Hermetic fiber optic-to-metal connection technique
US5143531A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 10, 1991 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 10, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4428
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A glass-to-glass hermetic sealing technique is disclosed which can be used to splice lengths of glass fibers together. A solid glass preform is inserted into the cavity of a metal component which is then heated to melt the glass. An end of an optical fiber is then advanced into the molten glass and the entire structure cooled to solidify the glass in sealing engagement with the optical fiber end and the metal cavity. The surface of the re-solidified glass may be machined for mating engagement with another component to make a spliced fiber optic connection. The resultant structure has a helium leak rate of less than 1.times.10.sup.-8 cm.sup.3 /sec.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.