Flexible optical circuit having a protective foam layer
US6442323B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 5, 2001 |
| Grant date | Aug 27, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 5, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/43
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A flexible optical circuit is provided that includes at least one layer formed of a foam material in order to provide strain relief for the optical fibers and to improve the crush resistance of the flexible optical circuit. The flexible optical circuit includes a substrate and at least one optical fiber disposed upon the substrate. In one embodiment, the substrate is formed of a foam material, such as a silicone or polyurethane foam. The flexible optical circuit can also include a protective layer disposed upon at least a portion of the substrate so as to overlie at least a segment of at least one optical fiber, such as those segments at which the stress is concentrated. In addition to or instead of forming the substrate from a foam material, the protective layer may be formed of a foam material.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.