High energy fiber terminations and methods
AssigneeInnovaQuartz LLC
InventorStephen Griffin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ferrule and method are presented that fuses optical fibers, capillaries and the like to ferrules while reducing deformation of the fused component and the ferrule and minimizing stresses within the assembly. Reduced deformation and stress is accomplished by providing high contact angles in a symmetrical, short section of fusion in fusing the component carried by the ferrule to the ferrule. It is particularly applicable to hermetic terminations of polymer clad fiber optics where irregular glass fusion joints cause irregular light leakage at the fiber launch but benefits are significant when used for other fiber and capillary architectures as well.
Claims31
A ferrule and filament assembly comprising a body with a proximal end and a distal end and having an interior channel that extends between the proximal and distal ends, said distal end of the interior channel being expanded in diameter relative to the diameter of a non-distal portion of the interior channel, a filament contained within the interior channel and terminating at the distal end of the ferrule body, and a contacting section in distal end of the ferrule body that bridges between the filament and the distal end of the ferrule.
A method of manufacturing a ferrule and filament assembly comprising the steps of:
- providing a ferrule body having a proximate end, a distal end and an interior channel extending between the proximate and distal ends, said distal end of the interior channel being expanded in diameter relative to the diameter of a non-distal portion of the interior channel, inserting a filament into the proximate end of the interior channel such that a terminal portion of the filament extend to the distal end of the interior channel, heating the distal end of the ferrule such that at least a portion of the distal end softens and flows between the larger diameter interior channel wall and the filament;
- and allowing the softened portion to solidify to form a fused region between the ferrule and the filament.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.