Laser process for processing ferrules used in non- contact optical connectors
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorYu Lu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for processing a ferrule for a fiber optic connector is disclosed herein. The ferrule supports an optical fiber. The method involves laser processing a distal end of the ferrule to expand at least a portion of the ferrule to cause recession of an end of the optical fiber relative to the expanded portion of the ferrule.
Claims20
A method for processing a ferrule supporting at least two optical fibers, the ferrule including a ferrule body having a distal end and a proximal end, the ferrule body also defining at least two fiber openings that extend through the ferrule body from the proximal end to the distal end, the at least two optical fibers being secured within the at least two fiber openings, the method comprising:
- laser processing the distal end of the ferrule to cause distal expansion of at least a laser processed portion of the distal end such that the at least two optical fibers are recessed with respect to the laser processed portion, wherein the laser processed portion extends between the at least two fiber openings.
A method for processing a multi-fiber ferrule for a multi-fiber optical connector, the multi-fiber ferrule having a distal end and a proximal end, the multi-fiber ferrule also defining a plurality of openings that extend through the multi-fiber ferrule from the proximal end to the distal end, the multi-fiber ferrule being adapted to support a plurality of optical fibers, the method comprising:
- inserting the plurality of optical fibers within the plurality of openings of the multi-fiber ferrule;
- securing the plurality of optical fibers in the plurality of openings of the multi-fiber ferrule using adhesive with stub ends of the plurality of optical fibers projecting beyond the distal end of the multi-fiber ferrule;
- cleaving the stub ends of the plurality of optical fibers;
- polishing the distal end of the multi-fiber ferrule and ends of the cleaved optical fibers;
- and laser processing the distal end of the multi-fiber ferrule to expand and increase a height of at least a portion or portions of the distal end of the multi-fiber ferrule such that distal ends of the plurality of optical fibers are recessed proximally with respect to the laser expanded portion or portions of the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the laser expanded portion or portions extend between at least two of the plurality of openings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.