US5384875A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic coupler package and packaging method
Assignee: Honeywell Inc
•
Filing: 1993-09-23
•
Granted: 1995-01-24
•
Expires: 2013-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic coupler includes at least two optical fibers having a coupled region and at least one lead portion extending therefrom. The optical fibers have a protective jacket thereon. The protective jacket is removed from the coupled region and from a region of the at least one lead portion adjacent the coupled region resulting in a jacketless coupled region, at least one jacketless lead portion and at least one jacketed lead portion. The fiber optic coupler further includes a protective body having a receiving space therein for receiving the coupled region. The protective body has at least one entrance from which said jacketed lead portion emerges. A rejacket material at least partially surrounds a length of the jacketless lead portion adjacent the jacketed lead portion resulting in a rejacketed lead portion. An adhesive material at least partially about a length of the jacketed lead portion at the entrance and at least partially about the rejacketed lead portion secures the length of the jacketed lead portion and rejacketed lead portion to the protective body.
Inventors
- 👤 John H. Shannon
- 👤 Karl A. Fetting
- 👤 Robert E. Cote
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:28
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2558; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
184 words
A fiber optic coupler, comprising: at least two optical fibers having a coupled region and at least one lead portion extending therefrom, said optical fibers having a protective jacket thereon, said protective jacket being removed from said coupled region and from a region of said at least one lead portion adjacent said coupled region resulting in a coupled region, at least one jacketless lead portion, and at least one jacketed lead portion; a protective body having a receiving space therein for receiving said coupled region, said protective body having at least one entrance from which said at least one jacketed lead portion emerges; a rejacket material surrounding at least partially a length of said at least one jacketless lead portion adjacent said at least one jacketed lead portion resulting in a rejacketed lead portion; and an adhesive material at least partially about a length of said at least one jacketed lead portion at said entrance and at least partially about said rejacketed lead portion to secure said length of said at least one jacketed lead portion and rejacketed lead portion to said protective body.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
184 words
A fiber optic coupler, comprising: at least two optical fibers having a coupled region and at least one lead portion extending therefrom, said optical fibers having a protective jacket thereon, said protective jacket being removed from said coupled region and from a region of said at least one lead portion adjacent said coupled region resulting in a coupled region, at least one jacketless lead portion, and at least one jacketed lead portion; a protective body having a receiving space therein for receiving said coupled region, said protective body having at least one entrance from which said at least one jacketed lead portion emerges; a rejacket material surrounding at least partially a length of said at least one jacketless lead portion adjacent said at least one jacketed lead portion resulting in a rejacketed lead portion; and an adhesive material at least partially about a length of said at least one jacketed lead portion at said entrance and at least partially about said rejacketed lead portion to secure said length of said at least one jacketed lead portion and rejacketed lead portion to said protective body.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A coupler according to claim 1, wherein said rejacket material is a soft buffer material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
14 words
A coupler according to claim 2, wherein said rejacket material is a soft acrylate.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
17 words
A coupler according to claim 2, wherein said adhesive material is a thermally cured rigid structural adhesive.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
A coupler according to claim 2, wherein said adhesive material is an ultraviolet light cured rigid structural adhesive.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
A coupler according to claim 2, wherein said rejacket material completely surrounds said length of said at least one jacketless lead portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
A coupler according to claim 2, wherein said adhesive material is applied only between said length of said at least one jacketed lead portion and said length of said rejacketed lead portion and said protective body.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of packaging a fiber optic coupler having at least two optical fibers, including a coupled region and at least one lead portion extending therefrom, said optical fibers having a protective jacket thereon, said protective jacket being removed from said coupled region and from a region of said at least one lead portion adjacent said coupled region resulting in a coupled region, at least one jacketless lead portion, and at least one jacketed lead portion, said method comprising the steps of: providing a protective body having a receiving space therein for receiving said coupled region, said protective body having at least one entrance through which said at least one jacketed lead portion emerges when said coupled region is positioned therein; applying a rejacket material at least partially about a length of said at least one jacketless lead portion adjacent said at least one jacketed lead portion; and securing the fiber optic coupler within said receiving space of said protective body with an adhesive at least partially about a length of said at least one jacketed lead portion at said entrance and at least partially about said rejacket material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
189 words
A method of packaging a fiber optic coupler having at least two optical fibers, including a coupled region and at least one lead portion extending therefrom, said optical fibers having a protective jacket thereon, said protective jacket being removed from said coupled region and from a region of said at least one lead portion adjacent said coupled region resulting in a coupled region, at least one jacketless lead portion, and at least one jacketed lead portion, said method comprising the steps of: providing a protective body having a receiving space therein for receiving said coupled region, said protective body having at least one entrance through which said at least one jacketed lead portion emerges when said coupled region is positioned therein; applying a rejacket material at least partially about a length of said at least one jacketless lead portion adjacent said at least one jacketed lead portion; and securing the fiber optic coupler within said receiving space of said protective body with an adhesive at least partially about a length of said at least one jacketed lead portion at said entrance and at least partially about said rejacket material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said rejacket material is a soft buffer material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said adhesive is a thermally cured rigid structural adhesive.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein said adhesive is an ultraviolet light cured rigid structural adhesive.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said rejacket material is a soft acrylate.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said applying step includes applying said rejacket material completely about said length of said at least one jacketless lead portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 8, wherein said securing step includes applying said adhesive only between said length of said at least one jacketed lead portion and rejacketed lead portion and said protective body.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
139 words
A fiber optic package containing a fiber optic device having at least one lead portion of an optical fiber extending therefrom, said optical fiber having a protective jacket thereon, said protective jacket removed from said at least one lead portion adjacent said fiber optic device resulting in a jacketless lead portion and a jacketed lead portion, said fiber optic package comprising: protective body means for at least partially surrounding said fiber optic device, said protective body means having at least one entrance from which said optical fiber emerges; rejacketing means for surrounding at least a portion of said jacketless lead portion adjacent to said jacketed lead portion, said rejacketing means being a soft material that adheres to glass; and, adhesive means at least partially surrounding said rejacketing means for rigidly securing said rejacketing means to said protective body means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
139 words
A fiber optic package containing a fiber optic device having at least one lead portion of an optical fiber extending therefrom, said optical fiber having a protective jacket thereon, said protective jacket removed from said at least one lead portion adjacent said fiber optic device resulting in a jacketless lead portion and a jacketed lead portion, said fiber optic package comprising: protective body means for at least partially surrounding said fiber optic device, said protective body means having at least one entrance from which said optical fiber emerges; rejacketing means for surrounding at least a portion of said jacketless lead portion adjacent to said jacketed lead portion, said rejacketing means being a soft material that adheres to glass; and, adhesive means at least partially surrounding said rejacketing means for rigidly securing said rejacketing means to said protective body means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
JPS5598701A
Cited
US4593968A
Cited
EP0106116A2
Cited
EP0124927A2
Cited
JPS63316008A
Cited
US4923268A
Cited
EP0343588A1
Cited
US4906068A
Cited
US5261018A
Cited
US5148508A
Cited
US5263104A
Cited
US5293440A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-01-23 | 1998-07-25 | 1999-01-24 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-01-23 | 2002-07-25 | 2003-01-24 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-01-23 | 2006-07-25 | 2007-01-24 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |