Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
264100250 | Forming connector or coupler (e.g., fiber link, etc.) | 20 |
20100084774 | Device and Method for Forming Ceramic Ferrule Blank - A device and a method for forming a ceramic ferrule blank are provided. A shaped wire ( | 04-08-2010 |
20100301502 | METHOD OF DIRECTLY MOLDING FERRULE ON FIBER OPTIC CABLE - A method of directly molding a fiber optic ferrule on an end of a fiber optic cable is disclosed. The method preferably includes stripping a cable jacket and/or a buffer layer from optical fibers of the fiber optic cable and trimming the optical fibers with a laser thereby creating trimmed ends on the optical fibers. The optical fibers and preferably a pin assembly are held near the end of the fiber optic cable by an optical fiber and pin locator. The optical fiber and pin locator can statically or dynamically hold and position the optical fibers and pin assembly. After the optical fibers and/or the pin assembly are positioned, a fixture is attached to the trimmed ends of the optical fibers and/or the pin assembly thereby preserving their relative position to each other. After the fixture is attached, the optical fiber and pin locator is removed, and the end of the fiber optic cable with the attached fixture is placed into a mold cavity. A molding material is injected into the mold cavity thereby overmolding a substantial portion of the end of the fiber optic cable and thereby creating a molded body of the fiber optic ferrule. After molding, the fixture is removed. The fixture preferably includes a thin film that is hardened on the trimmed ends of the optical fibers while the optical fiber and pin locator is attached. | 12-02-2010 |
20110079930 | CONNECTION METHOD, CONNECTION TOOL, AND CONNECTION JIG FOR OPTICAL FIBER - A method of butting and connecting a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber in an optical connector comprises placing said optical connector that holds said first optical fiber in wherein an optical fiber connection tool; mounting said optical fiber holder on a holder mounting base of a front end bevel processing tool; processing a front end face of said second optical fiber such that said front end face of said second optical fiber is beveled relative to the surface perpendicular to the optical fiber axis direction; transferring said optical fiber holder to said holder support base; and moving said optical fiber holder toward said optical connector along said guide part, and butting and connecting the beveled front end face of said second optical fiber to the front end face of said first optical fiber such that their bevel directions are aligned. | 04-07-2011 |
20110095442 | THIN LIGHT GUIDING PLATE AND METHODS OF MANUFACTURING - The present invention provides a composite light guiding plate comprising a light guiding layer comprising an incident face for receiving light from at least one light source, a light guiding output surface that is also generally orthogonal to the incident face, a featured surface, opposite the light-guiding output surface and generally orthogonal to the input face for redirecting light through the light guiding output surface. Further, the featured surface comprises a plurality of rows of linear prismatic structures extended in a length direction that is substantially perpendicular to the incident face and having height and width dimensions of 10 to 200 microns and wherein the length-to-width aspect ratio of the linear prismatic structures is greater than 100:1 the thickness of the light guiding layer is less than 1 mm. Further, the plate is formed from polymeric materials comprising polyesters, amorphous polyesters, polyarylates, polycarbonates, polyamides, polyether-amides, polyamide-imides, polyimides, polyetherimides, cyclic olefin polymers, impact-modified polymethacrylates, polyacrylates, polyacrylonitrile, polystyrenes, polyethers, cellulosics, sulfur-containing polymers and blends or alloys of two or more polymers or copolymers thereof. Additionally, the plate comprises a light extraction layer comprising an input surface having a plurality of protruding light extraction features that have tips that are bonded to the light-guiding output surface of the light guiding layer and provide optical contact between the light guiding and light extraction layers and an illumination output surface for providing light output from the composite illumination plate. Further, the thickness of the light extraction layer is less than 1 mm and wherein one or more channels of air or other gas are sandwiched between the light guiding layer and the light extraction layer. | 04-28-2011 |
20110221081 | MANUFACTURING METHOD OF A HIGH-RELIABILITY OPTICAL FIBER COUPLER - A manufacturing method of a high-reliability optical fiber coupler includes (1) manufacturing the optical fiber coupler by a fused biconical tapering process employing a parallel sintering process, and detecting via a tension test the strength of the optical fiber resulting from the sintering process, securing the strength thereof being greater than or equal to 1N; (2) fixing both ends of the sintered optical fiber coupler in a U-shaped quartz groove via hardening adhesive, and filling inside of the U-shaped quartz groove around the coupling arm at both ends thereof with adhesive to shorten the suspending length of the optical fiber; (3) inserting the U-shaped groove containing the optical fiber coupler into a circular quartz tube, and fixing both ends of the circular quartz tube via hardening adhesive; and (4) sleeving a stainless steel tube around the circular quartz tube, and sealing both ends of the stainless steel tube. | 09-15-2011 |
20120043677 | Method for Making a Combined Light Coupler and Light Pipe - A method for making a combined light coupler and light pipe comprises providing a mold with an elongated chamber having two ends and having an appropriate shape to form the combined light coupler and light pipe. The formed light pipe has an elongated shape. The formed light coupler has an inlet end for receiving light and an outlet end for transmitting light to the light pipe, and is shaped in such a way as to transform at least 70% of the light it receives into an appropriate angular distribution needed for total internal reflection within the light pipe. A cross-linkable polymer having a weight average molecular weight ranging from about 2,000 to about 250,000 daltons is provided. At least part of the chamber of the mold is filled and contacted with the polymer, which is then cross-linked, such that the formed light coupler and light pipe have a unitary construction. | 02-23-2012 |
20120205825 | MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR AN OPTICAL CONNECTOR - Provided is a cost-effective manufacturing method for an optical connector, which enables an optical waveguide to be fixed to a ferrule easily in a short period of time. A manufacturing method for an optical connector includes: fitting an end portion of a transparent optical waveguide into an optical waveguide fitting groove of an optical connection ferrule made of a resin; and fusing and fixing the end portion of the transparent optical waveguide to the optical connection ferrule by applying a laser beam having a predetermined wavelength downward from above the optical waveguide fitting groove toward the transparent optical waveguide, so that the laser beam reaches a bottom surface of the optical waveguide fitting groove. | 08-16-2012 |
20130221550 | Method for producing photonic wire bonds - A method for making optical connections with optical waveguides includes mounting the optical waveguides or a device comprising the optical waveguides, on a component carrier. A partial region of the optical waveguides is embedded in a volume of resist material. Positions of the optical waveguides to be connected are detected with reference to a coordinate system using a measuring system. Favorable, three-dimensional geometries are determined for optical waveguide structures for connecting the optical waveguides to each other at predetermined connecting locations and the optical waveguide structure geometries are converted to a machine-readable dataset. The optical waveguide geometries in the volume of the resist material are three-dimensionally structured using a direct-writing lithography device operating on the basis of the machine-readable dataset. The structured resist material is treated using physical or chemical methods to form at least one optical waveguide structure having ends connected to predetermined connecting locations of the optical waveguides. | 08-29-2013 |
20130292859 | OPTICAL FIBER END PROCESSING METHOD AND OPTICAL FIBER END PROCESSING APPARATUS - There is provide an optical fiber end processing method, for processing an end portion of an optical fiber having a core and a clad surrounding the core, comprising: fixing two places of the optical fiber; firstly heating a part at a tip end side of the optical fiber between fixed parts fixed at two places, thereby melting the optical fiber at the heated part at the tip end side; secondly heating a part at a base end side of the optical fiber between the fixed parts away from the heated part at the tip end side in a state that the optical fiber is fixed at two places, thereby forming an expanded core region which is formed by expanding a diameter of the core by diffusing the dopant included in the optical fiber; and removing at least the heated part at the tip end side. | 11-07-2013 |
20140035175 | METHOD OF FORMING SINGLE-MODE POLYMER WAVEGUIDE ARRAY ASSEMBLY - High accuracy positioning relative to an absolute reference position (guide pin holes in ferrules, etc.) is provided for a plurality of cores constituting a polymer waveguide array for connection to ferrules at ends of a plurality of these assemblies to form a single-mode polymer waveguide array assembly. A method for forming a single-mode polymer waveguide array assembly enables a plurality of cores constituting a polymer waveguide array to be positioned with high accuracy. Also provided is a combination of process molds (an initial process mold and intermediate process mold) used in the processes unique to the present methods. | 02-06-2014 |
20140191427 | SELECTIVE UV CURING OF EPOXY ADJACENT TO OPTICAL FIBERS BY TRANSMITTING UV ENERGY THROUGH THE FIBER CLADDING - A method and system for affixing multi-core fiber (MCF) within a ferrule includes a UV light source and a light guide. MCFs are placed into epoxy filled holders, e.g., channels or v-grooves, of a ferrule. A first MCF in a first holder is clocked to orient its cores to a desired position. The light source is activated, and the light from the light guide is launched into a cladding layer of the first MCF. The light in the cladding layer will stay in the cladding layer until it reaches the portion of the first MCF in contact with the epoxy, where the light will leak out due to the similarity in the index of refraction. The leaking light will at least partially cure the epoxy to affix the first MCF within the first holder. The process may then be repeated for the remaining MCFs, so that each MCF may be clocked and affixed selectively rather than collectively. | 07-10-2014 |
20150069645 | WAVELENGTH DIVISION MULTIPLEXING WITH MULTI-CORE FIBER - Optical systems for wavelength division multiplexing and wavelength division demultiplexing with a multi-core fiber, and methods of their fabrication, are disclosed. In accordance with one method for fabricating an optical system for wavelength division demultiplexing, a resin is molded to define an element with a plurality of angled surfaces. Further, a plurality of filters are formed around the element, where each of the filters is configured to filter at least one respective wavelength and transmit at least one other respective wavelength. In addition, reflective surfaces are formed on the plurality of angled surfaces. Moreover, an additional resin is formed over the element and over the plurality of filters to complete a guiding structure. Further, arrays of photodiodes are affixed to the guiding structure below the plurality of filters. Alternatively, for demultiplexing embodiments, sets of laser chips are affixed to the guiding structure. | 03-12-2015 |
20150137398 | MACHINE-TO-MACHINE PLANT AUTOMATION USING 3D PRINTED FIBER SPLICING - A system may include a fiber distribution hub including a plurality of fiber-optic cables, wherein a particular one of the plurality of fiber-optic cables includes a machine-readable identifier; and a robotic device configured to access particular ones of the plurality of fiber-optic cables. The robotic device may include a print head configured to splice together the particular ones of the plurality of fiber-optic cables by three-dimensional printing of a silane material. A hand-held unit may also include a print head configured to splice together fiber-optic cables by three-dimensional printing of a silane material. | 05-21-2015 |
20150346446 | METHOD AND SPACER FOR ASSEMBLING FLEXIBLE OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE RIBBONS, AND ASSEMBLED STACK OF SUCH RIBBONS - A method and spacer for assembling flexible optical waveguide ribbons and assembled stack of such ribbons. The method includes the steps of: providing at least two optical waveguide ribbons and a spacer, which includes at least two calibrated spaces; positioning a ribbon stack in the spacer, where the ribbon stack includes the at least two optical waveguide ribbons stacked on top of each other; constraining positioned ribbon stack in one of the calibrated spaces; and fixing constrained ribbon stack in the calibrated spaces. | 12-03-2015 |
20150355419 | SIDE-FACET COUPLER HAVING EXTERNAL MOUNTING SURFACE MOLDED TO FACILITATE ALIGNMENT OF OPTICAL CONNECTIONS - A molded waveguide side-facet coupler to facilitate an optical connection between optical side-facets and a fiber optic connector is disclosed. Instead of molding the side-facet coupler with the external mounting surface disposed on an external surface of the mold, the mold for the side-facet coupler is provided such that the mounting surface of the side-facet coupler is provided as a molded internal recess surface. The moldable material for the side-facet coupler is disposed around a recess core that is part of the mold, thereby forming a unitary component having at least one internal recess surface for providing an external mounting surface for the side-facet coupler. As the molded material cures around the core structure, the external surfaces of the unitary component pull away from internal surfaces of the mold, and shrink around the core structure. Thus, the internal recess surface of the unitary component is formed within narrower, repeatable tolerances. | 12-10-2015 |
20160054523 | METHODS FOR PROCESSING A MULTI-FIBER FERRULE USING A LASER - A method for processing ferrules for fiber optic connectors is disclosed herein. The method involves ablating a distal end face of the ferrule with the plurality of laser beam pulses to remove a distal layer of the ferrule without removing an optical fiber secured within the ferrule. By removing the distal layer from the ferrule, the optical fiber is caused to protrude distally outwardly from the distal end of the ferrule by a desired amount. A final polish is applied to the distal end face of the ferrule. In some examples, a subsequent laser step is used to remove portions of the distal end face of the ferrule. | 02-25-2016 |
264100260 | Having lens integral with fiber | 4 |
20100301503 | FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR TOOLING DEVICE - A system and method for creating fiber optic terminations includes a fiber optic connector tooling device and an improved hot plate termination plate or oven. The device cooperates with the oven to produce a fiber optic termination end with optimal light diffusion qualities. The device properly aligns a plastic fiber optic cable and connector with each other and perpendicularly aligns both with the oven. The device provides gradual forward pressure to seat the plastic cable in the connector to melt the second end of the cable and form an optical lens with optimal light diffusion qualities. A method of creating optically clear lens at a termination end of the plastic fiber optic cable uses the fiber optic connector tooling device to assist in holding and guiding the fiber optical cable to the improved oven in proper axial alignment to create a defect free lens. | 12-02-2010 |
20110278748 | METHOD FOR MAKING OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR - A method for making an optical fiber connector includes a mold. The mold includes a first mold portion having inserts each for molding a blind hole preform, and a second mold portion having a flat molding surface for forming a flat optical surface, and a number of curved molding surfaces for forming lens caps. A non-contact detection instrument is provided to project a light beam to the bottom of the blind hole preforms with the light beam passing through the flat optical surface. Then a coarseness factor image is obtained and analyzed to determine whether a coarseness factor of the bottom of the corresponding blind hole preform is acceptable and the corresponding insert is modified if it is not acceptable. Finally, the curved molding surfaces are aligned with the inserts to form the lens caps on the flat optical surface. | 11-17-2011 |
20110278749 | MOLD FOR FORMING OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE MOLD - A mold for molding optical fiber connector includes a core pin, a core mold and a cavity mold. The core pin has insertion portion and a blind hole forming portion. The core mold is used to clamp the insertion portion of the core pin. The cavity mold includes a molding cavity and a through hole defined in the sidewall of the cavity mold, the molding cavity includes a lens forming portion used to mold the lens. A positioning block defining an aligning hole is positioned in the through hole, the aligning hole is used to clamp the blind hole forming portion of the core pin to make the blind hole forming portion align with the lens forming portion during the injection molding process. The present art also relate to a method for adjusting the mold. | 11-17-2011 |
20140042647 | PROCESSING OF GRADIENT INDEX (GRIN) RODS INTO GRIN LENSES ATTACHABLE TO OPTICAL DEVICES, COMPONENTS, AND METHODS - Embodiments for processing of gradient index (GRIN) rods into GRIN lenses attachable to optical devices, components, and methods are disclosed. A cylindrical GRIN rod comprises an optical axis and a longitudinal axis at a center axis, where the index of refraction may be greatest at the optical axis. The GRIN rod includes GRIN lenses along the longitudinal axis. The GRIN lenses include a first optical surface and a second optical surface opposite the first optical surface. Separation processes and devices may separate the GRIN lenses from the GRIN rods and these processes may be automated. Other processes may polish the first and the second optical surfaces. A gripper may insert the GRIN lens into an optical device. | 02-13-2014 |