Creep-resistant optical fiber attachment

US6317555A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• CiDRA Corporation · US

Inventors

• Robert J. Maron · Cromwell, US
• Guy A. Daigle · Plainville, US
• James Dunphy · South Glastonbury, US
• Thomas Engel · Munich, DE
• John J. Grunbeck · Northford, US
• Mark R. Fernald · Enfield, US
• Charles W. Helm · Rocky Hill, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 6, 1998
• Grant date: Nov 13, 2001
• Expiry date: May 6, 2018

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3854
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A creep-resistant optical fiber attachment includes an optical fiber 10, having a cladding 12 and a core 14, having a variation region 16 (expanded or recessed) of an outer dimension on of the cladding and a structure, such as a ferrule 30, disposed against least a portion of the variation region 16. The fiber 10 is held in tension against the ferrule and the ferrule 30 has a size and shape that mechanically locks the ferrule 30 to the variation 16, thereby holding the fiber 10 in tension against the ferrule 30 with minimal relative movement (or creep) in at least one axail direction between the fiber 10 and the ferrule 30. The ferrule 30 may be attached to or part of a larger structure, such as a housing. The variation 16 and the ferrule 30 may have various different shapes and sizes. There may also be a buffer layer 18 between the cladding 12 and the ferrule 30 to protect the fiber 10 and/or to help secure the ferrule 30 to the fiber 10 to minimize creep.