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US 4,889,403 AGranted
Distribution optical fiber tap
AssigneeRaychem Corporation
InventorsJoseph Zucker, Nelson M. Shen, Bruce D. Campbell, Peder Rodhe, Tom Call
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical fiber read or write tap includes a substrate having a substantially flat upper surface on which two separated grooves are formed, a light element being disposed in the second groove so as to be capable of coupling light with a bent portion of an optical fiber disposed in the first groove.
Claims17
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first optical fiber tap, the first tap including:
- a substrate having a substantially flat upper surface on which a curved first grooved is formed and on which a second groove is formed, a first end of the second groove being displaced from and confronting the first groove;
- an optical fiber including a core surrounded by a cladding surrounded by a coating disposed at least partially within the first groove, a width of the first groove being substantially greater than a cladding diameter and such that a bend profile of the coating is maintained substantially constant;
- means for collecting light radiating from a bent portion of the optical fiber which passes through the fiber coating and into the substrate from the first groove, the light collecting means including a light collection element disposed within the second groove so that a light collection end surface thereof is adjacent the first end of the second groove;
- a bend radius of an intermediate portion of the optical fiber in the first groove being between 4 and 11 millimeters and its sector angle being greater than 9.degree. and less than 35.degree..
2 more elements
An apparatus, comprising:
- a first optical fiber tap, the first tap including:
- a substrate having a substantially flat upper surface on which a curved first groove is formed and on which a second groove is formed, a first end of the second groove being displaced from and confronting the first groove;
- an optical fiber including a core surrounded by a cladding surrounded by a coating disposed at least partially within the first groove, a width of the first groove being substantially greater than a cladding diameter and such that a bend profile of the coating is maintained substantially constant;
- means for generating light disposed within the second groove;
- means for focusing light generated by the generating means, the focusing means being disposed in the second groove;
- a bend radius of an intermediate portion of the optical fiber in the first groove being between 4 and 11 millimeters and its sector angle being greater than 9.degree. and less than 35.degree..
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.