Precision fiber ferrules
AssigneeAvanex Corporation
InventorsMarc G. Brun, Scott M. Hellman, Heinrich G. Muller, Paul A. Townley-Smith, Michael Ushinsky
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Abstract
A multiple-port optical device uses improved fiber ferrules comprising various capillary designs and shapes to precisely position optical fibers and, in particular, the optical fiber cores. The fibers are screened for geometric characteristics which further aide in precisely positioning the fiber cores. The ferrules, capillaries, fibers, and adhesives are combined to reduce adverse thermal effects and maintain the position of the fibers over a broad range of environmental conditions in which DWDM packages and modules are required to operate.
Claims22
An optical subassembly comprising:
- a ferrule having at least one capillary extending axially through said ferrule, and
- a plurality of optical fibers, each having a core and a cladding, positioned inside of said at least one capillary, each of said optical fibers satisfying predetermined tolerance for position of the center of the core with respect to the center of the core of another of said plurality of fibers.
An optical subassembly comprising:
- a ferrule having a capillary extending axially through said ferrule, said capillary satisfying a predetermined tolerance for the dimensions of said capillary;
- and
- at least four optical fibers positioned inside of said capillary, each of said optical fibers having a core and a cladding, said optical fibers satisfying predetermined tolerances for core concentricity and the outer dimensions of said cladding.
A method of assembling an optical device comprising:
- providing a ferrule having at least one capillary extending axially through the ferrule;
- selecting a plurality of optical fibers each having manufacturing tolerances within predetermined limits, the manufacturing tolerances including any one or combination of core/cladding concentricity tolerance, fiber diameter tolerance, and fiber ovality tolerance;
- and
- inserting the optical fibers in the at least one capillary of the ferrule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.