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AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorsPetrus J. W. Severin, Adrianus P. Severijns, Johannes A. M. Steenbakkers
Estimating the term…
To a carrier (1, 1') there is cemented a bar of a material (3, 3'), for example glass or a ceramic material, which is subsequently divided, using cuts (7, 7') which extend transversely of its longitudinal direction, into a number of slices (9, 9') which are separately cemented to the carrier. Each slice (9, 9') is provided with a groove (13, 13') which extends parallel to the cuts (7, 7'). The grooves (13, 13') are curved and have a center of curvature which is situated at the side of the bar (3, 3') which faces the carrier (1, 1'). In the grooves (13, 13') there are secured optical fibres (19, 19') which follow the curvature of the groove, after which a side portion of the fibres which is situated furthest from the carrier (1, 1') is ground off. A flat ground face (21, 21') is thus formed one each fibre (19, 19'). Such ground fibres (19, 19') are arranged so that their ground faces contact one another in order to form directional couplers, after which the slices (9, 9') are detached from the carrier (1, 1').
A method of manufacturing a plurality of optical components, wherein a face (5) of a block of material (3) is cemented to a carrier (1) and curved grooves (13) are provided in a second face (11) of the block which is situated opposite the first face, the centres of curvature (15) of said grooves being situated at the side of the second-face which faces the first face, after which optical fibres (19) are secured in a number of the grooves so that they follow the curvature of the groove, a side portion of said fibres which is situated furthest from the first face being subsequently ground off, a flat ground face (21) thus being formed on each fibre, after which directional couplers are formed by arranging the ground faces of the fibres thus ground against one another, the parts to be arranged on one another being aligned with respect to one another by means of wire-shaped elements (23) which are arranged in the grooves (17) which are not occupied by ground optical fibres, characterized in that the block of material (3) is shaped as a bar which, after having been cemented to the carrier (1), is divided, using cuts (7) which extend transversely of its longitudinal direction, into a number of slices (9) which are separately cemented to the carrier, after which each slice is provided with at least one groove (13, 17) which extends parallel to the cuts, the slices being detached from the carrier at a later stage.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.