Apparatus and method for removably positioning optical fiber to circuit board component in enclosure
US5857054A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 22, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 5, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 22, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/426
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for removably attaching one or more optical fibers so as to be in alignment with a respective electro-optic component on a circuit board within an enclosure. In a first embodiment, the header attaches to an aperture of an enclosure, thereby protecting the circuit board from dust and liquids. In a second embodiment, the header and protective enclosure are one integral unit. The invention enables one or more optical fibers to be detachably attached to a first side of a header or header/enclosure, and for a circuit board having one or more electro-optic components precisely positioned thereon to be attached to the other side thereof and accessed by the attached fiber by a through-hole in the header. A ferrule surrounds at least one optical fiber near an end thereof and includes a seating surface which seats on the exterior side of the header or header/enclosure. When two optical fibers having free ends of different length are carried by the connector, ferrules attached to each connector enable the optical fiber ends to be accurately positioned at different heights above respective electro-optic components on the circuit board.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.