Method of making a fiber optic coupler
US5240489A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 11, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 31, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 11, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2835
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A fiber optic coupler is formed by providing a glass tube having a longitudinal bore and first and second funnels connecting the bore to the ends of the tube. The protective coating is stripped from the central portion of two optical fibers. The first and second fibers are threaded into the tube bore until the uncoated portions thereof are located within the bore. The protective coating of only one of the fibers extends into the first end of the bore, and the protective coating or only one of the fibers extends into the second end of the bore. The fibers extend beyond the tube ends. The bore diameter is just slightly larger than the sum of the diameter of the first fiber and the diameter of the coating of the second fiber. The resultant tight fit of the fibers in the tube promotes the retention the fibers in parallel alignment during the subsequent tube collapse step. The midregion of the tube is heated, collapsed about the fibers, and drawn to form a coupling region.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.