Optical fiber splice

US5159653A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company · US

Inventors

• James B. Carpenter · Austin, US
• Haregoppa S. Gopalakrishna · Woodbury, US
• Donald K. Larson · Cedar Park, US
• Richard A. Patterson · Sausalito, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 29, 1991
• Grant date: Oct 27, 1992
• Expiry date: Aug 29, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3867
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical fiber splice element comprising a sheet of ductile material having a novel focus hinge defining first and second legs, each of the legs having a V-groove therein for receiving the optical fibers. The focus hinge, comprising a groove on one side of the sheet, a notch on the other side of the sheet aligned with the groove, and a convex hinge web, provides precise registration of the V-grooves when the sheet is folded; this in turn leads to improved alignment of the fibers. The V-grooves also have a novel angular geometry which optimizes the clamping forces, resulting in lower insertion loss. The interior angle of the V-grooves is smaller than the optimum angle whereby, when the fiber is clamped and portions of the V-groove surfaces are deformed, the V-groove has an effective angle which is approximately equal to the optimum angle.