US5548675A — Multifiber connector, a method of manufacturing t…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 118 words

A multifiber connector for connecting together a plurality of optical fibers, comprising: a ferrule having: a butting end face positioned opposite an optical device, and a plurality of fiber holes formed in parallel at predetermined intervals and extending through said butting end face, one end of each optical fiber being inserted into and fixed in each of the fiber holes and being optically connected to said optical device, and said ferrule being a single molded product made of synthetic resin; and a connecting member arranged on at least a portion of said butting end face and connected one of (i) directly and (ii) indirectly to said optical device by one of (iii) an adhesive and (iv) by welding.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 118 words

A multifiber connector for connecting together a plurality of optical fibers, comprising: a ferrule having: a butting end face positioned opposite an optical device, and a plurality of fiber holes formed in parallel at predetermined intervals and extending through said butting end face, one end of each optical fiber being inserted into and fixed in each of the fiber holes and being optically connected to said optical device, and said ferrule being a single molded product made of synthetic resin; and a connecting member arranged on at least a portion of said butting end face and connected one of (i) directly and (ii) indirectly to said optical device by one of (iii) an adhesive and (iv) by welding.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 38 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member is made of an optically transparent material at least a part of which is exposed to an outer periphery of the butting end face of said ferrule.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 45 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 2, wherein said connecting member is made of glass having a linear expansion coefficient α CM which provides the relationship of |α.sub.CM -α.sub.OD |<5×10.sup.-6 where α OD is the linear expansion coefficient of the material of said optical device.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 113 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 3, wherein said connecting member has an opening surrounding a periphery of the butting end face of said ferrule, and the size of said opening is determined so that a length (a) in the direction at right angles to the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged is set so as to fall within the range between 0.2 and 1.0 mm, and a length (b) in the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged is set so as to provide the relationship of b=P×(N-1)+a, where N is the number of optical fibers fixed to said ferrule, and P is the arrangement interval of optical fibers.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 1, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 5, wherein the synthetic resin forming said ferrule contains a coupling agent and silicon dioxide as a filler.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 6, wherein a synthetic resin forming said ferrule is optically transparent and has a refractive index close to that of said silicon dioxide.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 17 words

An optical fiber end portion according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member is made of metal.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 57 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 8, wherein said connecting member is butted against and welded to a metallic member installed at the corresponding position of said optical device, and has a linear expansion coefficient α MC which provides the relationship of |α.sub.MC -α.sub.MO |<5×10.sup.-6 where α MO is the linear expansion coefficient of said metallic member.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 113 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 10, wherein said connecting member has an opening surrounding a periphery of the butting end face of said ferrule, and the size of said opening is determined so that a length (a) in the direction at right angles to the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged is set so as to fall within the range between 0.2 and 1.0 mm, and a length (b) in the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged is set so as to provide the relationship of b=P×(N-1)+a, where N is the number of optical fibers fixed to said ferrule, and P is the arrangement interval of optical fibers.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 8, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 34 words

A construction for connecting the multifiber connector defined in claim 1 to an optical device, wherein said multifiber connector is connected to the optical device so as to be opposed to said optical device.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 71 words

A construction for connecting the multifiber connector as defined in claim 2 to an optical device, wherein: said optical device is an optical waveguide component in which a plurality of waveguides are formed at arrangement intervals equal to those of said plural optical fibers, and said optical device is bonded to said multifiber connector at a portion of said connecting member arranged on said ferrule by means of an ultraviolet-curing adhesive.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 72 words

A construction for connecting the multifiber connector as defined in claim 8 to an optical device, wherein: said optical device is an optical waveguide component in which a plurality of waveguides are formed at arrangement intervals equal to those of said plural optical fibers and which has a metallic tube surrounding an outer periphery, and said optical device is welded to said multifiber connector at an end face of said metallic tube.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 93 words

A construction for connecting a multifiber connector to an optical device, wherein: said optical device is an optical semiconductor in which a plurality of laser diode elements are arranged, said optical device is mounted on a first metal base, said multifiber connector is mounted on a second metal base so as to be in opposition to the optical device, said multifiber connector is mounted so that optical fibers mounted to the multifiber connector are aligned with the corresponding laser diode elements, and said first and second metal bases are welded to each other.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 93 words

A construction for connecting a multifiber connector to an optical device, wherein: said optical device is an optical semiconductor in which a plurality of laser diode elements are arranged, said optical device is mounted on a first metal base, said multifiber connector is mounted on a second metal base so as to be in opposition to the optical device, said multifiber connector is mounted so that optical fibers mounted to the multifiber connector are aligned with the corresponding laser diode elements, and said first and second metal bases are welded to each other.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 1, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 2, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 3, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 4, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 9, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 10, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 161 words

A multifiber connector for connecting together a plurality of optical fibers, comprising: a ferrule formed as a single molded product made of synthetic resin and having: a butting end face positioned opposite an optical device; and a plurality of fiber holes formed in parallel at predetermined intervals and extending through said butting end face, one end of each optical fiber being inserted into and fixed in each of the fiber holes and optically connected to the optical device; a connecting member arranged on at least a portion of the butting end face and connected one of (i) directly and (ii) indirectly to the optical device by one of (iii) an adhesive and (iii) by welding; the synthetic resin forming said ferrule having a linear expansion coefficient α FP ; and said connecting member having a linear expansion coefficient α CM which is set at a value smaller than the linear expansion coefficient α FP of the synthetic resin forming said ferrule.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 161 words

A multifiber connector for connecting together a plurality of optical fibers, comprising: a ferrule formed as a single molded product made of synthetic resin and having: a butting end face positioned opposite an optical device; and a plurality of fiber holes formed in parallel at predetermined intervals and extending through said butting end face, one end of each optical fiber being inserted into and fixed in each of the fiber holes and optically connected to the optical device; a connecting member arranged on at least a portion of the butting end face and connected one of (i) directly and (ii) indirectly to the optical device by one of (iii) an adhesive and (iii) by welding; the synthetic resin forming said ferrule having a linear expansion coefficient α FP ; and said connecting member having a linear expansion coefficient α CM which is set at a value smaller than the linear expansion coefficient α FP of the synthetic resin forming said ferrule.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 38 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 22, wherein said connecting member is made of an optically transparent material at least a part of which is exposed to an outer periphery of the butting end face of said ferrule.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 45 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 23, wherein said connecting member is made of glass having a linear expansion coefficient α CM which provides the relationship of |α.sub.CM -α.sub.OD |<5×10.sup.-6 where α OD is the linear expansion coefficient of the material forming said optical device.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 107 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 24, wherein said connecting member has an opening surrounding a periphery of the butting end face of said ferrule, and said opening has a size such that a length (a) thereof in a direction at right angles to the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged falls within a range of 0.2 to 1.0 mm, and that a length (b) thereof in the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged satisfies a relationship of b=P×(N-1)+a where N is the number of optical fibers fixed to said ferrule, and P is the interval at which the optical fibers are arranged.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 23 words

Multifiber connector according to claim 22, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 26, wherein the synthetic resin forming said ferrule contains a coupling agent, and silicon dioxide as a filler.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 29 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 27, wherein the synthetic resin forming said ferrule is optically transparent and has a refractive index close to that of said silicon dioxide.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 15 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 22, wherein said connecting member is made of metal.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 57 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 29, wherein said connecting member is butted against and welded to a metallic fiber arranged at a corresponding position of said optical device, and has a linear expansion coefficient α MC which provides the relationship of |α.sub.MC -α.sub.MO |<5×10.sup.-6 where α MO is the linear expansion coefficient of said metallic member.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 107 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 30, wherein said connecting member has an opening surrounding a periphery of the butting end face of said ferrule, and said opening has a size such that a length (a) thereof in a direction at right angles to the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged falls within a range of 0.2 to 1.0 mm, and that a length (b) thereof in the direction in which the optical fibers are arranged satisfies a relationship of b=P×(N-1)+a where N is the number of optical fibers fixed to said ferrule, and P is the interval at which the optical fibers are arranged.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 29, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 23, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 24, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 25, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 30, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 24 words

A multifiber connector according to claim 31, wherein said ferrule is a molded product formed of any of thermosetting, thermoplastic, and light-curing synthetic resins.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-08-20	2000-02-19	2000-08-20	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-08-20	2004-02-19	2004-08-20	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-08-20	2008-02-19	2008-08-20	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Multifiber connector, a method of manufacturing the same, and a construction for connecting the multifiber connector to an optical device

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