Method and apparatus for integrating optical fibers with collimating lenses
Patent 6563975 Issued on May 13, 2003. Estimated Expiration Date: 
June 18, 2021. 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.
June 18, 2021. 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 alignment techniques Transmission and reception module for a bidirectional, optical message and signal transmission Lens structure for focusing the light emitted by a multimode fiber Optoelectronic transducer and production methods Fabrication of collimators employing optical fibers fusion-spliced to optical elements of substantially larger cross-sectional areas Patent #: 6360039 InventorAssigneeApplicationNo. 884500 filed on 06/18/2001US Classes:385/18, Reflective-type switch385/89, Plural fiber/device connections385/94Sealed from environmentExaminersPrimary: Kim, Robert H.Assistant: Suchecki, Krystyna Attorney, Agent or FirmForeign Patent References
International ClassesG02B 006/43G02B 006/26 AbstractA two-dimensional optical switch (10) includes a hermetically sealed housing (41) cooperable with several input fibers (11-18) and several output fibers (21-28). A digital micromirror device (71) is disposed within the housing, and can selectively effect travel of radiation between each input fiber and any one of the output fibers. The housing includes two lens sections (56, 57), which each have a platelike support portion (106), and several lens portions (111-118) of approximately semi-spherical shape that project from the inner side of the support portion. Each of the input fibers is fixedly secured to an outer side of one lens section in alignment with a respective lens portion thereon, and each of the output fibers is fixedly secured to the outside of the other lens section in alignment with a respective lens portion thereon.Other References
Field of SearchBy surface composed of lenticular elementsPlural lenticular plates Serially disposed along optic axis By partial reflection at beam splitting or combining surface Sealing By changing physical characteristics (e.g., shape, size or contours) of an optical element Shape or contour of light control surface altered Mirror, prism or signal reflector Having crossed axes PROTECTION FROM MOISTURE OR FOREIGN PARTICLE Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector Plural fiber/device connections Fiber adjustable relative to device Fiber permanently fixed after adjustment With housing Including lens Sealed from environment With alignment device Fusion splicing Double pole multiple throw Matrix switch (i.e., M X N, where M and N are 3 or more) Single pole multiple throw (relay switch) WITH OPTICAL COUPLER Single pole single throw Multiple pole multiple throw Stationary waveguides with movable opaque element Reflective-type switch Switch (i.e., switching from one terminal to another, not modulation) Plural (e.g., data bus) Permanently fixed coupler Alignment of fiber ends prior to splicing Fiber to thin film devices FUSION BONDING MEANS | |
