Patent US5482585A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5482585A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Process for optically joining an optical fiber array to an opponent member
Assignee: NGK Insulators Ltd
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Filing: 1994-02-04
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Granted: 1996-01-09
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Expires: 2014-02-04
Abstract
Abstract A process for optically joining a plurality of optical fibers to an opponent member, comprising the steps of forming an optical fiber array by fixing the optical fibers between a V-grooved base plate and a fixing base plate in the state that the optical fibers are fitted to respective V-grooves formed on a surface of the V-grooved base plate, and optically joining the optical fibers of the optical fiber array to the opponent member by using, as a joining reference surface, either one of a first surface of the fixing base plate at which the optical fibers are fixed and a second surface of the fixing base plate opposite to said surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Takashi Ota
- 👤 Masashi Fukuyama
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 15:44
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/30; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4249
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
153 words
A process for optically joining a plurality of optical fibers to an opponent member, comprising the steps of: providing a V-grooved base plate having a plurality of V-grooves extending along a surface thereof, and a fiber-fixing base plate having first and second opposite major surfaces, said first surface having a flat portion; placing a plurality of optical fibers in the V-grooves such that the optical fibers protrude from the V-grooves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of extension of the V-grooves; forming an optical fiber array by joining said fiber-fixing base plate to said V-grooved base plate such that said optical fibers lie on said flat portion of said first surface of the fiber-fixing base plate; and optically joining the optical fibers of the optical fiber array to an opponent member by utilizing one of said first surface and said second surface of said fiber-fixing base plate as a joining reference surface.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
153 words
A process for optically joining a plurality of optical fibers to an opponent member, comprising the steps of: providing a V-grooved base plate having a plurality of V-grooves extending along a surface thereof, and a fiber-fixing base plate having first and second opposite major surfaces, said first surface having a flat portion; placing a plurality of optical fibers in the V-grooves such that the optical fibers protrude from the V-grooves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of extension of the V-grooves; forming an optical fiber array by joining said fiber-fixing base plate to said V-grooved base plate such that said optical fibers lie on said flat portion of said first surface of the fiber-fixing base plate; and optically joining the optical fibers of the optical fiber array to an opponent member by utilizing one of said first surface and said second surface of said fiber-fixing base plate as a joining reference surface.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said opponent member includes a plurality of optical waveguides, said optical fibers being optically joined to respective optical waveguides.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
92 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said opponent member has a bottom surface and an optical center, and the optical joining step is provided by placing said optical fiber array and said opponent member on a common flat plane, such that said second surface of said fiber-fixing base plate provides the joining reference surface, wherein the distance between the bottom surface and the optical center of the opponent member is substantially equal to a distance between said second surface of the fiber-fixing base plate and an optical center of the optical fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber array is positioned such that the first surface of the fiber-fixing base plate lies on a jig, said opponent member is placed on the jig, and an optical center of the opponent member is aligned with optical centers of the optical fibers.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said optical fibers each have a covering which is partially removed such that each optical fiber has a bared portion and a covered portion, and said optical fiber array includes a receptacle which receives the covered portion of each optical fiber.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
60 words
The process of claim 5, wherein said V-grooved base plate includes a V-grooved portion along which said V-grooves extend, and a receiving portion in which the covered portions of the optical fibers are received, the receptacle being formed by said receiving portion of said V-grooved base plate and a portion of the fiber-fixing base plate opposed to said receiving portion.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The process of claim 6, wherein said V-grooved portion is formed separately from said receiving portion of said V-grooved based plate.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
32 words
The process of claim 6, wherein said fiber-fixing base plate includes a first portion and a second portion opposing said V-grooved portion and said receiving portion of said V-grooved base plate, respectively.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
The process of claim 1, wherein the V-grooved base plate has an end face at which the V-grooves terminate, and the optical fibers are provided in the V-grooves such that the optical fibers terminate at said end face.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
The process of claim 1, wherein said first surface of said fiber-fixing base plate is used as the reference surface.
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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) | 1999-01-08 | 1999-07-10 | 2000-01-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-01-08 | 2003-07-10 | 2004-01-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-01-08 | 2007-07-10 | 2008-01-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |