Optical fiber connector and method
US4919510A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 4, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 24, 1990 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 4, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3801
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Optical fibers are spliced by securing them in end-to-end relationship in a tube. Tinted epoxy is inserted into the bore. One fiber is inserted into the bore until its endface reaches the center thereof. As the second fiber is inserted into the other end of the bore, the length of the epoxy column in the bore is observed to diminish as epoxy is displaced into venting means associated with the bore. When the second fiber begins to buckle, movement thereof is stopped. The central region of the tube is inspected to ascertain the disappearance of the epoxy column. This indicates that the endfaces are in abutment. The tube may contain an integral lens for viewing the fibers in the bore. A stripe of appropriate color on one side of the bore provides the contrast to enhance the visibility of the tinted epoxy.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.