Fiber optic assembly and method of making same
US5664040A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 29, 1995 |
| Grant date | Sep 2, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 29, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4248
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
There is provided an assembly having a light guiding medium sealed to a her. Preferably the holder is a metal shell and a light guiding medium is an optical fiber of glass or sapphire whisker. The assembly includes a sealing medium which sealingly engages the metal holder to the fiber. In the formation of the assembly, the seal is essentially hermetic having a capability of minimizing leakage having a helium leak rate of less than 1.times.10.sup.-8 cubic centimeters per second and high strength having a capability of withstanding pressures of 100,000 psi or greater. The features of the assembly are obtained by a specific preparation method and by selection of specific starting materials. The fiber is selected to have a sufficiently high coefficient of thermal expansion which minimizes strains in the component during fabrication, as a result of fabrication, and during use. The other components are selected to be of a material having compatible coefficients of thermal expansion (TEC) where the TEC of the holder is greater than or equal to the TEC of the sealing material. The TEC of the sealing material is in turn greater than or equal to the TEC of the fiber. It is preferred that the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.