Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
An optical connector ferrule having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a ferrule base having a planar end portion extending transverse to said longitudinal axis; a cylindrical tip having an outside diameter which is less than the outside dimension of the planar end portion of said ferrule base, a first planar end portion of said cylindrical tip extending in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a second end portion of said cylindrical tip extending at an oblique angle to said longitudinal axis, the surface of said second end portion having a hemispherical shape; and a connecting section interposed between the end portion of said ferrule base and the first end portion of said cylindrical tip, a hole extending along said longitudinal axis through said elongated ferrule base, said connecting section and said cylindrical tip receiving therein an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, the hemispherical shaped end of said optical fiber being continuous with the hemispherical surface of the second end portion of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
An optical connector ferrule having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a ferrule base having a planar end portion extending transverse to said longitudinal axis; a cylindrical tip having an outside diameter which is less than the outside dimension of the planar end portion of said ferrule base, a first planar end portion of said cylindrical tip extending in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a second end portion of said cylindrical tip extending at an oblique angle to said longitudinal axis, the surface of said second end portion having a hemispherical shape; and a connecting section interposed between the end portion of said ferrule base and the first end portion of said cylindrical tip, a hole extending along said longitudinal axis through said elongated ferrule base, said connecting section and said cylindrical tip receiving therein an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, the hemispherical shaped end of said optical fiber being continuous with the hemispherical surface of the second end portion of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
40 words
An optical connector ferrule as defined by claim 1 wherein said connecting section is tapered, said connecting section having a gradually decreasing diameter from the end portion of said ferrule base to the first end portion of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
An optical connector ferrule as defined by claim 2 wherein said connecting section is tapered, said connecting section having a gradually decreasing diameter from the one end of said ferrule base to said cylindrical tip.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical connector ferrule as defined by claim 1 wherein the diameter of the hole in said cylindrical tip is less than that of the hole in said ferrule base.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
An optical connector ferrule as defined by claim 1 wherein the diameters of the holes in said ferrule base, said tapered connection section and said cylindrical tip are the same.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
An optical connector ferrule as defined by claim 1 wherein said ferrule base is made of metal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical connector ferrule as defined by claim 6 wherein said cylindrical tip is a capillary made of ceramic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
An optical connector ferrule as defined by claim 6 wherein said cylindrical tip projects from said tapered connecting section by a distance of 0.2 to 2 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical connector ferrule having a longitudinal axis, comprising: an elongated ferrule base having a connecting section at one end thereof and a hole extending therethrough along said longitudinal axis; and a cylindrical tip inserted within said hole and projecting from the connecting section of said ferrule base, the projecting end of said cylindrical tip extending at an oblique angle to said longitudinal axis and having a hemispherical shape, said cylindrical tip having a hole therein coincident with said longitudinal axis for receiving an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, the hemispherical shaped end of said optical fiber being continuous with the hemispherical surface of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical connector ferrule having a longitudinal axis, comprising: an elongated ferrule base having a connecting section at one end thereof and a hole extending therethrough along said longitudinal axis; and a cylindrical tip inserted within said hole and projecting from the connecting section of said ferrule base, the projecting end of said cylindrical tip extending at an oblique angle to said longitudinal axis and having a hemispherical shape, said cylindrical tip having a hole therein coincident with said longitudinal axis for receiving an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, the hemispherical shaped end of said optical fiber being continuous with the hemispherical surface of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optical connector ferrule having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a ferrule base having a planar end portion extending transverse to said longitudinal axis; a cylindrical tip having an outside diameter which is less than the outside dimension of the planar end portion of said ferrule base, first and second end portions of said cylindrical tip extending in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, the surface of said second end portion having a hemispherical shape; and a connecting section interposed between the end portion of said ferrule base and the first end portion of said tip, a hole extending along said longitudinal axis through said elongated ferrule base, said connecting section and said cylindrical tip receiving therein an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, the hemispherical shaped end of said optical fiber being continuous with the hemispherical surface of the second end portion of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
151 words
An optical connector ferrule having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a ferrule base having a planar end portion extending transverse to said longitudinal axis; a cylindrical tip having an outside diameter which is less than the outside dimension of the planar end portion of said ferrule base, first and second end portions of said cylindrical tip extending in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, the surface of said second end portion having a hemispherical shape; and a connecting section interposed between the end portion of said ferrule base and the first end portion of said tip, a hole extending along said longitudinal axis through said elongated ferrule base, said connecting section and said cylindrical tip receiving therein an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, the hemispherical shaped end of said optical fiber being continuous with the hemispherical surface of the second end portion of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
An optical connector ferrule as defined by claim 10 wherein said connecting section is tapered, said connecting section having a gradually decreasing diameter from the end portion of said ferrule base to the first end portion of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
133 words
An optical connector ferrule having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a ferrule base having a planar end portion extending transverse to said longitudinal axis; and a cylindrical tip having an outside diameter which is less than the outside dimension of the planar end portion of said ferrule base, a first planar end portion of said cylindrical tip extending in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a second end portion of said cylindrical tip extending at an oblique angle to said longitudinal axis, the surface of said second end portion having a hemispherical shape, said cylindrical tip receiving therein an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, the hemispherical shaped end of said optical fiber being continuous with the hemispherical surface of the second end portion of said cylindrical tip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
133 words
An optical connector ferrule having a longitudinal axis, comprising: a ferrule base having a planar end portion extending transverse to said longitudinal axis; and a cylindrical tip having an outside diameter which is less than the outside dimension of the planar end portion of said ferrule base, a first planar end portion of said cylindrical tip extending in a direction transverse to said longitudinal axis, and a second end portion of said cylindrical tip extending at an oblique angle to said longitudinal axis, the surface of said second end portion having a hemispherical shape, said cylindrical tip receiving therein an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, the hemispherical shaped end of said optical fiber being continuous with the hemispherical surface of the second end portion of said cylindrical tip.