US5243680A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Package for optical fiber couplers
Assignee: Soane Technologies Inc
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Filing: 1992-06-01
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Granted: 1993-09-07
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Expires: 2012-06-01
Abstract
Abstract A package configuration for the protection/packaging/encapsulation of optical fiber couplers is described. The packaging strategy exploits symmetry in geometrical design while using material with similar thermal expansion properties to minimize thermoelastic stresses in the final assembled parts. When glass fibers are fused together or spliced in a planar waveguides, a complementary, symmetrically shaped glass piece linked to the coupler device by a chemically-tethered and crosslinked polymeric matrix, provides a stress-free as-assembled package that further maintains minimal thermoelastic stresses during temperature cycling. The packaged assembly is thus exceptionally rugged, experiencing little loss and fluctuation of coupling characteristics in installation and use.
Inventors
- 👤 David S. Soane
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 17:23
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2835
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A packaging for an optical fiber coupler comprising: a first stiffening element having geometric symmetry with the coupler; wherein the materials forming the stiffener and coupler have equivalent thermal expansivity; and crosslinked polymer filling the annular space between the coupler and the stiffening element, wherein the polymer is tethered to the stiffening element and is sequentially polymerized to minimize stress of the polymer network.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
64 words
A packaging for an optical fiber coupler comprising: a first stiffening element having geometric symmetry with the coupler; wherein the materials forming the stiffener and coupler have equivalent thermal expansivity; and crosslinked polymer filling the annular space between the coupler and the stiffening element, wherein the polymer is tethered to the stiffening element and is sequentially polymerized to minimize stress of the polymer network.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The packaging of claim 1 wherein the coupler is a planar waveguide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
13 words
The packaging of claim 1 wherein the coupler is a fused biconic taper.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The packaging of claim 3 further comprising a second outer stiffening element, and a layer of an elastomeric polymer filling the space between the first inner stiffening element and the outer stiffening element.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
The packaging of claim 4 wherein the elastomeric polymer is selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, neoprene, polybutadiene, and styrene-butadiene rubber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
14 words
The packaging of claim 4 wherein the first stiffening element is a cylindrical tube.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The packaging of claim 3 wherein the first stiffening element is a chip complementary to the substrate chip forming the coupler.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
11 words
The packaging of claim 1 wherein the coupler is a transceiver.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The packaging of claim 1 wherein the crosslinked polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl, styrenic, acrylate, methacrylate, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, and epoxy polymers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The packaging of claim 1 wherein the tethering agent is selected from the group consisting of silylating coupling agents.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for increasing the stability of an optical fiber coupler comprising: placing into juxtaposition with the coupler a first stiffening element having geometric symmetry with the coupler; wherein the materials forming the stiffener and the coupler have equivalent thermal expansivity; coating the substrate and the stiffening element with a tethering agent for a polymer; and filling the area between the substrate and the stiffening element with a monomer solution, sequentially polymerizing the monomer solution to form a polymer completely filing the space between the coupler and the stiffening element, adding monomer solution as the monomer polymerizes to fill in the spaces created by shrinkage of the polymerizing monomer solution, wherein the polymer is tethered to the stiffening element and substrate as it is polymerized.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
125 words
A method for increasing the stability of an optical fiber coupler comprising: placing into juxtaposition with the coupler a first stiffening element having geometric symmetry with the coupler; wherein the materials forming the stiffener and the coupler have equivalent thermal expansivity; coating the substrate and the stiffening element with a tethering agent for a polymer; and filling the area between the substrate and the stiffening element with a monomer solution, sequentially polymerizing the monomer solution to form a polymer completely filing the space between the coupler and the stiffening element, adding monomer solution as the monomer polymerizes to fill in the spaces created by shrinkage of the polymerizing monomer solution, wherein the polymer is tethered to the stiffening element and substrate as it is polymerized.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the coupler is a planar waveguide.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the coupler is a fused biconic taper.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 further comprising providing a second outer stiffening element, and a layer of an elastomeric polymer filling the space between the first stiffening element and the second outer stiffening element.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the elastomeric polymer is selected from the group consisting of silicone rubber, neoprene, polybutadiene, and styrene-butadiene rubber.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the inner stiffening element is a cylindrical tube placed over the coupler and the space between the tube and the coupler substrate is filled with polymer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 14 wherein the first stiffening element is an integral part of the fused biconic tapered coupler.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 12 wherein the first stiffening element is a chip complementary to the substrate chip forming the coupler, further comprising placing the stiffening chip in close abutment with the substrate chip before filling the area between the chips with monomer solution and polymerizing the monomer.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the crosslinked polymer is selected from the group consisting of vinyl, styrenic, acrylate, methacrylate, polyester, polyamide, polyimide, and epoxy polymers.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the tethering agent is selected from the group consisting of silylating coupling agents.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
11 words
The method of claim 11 wherein the coupler is a transceiver.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-09-06 | 1997-03-08 | 1997-09-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-09-06 | 2001-03-08 | 2001-09-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
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