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US5140660A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical connector ferrule

Assignee: Seikoh Giken Co Ltd
•
Filing: 1990-02-15
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Granted: 1992-08-18
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Expires: 2010-02-15
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Abstract

Abstract An optical connector ferrule comprising a ferrule base and a cylindrical tip. The ferrule base has a planar end portion extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ferrule, and the cylindrical tip has an outside diameter which is less than the outside dimension of the planar end portion of the ferrule base. A first planar end portion of the cylindrical tip extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second end portion thereof extends at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis. The surface of the second end portion has a hemispherical shape. The cylindrical tip receives an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, and the hemispherical shaped end of the optical fiber is continuous with the hemispherical surface of the second end portion of the cylindrical tip.

Inventors

  • 👤 Mitsuo Takahashi

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 19:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3835; G02B6/26; G02B6/264; G02B6/266; G02B6/381; G02B6/3818; G02B6/3822; G02B6/3854; G02B6/3863

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.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

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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) 1995-08-18 1996-02-17 1996-08-18 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1999-08-18 2000-02-17 2000-08-18 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2003-08-18 2004-02-17 2004-08-18 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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