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US5208888A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Coupling device for coupling a laser beam into an optical fibre

Assignee: Kodak IL Ltd
•
Filing: 1992-05-01
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Granted: 1993-05-04
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Expires: 2012-05-01
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Abstract

Abstract A coupling device for coupling a laser beam into an optical fibre includes a base plate carrying a laser holder and an optical fibre holder substantially aligned with each other along a common axis. The optical fibre holder includes an inner housing disposed within an outer housing and formed with a bore for receiving the end of the optical fibre. One housing includes pin adjusting means for adjusting the received end of the optical fibre substantially parallel to the common axis; and the other housing includes pin adjusting means for adjusting the received end of the optical fibre substantially perpendicularly and/or angularly to the common axis.

Inventors

  • 👤 Serge Steinblatt
  • 👤 Dov Berman
  • 👤 Yossi Kamir

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-30 18:39
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4219; G02B6/422; G02B6/4226

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim 116 words
A coupling device for coupling a laser beam into an optical fibre, comprising: a base plate carrying a laser holder and an optical fibre holder substantially aligned with each other along a common axis; said optical fibre holder including an outer housing, and an inner housing disposed within said outer housing; said inner housing being formed with a bore for receiving he end of the optical fibre; one of said housings including first pin adjusting means for adjusting said received end of the optical fibre substantially parallel to said common axis; the other of said housings including second pin adjusting means for adjusting said received end of the optical fibre substantially perpendicularly to said common axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 116 words
A coupling device for coupling a laser beam into an optical fibre, comprising: a base plate carrying a laser holder and an optical fibre holder substantially aligned with each other along a common axis; said optical fibre holder including an outer housing, and an inner housing disposed within said outer housing; said inner housing being formed with a bore for receiving he end of the optical fibre; one of said housings including first pin adjusting means for adjusting said received end of the optical fibre substantially parallel to said common axis; the other of said housings including second pin adjusting means for adjusting said received end of the optical fibre substantially perpendicularly to said common axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 27 words
The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said inner housing includes said first pin adjusting means, and said outer housing includes said second pin adjusting means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein said inner housing further includes a focussing lens carried at the end of the inner housing facing the laser holder and substantially aligned therewith along said common axis.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 110 words
The coupling device according to claim 3, wherein said second pin adjusting means comprises: a pair of springs interposed between the outer housing and the inner housing at one side of the inner housing and spaced along said common axis; a first pair of threaded pins threaded in a common plane into said outer housing and towards said inner housing at the side thereof opposite to said springs; and a second pair of threaded pins threaded in a common plane into said outer housing and towards said inner housing at the side thereof opposite to said springs and spaced from said first pair of threaded pins along said common axis.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 48 words
The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein the plane of said first pair of threaded pins passes through said focusing lens at one end of the inner housing, and the plane of said second pair of threaded pins passes through the opposite end of said inner housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 30 words
The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein each threaded pin is disposed at an angle of about 90° with respect to the other threaded pin of the respective pair.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 16 words
The coupling device according to claim 4, wherein each of said springs is of elastomeric material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 13 words
The coupling device according to claim 7, wherein said elastomeric material is polyurethane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 19 words
The coupling device according to claim 7, wherein each of said springs of elastomeric material is of cylindrical configuration.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 25 words
The coupling device according to claim 2, wherein said end of the optical fibre received in the inner housing is enclosed in a metal ferrule.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 42 words
The coupling device according to claim 10, wherein said first pin adjusting means comprises a locking pin threaded through said inner housing and engageable with said metal ferrule of the optical fibre to lock same against axial movement within the inner housing.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 54 words
The coupling device according to claim 11, wherein said first pin adjusting means further comprises a retainer pin threaded toward said inner housing and formed with a spring plunger engageable with said metal ferrule of the optical fibre to releasably retain the optical fibre in place until locked in place by the locking pin.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 25 words
The coupling device according to claim 12, wherein the outer housing is formed with an access opening aligned with said locking pin and retainer pin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 40 words
The coupling device according to claim 10, wherein said outer housing is formed with a cylindrical bore, and the inner housing is of cylindrical shape and has an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the outer housing.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 49 words
The coupling device according to claim 10, wherein the inner face of said inner housing is formed with a slot extending substantially parallel to said common axis and having parallel edges engageable with the metal ferrule of the optical fibre for guiding its adjustment parallel to said common axis.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 45 words
The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said laser holder is formed with a V-shaped surface engageable with the lower face of the laser, and includes pressure means engageable with the upper face of the laser for pressing the laser against said V-shaped surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 35 words
The coupling device according to claim 16, wherein said pressure means comprises a threaded pin threaded through the outer housing towards said laser, and an elastomeric spring interposed between said threaded pin and the laser.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 14 words
The coupling device according to claim 17, wherein said elastomeric spring is of polyurethane.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 25 words
The coupling device according to claim 17, wherein said pressure means further comprises a rigid washer interposed between said threaded pin and said elastomeric spring.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5042890A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1996-05-03 1996-11-02 1997-05-04 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2000-05-03 2000-11-02 2001-05-04 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2004-05-03 2004-11-02 2005-05-04 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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