Patent · US Expired

Fiber alignment apparatus and method

US5659647A · kind A · utility

15Cited by
10References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 1995
Grant dateAug 19, 1997
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/4236
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A fiber alignment apparatus includes a micro-machined nickel spring that captures and locks arrays of single mode fibers into position. The design consists of a movable nickel leaf shaped spring and a fixed pocket where fibers are held. The fiber is slid between the spring and a fixed block, which tensions the spring. When the fiber reaches the pocket, it automatically falls into the pocket and is held by the pressure of the leaf spring.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.