Ferrule with encapsulated protruding fibers
AssigneeTyco Electronics Corporation
InventorMichael Aaron Kadar-Kallen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A process for preparing terminated fibers comprising: (a) deposition one or more fibers in a ferrule having a ferrule end face such that a portion of each fiber extends forward beyond the ferrule end face; (b) after step (a), positioning a register surface in a predetermined position relative to the ferrule end face; (c) after step (b), depositing an optically-clear filler between the end face and the register surface and around the portion of each fiber; and (d) once the filler solidifies, releasing the register surface form the filler to define a mating surface on the filler.
Claims23
A process for preparing terminated fibers comprising:
- (a) depositing one or more fibers in a ferrule having a ferrule end face such that a portion of each fiber extends forward beyond said ferrule end face;
- (b) after step (a), positioning a register surface in a predetermined position relative to said ferrule end face;
- (c) after step (a), depositing an optically-clear filler between said end face and a register surface and around said portion of each fiber;
- and
- (d) once said filler solidifies, releasing said register surface form said filler to define a mating surface on said filler.
A ferrule assembly comprising:
- a ferrule having a mating face;
- one or more fibers a portion of each protruding beyond said mating face;
- and
- optically-transparent filler encapsulating said portion of each fiber and defining a smooth mating face a predetermined distance from said ferrule mating face.
A tool comprising:
- (a) a wall having a register surface, said wall being essentially transparent to a certain light frequency;
- and
- (b) at least one alignment member at a certain angle from the register surface, the alignment member configured to cooperate with a corresponding alignment member of a ferrule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.