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US 5,135,590 AGranted
Optical fiber alignment method
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsNagesh R. Basavanhally, Richard Borutta, Theodore Sizer, II, James A. Walker
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Abstract
A bundle (12) of optical fibers (13) is fixed in a matrix array by apertures in a guiding plate (14) and a securing plate (15). The apertures (18) in the guiding plate are larger than those in the securing plate and the securing plate apertures (17) are funnel-shaped to aid in insertion of the fibers. Each row of optical fibers may be inserted simultaneously by mounting the row on a uniquely designed vacuum holder (26).
Claims8
A method for making a device comprising an array of optic fiber ends having a desired configuration, said method comprising the steps of:
- forming in a planar securing member a first array of first apertures, said first array having a configuration corresponding to said desired configuration;
- forming in a planar guiding member a second array of second apertures, said second array having a configuration corresponding to said desired configuration;
- the largest diameter of each of the second apertures being at least as large as the largest diameter of the first apertures and larger than the diameter of the optical fibers;
- aligning the first and second members along a common axis such that the first and second aperture arrays thereof are in substantially axial alignment;
- inserting each optical fiber end first through a second aperture of the guiding member and thence into a corresponding first aperture of the securing member;
- and permanently bonding the optical fiber ends to the guiding and securing members.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.