Electroformed mask and use therefore
AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Emmons, Douglass H. Atwill, II
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method of applying a coating to a fiber end retained in the holder is disclosed. A master is formed having an external geometry substantially identical to the geometry of the holder. A mask is formed by applying a thin coating of a mask material onto the master with a hole formed through the material at a location corresponding to a location of a fiber end on the holder. The master is removed from the mask. The mask is placed on the holder with the hole exposing the fiber end. The coating is applied through the hole and onto the fiber end and the mask is removed from the holder.
Claims8
A method of applying a fiber coating to a fiber end retained in a holder where said holder has a holder external geometry and where said fiber end is exposed at a location on said holder external geometry;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a master mold having a master external geometry substantially identical to said holder external geometry, said master mold being formed of a master material removable through a chemical process;
- forming a mask on said master mold, with the mask in the form of a mask coating of a mask material having a hole formed in said mask material at said location, said mask formed of a mask material not removable by said chemical process;
- removing said master mold from said mask by applying said chemical process to said master mold and said mask to remove the said master material while leaving said mask material;
- placing said mask on said holder, with said hole exposing said fiber end;
- applying said fiber coating through said hole and onto said fiber end;
- and
- removing said mask from said holder.
A method of applying a fiber coating to a fiber end retained in a holder where said holder has a holder external geometry and where said fiber end is exposed at a location on said holder external geometry;
- said method comprising the steps of:
- forming a mask on said master mold, with the mask in the form of a mask coating of a mask material having a hole formed in said mask material at said location, said hole formed by providing said master mold with a protrusion at said location, said hole formed by removing said protrusion after applying said mask coating;
- removing said master mold from said mask;
- placing said mask on said holder, with said hold exposing said fiber end;
- applying said fiber coating through said hole and onto said fiber end;
- and
- removing said mask from said holder.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.