Apparatus and method for aligning optical fibers with respect to one another
US5528724A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 15, 1995 |
| Grant date | Jun 18, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 15, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B2006/12164
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for aligning a plurality of optical fibers in predetermined positions with respect to one another. The apparatus includes a top plate and a bottom plate having a first set of alignment groves therein, there being one such grove corresponding to each optical fiber. The alignment groves are positioned such that the optical fibers will be in their correct positions with respect to one another when the optical fibers are forced against the bottom of the groves by the top plate. To reduce reflections from cut fiber ends that would normally be cut and polished, the optical fibers are cut at an angle with respect to the axis of the optical fiber and the cut end is bonded to an optical flat by a glue layer having the same index of refraction as the optical fiber. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the optical flat also includes an anti-reflective material on the non-glued surface thereof. The bottom plate is preferably fabricated using photolithographic etching techniques similar to those used in micro-machining and integrated circuit fabrication. This allows the bottom plates to be mass produced while maintaining the tight tolerances need for high light col…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.