, each of said output portions being adapted for connection to a mating fiber optic connector, being connected to at least one of said channels, and being integral with the section in which it is molded, and a core material for transmitting optical signals, said core material filling said channels in said first and second sections, said plurality of channels and connector portions in said first section mating with said plurality of channel and connector portions in said second section to form a corresponding plurality of channels which connect each of said input connector portions with at least one of said output connector portions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein said first section and said second section are fabricated from a cladding material having an index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of said core material, whereby optical signals are confined and guided within said core material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein said core material is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and said cladding material is fluorinated PMMA.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
63 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein a layer of cladding material having an index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of said core material is disposed on surfaces of said first and second sections defining said channels so as to form a cladding structure surrounding said core material, whereby optical signals are confined and guided within said core material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 4 wherein said core material is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and said cladding material is fluorinated PMMA.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
51 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein said plurality of channels in each of said first and second sections comprises a mixing channel, a channel from each of said input connector portions to said mixing channel, and a channel from said mixing channel to each of said output connector portions.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein said plurality of channels in each of said first and second sections comprises a channel from each of said input connector portions to each of said output connector portions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
62 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein said plurality of channels in each of said first and second sections comprises a channel from each of said input connector portions to each of said output connector portions except that a channel is not provided from each said input connector portion to its corresponding output connector portion connected to the same communications device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein said plurality of channels in each of said first and second sections comprises a first binary tree network connecting all said input connector portions to a mixing channel and a second binary tree network connecting said mixing channel to all said output connector portions.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
34 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein said corresponding plurality of channels which connect each of said input connector portions with at least one of said output connector portions have a circular cross-section.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
34 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 1 wherein said corresponding plurality of channels which connect each of said input connector portions with at least one of said output connector portions have a non-circular cross-section.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
88 words
An injection molded star-coupler comprising: an injection molded block having a plurality of channels therein, a plurality of injection molded input connectors for inputting optical signals, said input connectors being integral with said block and each being connected to at least one channel, a plurality of injection molded output connectors for outputting optical signals, said output connectors being integral with said block and each being connected to at least one channel, and a core material for transmitting optical signals, said core material filling said channels in said block.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
88 words
An injection molded star-coupler comprising: an injection molded block having a plurality of channels therein, a plurality of injection molded input connectors for inputting optical signals, said input connectors being integral with said block and each being connected to at least one channel, a plurality of injection molded output connectors for outputting optical signals, said output connectors being integral with said block and each being connected to at least one channel, and a core material for transmitting optical signals, said core material filling said channels in said block.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 12 wherein said block is fabricated from a cladding material having an index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of said core material, whereby optical signals are confined and guided within said core material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 13 wherein said core material is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and said cladding material is fluorinated PMMA.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
52 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 12 wherein a layer of cladding material having an index of refraction lower than the index of refraction of said core material is disposed on surfaces of said block defining said channels in said block so as to form a cladding structure surrounding said core material.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 15 wherein said core material is polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and said cladding material is fluorinated PMMA.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
44 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 12 wherein said plurality of channels in said block comprises a mixing channel, a channel from each of said input connectors to said mixing channel, and a channel from said mixing channel to each of said output connectors.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 12 wherein said plurality of channels in said block comprises a channel from each said input connector to each said output connector.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
51 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 11 wherein said plurality of channels in said block comprises a channel from each said input connector to each said output connector except that a channel is not provided from each said input connector to its corresponding output connector connected to the same communications device.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 11 wherein said plurality of channels in said block comprises a first binary tree network connecting all said input connectors to a mixing channel and a second binary tree network connecting said mixing channel to said output connectors.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 11 wherein said plurality of channels have a circular cross-section.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The injection molded star-coupler of claim 12 wherein said plurality of channels have a non-circular cross-section.
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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) | 1995-04-28 | 1995-10-28 | 1996-04-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-04-28 | 1999-10-28 | 2000-04-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-04-28 | 2003-10-28 | 2004-04-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |