Patent · US Expired

Apparatus and method for aligning fiber arrays

US6835002B2 · kind B2 · utility

4Cited by
4References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateApr 13, 2001
Grant dateDec 28, 2004
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 13, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3837
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method of aligning fiber arrays includes the method steps of inserting optical fibers into a ferrule array with a predetermined portion of the fiber extending from the ferrule. The ends of the fibers are then inserted at least partially through a fiber alignment hole in a substrate. Once the fibers extend at least partially through the substrate, the substrate is then displaced in a direction perpendicular to the optical fiber to ensure contact between the end of the fiber and a corner formed on the inside edges of the fiber alignment holes in the substrate. Once the fiber is positioned, a bonding block may be attached to both the ferrule array and the substrate to maintain the positional relationship between them and to maintain the proper positioning of the fiber within the substrate.

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