US5513290A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Coupling structure of optical fibers and optical waveguides
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1995-02-06
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Granted: 1996-04-30
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Expires: 2015-02-06
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a coupling structure of optical fibers and optical waveguides, comprising optical fibers; an optical fiber arranging connector having a first and second members, the optical fibers being sandwiched by the first and second members to be fixed in the optical fiber arranging connector; a waveguide device having a waveguide substrate, optical waveguides being formed on a surface of the waveguide device, ends of the waveguides and ends of being aligned with each other by abutting end faces thereof against each other; an adhesive interposed and set between said end faces, the adhesive being a photo-setting adhesive, the first member being made of a material preventing light having a wavelength capable of setting said adhesive from passing therethrough, and in at least part of a region where the end faces of the optical fiber arranging connector and the waveguide device oppose to each other, at least one of the optical fiber arranging connector and the waveguide device in the vicinity of the end face thereof being made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of setting the adhesive can pass.
Inventors
- 👤 Shinji Ishikawa
- 👤 Hiroshi Suganuma
- 👤 Dai Yui
- 👤 Shigeru Semura
- 👤 Masahide Saito
- 👤 Shigeru Hirai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 12:20
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04B; H04B10/00; H04B10/25; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/30; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 32
Claim 1
Independent Claim
163 words
A coupling structure for optical fibers and optical waveguides, comprising: optical fibers; an optical fiber arranging connector having a first and second member, said optical fibers being sandwiched by said first and second members to be fixed in said optical fiber arranging connector; a waveguide device having a waveguide substrate, optical waveguides being formed on a surface portion of said waveguide device; a photo-curable adhesive interposed and cured between an end face of said optical fiber arranging connector and an end face of said waveguide device which abut each other; said first member being made of a material preventing light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive from passing therethrough; and a part of at least one of said second member and said waveguide device being made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
163 words
A coupling structure for optical fibers and optical waveguides, comprising: optical fibers; an optical fiber arranging connector having a first and second member, said optical fibers being sandwiched by said first and second members to be fixed in said optical fiber arranging connector; a waveguide device having a waveguide substrate, optical waveguides being formed on a surface portion of said waveguide device; a photo-curable adhesive interposed and cured between an end face of said optical fiber arranging connector and an end face of said waveguide device which abut each other; said first member being made of a material preventing light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive from passing therethrough; and a part of at least one of said second member and said waveguide device being made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said light-transmitting material is a material has a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 1×10 -6 /K!.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
A coupling structure according to claim 2, wherein said light-transmitting material is glass containing SiO 2 as a major component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A coupling structure according to claim 3, wherein said light-transmitting material is glass having a thermal expansion coefficient substantially the same as that of silicon within a range of ±20%.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A coupling structure according to claim 2, wherein said light-transmitting material is a resin having a light absorption edge at a wavelength of not more than 450 nm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said adhesive is a photo-curable/thermosetting adhesive containing a thermosetting initiator in addition to a photo-curable initiator.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A coupling structure according to claim 6, wherein said adhesive is coated to be interposed between said end face of said optical fiber arranging connector and said end face of said waveguide device, photo-cured by light radiation, and thereafter thermoset by heat.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein a part of said second member is made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein a part of said waveguide substrate is made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said first member is a fiber arranging substrate having a surface on which arranging grooves for said optical fibers are formed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said fiber arranging substrate is made of a silicon, and the arranging grooves are formed by mechanical processing or anisotropic etching.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said fiber arranging substrate is made of a ceramic material, and the arranging grooves are formed during sintering said ceramic material.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said fiber arranging substrate is made of a plastic material, and the arranging grooves are formed during molding said plastic material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A coupling structure according to claim 13, wherein said plastic material is a phenol resin containing a filler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
A coupling structure according to claim 1, wherein said first and second members are integrally formed by molding a plastic material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
173 words
A coupling structure for optical fibers and optical waveguides, comprising: optical fibers; an optical fiber arranging connector having a first and second member, said optical fibers being sandwiched by said first and second members to be fixed in said optical fiber arranging connector; a waveguide device having a waveguide substrate and a covering member provided on said waveguide substrate, optical waveguides being formed on a surface area of said waveguide device; a photo-curable adhesive interposed and cured between an end face of said optical fiber arranging connector and an end face of said waveguide device which abut each other; said first member being made of a material preventing light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive from passing therethrough; and at least a part of said second member, said waveguide substrate and said covering member being made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
173 words
A coupling structure for optical fibers and optical waveguides, comprising: optical fibers; an optical fiber arranging connector having a first and second member, said optical fibers being sandwiched by said first and second members to be fixed in said optical fiber arranging connector; a waveguide device having a waveguide substrate and a covering member provided on said waveguide substrate, optical waveguides being formed on a surface area of said waveguide device; a photo-curable adhesive interposed and cured between an end face of said optical fiber arranging connector and an end face of said waveguide device which abut each other; said first member being made of a material preventing light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive from passing therethrough; and at least a part of said second member, said waveguide substrate and said covering member being made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein said light-transmitting material is a material having a thermal expansion coefficient of less than 1×10 -6 /K!.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
20 words
A coupling structure according to claim 17, wherein said light-transmitting material is glass containing SiO 2 as a major component.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
A coupling structure according to claim 18, wherein said light-transmitting material is glass having a thermal expansion coefficient substantially the same as that of silicon within a range of ±20%.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein said light-transmitting material is a resin having a light absorption edge at a wavelength of not more than 450 nm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein said adhesive is a photo-curable/thermosetting adhesive containing a thermosetting initiator in addition to a photo-curable initiator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein said first member is a fiber arranging substrate having a surface on which arranging grooves for said optical fibers are formed.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein said fiber arranging substrate is made of silicon, and the arranging grooves are formed by mechanical processing or anisotropic etching.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein said fiber arranging substrate is made of a ceramic material, and the arranging grooves are formed during sintering said ceramic material.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
29 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein said fiber arranging substrate is made of a plastic material, and the arranging grooves are formed during molding said plastic material.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
18 words
A coupling structure according to claim 25, wherein said plastic material is a phenol resin containing a filler.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein said first and second members are integrally formed by molding a plastic material.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein a part of said second member is made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein a part of said waveguide substrate is made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
51 words
A coupling structure according to claim 16, wherein a part of said covering member is made of a light-transmitting material through which light having a wavelength capable of curing said adhesive can pass, whereby external light reaches to at least one part of said interposed adhesive to cure said interposed adhesive.
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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) | 1999-04-30 | 1999-10-30 | 2000-04-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-04-30 | 2003-10-30 | 2004-04-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-04-30 | 2007-10-30 | 2008-04-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |