Alignment fixture and associated method for controllably positioning on optical fiber
US5553182A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 14, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 3, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 14, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4249
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An optical fiber alignment assembly including an alignment fixture for controllably positioning an optical fiber including an optical fiber carrier defining at least one channel extending inwardly from a first surface of the optical fiber carrier which is adapted for receiving an optical fiber. The optical fiber carrier also defines at least one passageway from a second surface of the optical fiber carrier, opposite the first surface, to each channel. The passageway is at least partially filled with a thermal transfer material and an optical fiber bonding material is disposed within the channel and is adapted to bond an optical fiber to the optical fiber carrier. The optical fiber bonding material has a predetermined melting temperature such that by applying heat to the thermal transfer material, the optical fiber bonding material becomes at least partially malleable. Once the optical fibers are properly positioned in the malleable optical fiber bonding material, the thermal energy can be removed from the thermal transfer material such that the optical fiber bonding material resolidifies and fixes the position of the optical fiber. The optical fiber bonding material disposed in the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.