Adhesive system for optical devices
AssigneeNeptec Optical Solutions, Inc.
InventorVincent J. Tekippe
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An adhesive system for securing optical elements to a housing or substrate in an aligned position that is maintained over widely varying environmental conditions. A fiber optic device is constructed such that applied adhesive is not disposed between a fiber optic element and the housing of the fiber optic device, but is disposed on longitudinal seams defined by the portion of the element proximal a side of the housing or substrate. In one embodiment, the adhesive has a filler, such as amorphous silica. A method of making includes aligning, applying adhesive, and curing adhesive.
Claims36
An optical device in which an optical element is adhered to a support member, said optical device comprising:
- a first member;
- a second member defining an aperture for receiving said first member, said second member having a pair of openings diametrically opposed relative to said first member in said opening, each of said pair of openings having a passage from an outside surface of said second member to said aperture;
- and
- an adhesive disposed within said pair of openings, said adhesive adhering to said first member and to an inside surface of said pair of openings, said adhesive having a viscosity sufficiently high that said adhesive, in an uncured state, does not substantially wick between said first member and said second member.
An optical device in which an optical element is adhered to a support member, said optical device comprising:
- a first member;
- a second member defining an opening for receiving said first member, said second member having a pair of slots diametrically opposed relative to said first member in said opening, each of said pair of slots having a passage from an outside surface of said second member to said opening, each of said pair of slots having a longitudinal axis parallel to a longitudinal axis of said first member;
- and
- an adhesive disposed within said pair of slots, said adhesive adhering to said first member and to an inside surface of said pair of slots, said adhesive having a viscosity sufficiently high that said adhesive, in an uncured state, does not substantially wick between said first member and said second member, said adhesive including an epoxy and a filler, said filler being amorphous silica, said filler having a concentration of at least 68 percent and having an average particle size less than or equal to 10 micrometers.
An optical device in which a plurality of optical elements are adhered to a support member, said optical device for acting on optical signals, said optical device comprising:
- a first collimator;
- a second collimator;
- an actuator;
- a housing defining two openings for receiving said first and second collimators, said housing defining an actuator opening for receiving said actuator, said actuator opening substantially between about said two openings, said first collimator positioned such that a light beam is directed into said second collimator through at least one mirror, said actuator positioned such that said actuator interacts with said light beam when said actuator is actuated, said housing having a pair of slots for each of said two openings and said actuator opening, said pair of slots diametrically opposed relative to each of said two openings and said actuator opening, each of said pair of slots having a longitudinal axis parallel to a corresponding longitudinal axis of said first and second collimators and said actuator;
- and
- an adhesive disposed within each of said pair of slots, said adhesive adhering to a corresponding said first and second collimator and to an inside surface of each of said pair of slots, said adhesive having a viscosity sufficiently high that said adhesive, in an uncured state, does not substantially wick between said first and second collimators and said housing and between said actuator and said housing.
An optical device in which a first element is adhered to a second element, said optical device comprising:
- an optical element;
- a support member in contact with said optical element, said support member having at least one surface substantially perpendicular with a surface of said optical element;
- and
- an adhesive in contact with said optical element and said at least one surface of said support member, said adhesive having a viscosity sufficiently high that said adhesive, in an uncured state, does not substantially wick between said optical element and said support member, said adhesive including a filler of amorphous silica.
An optical device in which a first element is adhered to a second element, said optical device comprising:
- an optical element;
- a means for supporting said optical element;
- and
- a means for adhering said optical element to said means for supporting.
A method for forming an optical device by adhering a first element to a second element such that displacement between the first and second elements is limited, said method comprising the steps of::
- a) aligning a first member relative to a second member, said second member adapted to receive said first member, said second member having at least one opening having a passage through which said first member is visible;
- b) applying an adhesive to each of said at least one opening, said adhesive adhering to said first member and to an inside surface of each of said at least one opening, said adhesive having a viscosity sufficiently high that said adhesive, in an uncured state, does not substantially wick between said first member and said second member;
- and
- c) curing said adhesive.
A method for forming an optical device by adhering a first element to a second element such that displacement between the first and second elements is limited, said method comprising the steps of::
- a) aligning an optical element relative to a support member;
- b) applying an adhesive to a seam proximal said support member joining optical element, said adhesive having a high viscosity such that it does not flow between said optical element and said support member;
- and
- c) curing said adhesive.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.