Hermetic fiber optic-to-metal connection technique
April 10, 2011. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.Patent ReferencesOptical fiber termination Connector for fiber optic member including polishing fixture and method of terminating same Optical fibre terminations and methods of and apparatus for making optical fibre terminations Ferrule for optical connector High speed fiberoptic laser module Method and apparatus for terminating an optical fiber Method of interconnecting optical fiber cables and connector therefore Connector for optical fiber Optical sleeve or insert apparatus Method of making a ferrule having enhanced concentricity Patent #: 4994134 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 683019 filed on 04/10/1991US Classes:65/406, Joining or bonding optical fibers, waveguides, or preforms (e.g., coupling, etc.)65/42, Bonding of subassembly with subsequent assembly and bonding (formed parts only)65/45, With glass part forming from shapeless molten glass65/59.34, Metal part outside of glass part65/61, With wearing away of surface material (e.g., abrading or grinding)65/430, With significant coating step385/78, Fiber end held in ferrule385/85Fiber/ferrule further processed (grinding, polishing, etc.)ExaminersPrimary: Bruckner, John J.Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassC03C 025/02AbstractA glass-to-glass hermetic sealing technique is disclosed which can be used to splice lengths of glass fibers together. A solid glass preform is inserted into the cavity of a metal component which is then heated to melt the glass. An end of an optical fiber is then advanced into the molten glass and the entire structure cooled to solidify the glass in sealing engagement with the optical fiber end and the metal cavity. The surface of the re-solidified glass may be machined for mating engagement with another component to make a spliced fiber optic connection. The resultant structure has a helium leak rate of less than 1×10-8 cm3 /sec.Field of SearchFiber end held in ferruleOptical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure At or immediately surrounding an optical fiber end face Fiber/ferrule further processed (grinding, polishing, etc.) Bonding of subassembly with subsequent assembly and bonding (formed parts only) By or with coating at joint interface of a formed part prior to bonding With reshaping glass preform prior to assembly or subsequent to bonding Of glass to metal part Metal part outside of glass part Metal part outside of glass part With wearing away of surface material (e.g., abrading or grinding) With means inserting wire into glass With glass part forming from shapeless molten glass And bonding to part in same mold cavity Bonding to metal formed part | |
