# US 5,345,529 A · Method for assembly of an optical fiber connective device

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- Number: US 5,345,529 A
- Document ID: US5345529A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/088,687
- Filed: 1993-07-06
- Granted: 1994-09-06
- Earliest claimed: 1993-07-06
- Assignees: AT&T Bell Laboratories
- Inventors: Theodore Sizer, II; James A. Walker
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5345529A

## CPC

- G02B 6/43: Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
- G02B 6/423: {using guiding surfaces for the alignment}
- Y10S 359/90: Methods
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

An optical fiber connective device enables one or more optical fiber(s) to be precisely mounted, essentially perpendicular, to a substrate. The connective device includes a support plate having holes with optical fiber(s) precisely mounted there through. The support plate, with mounted optical fiber(s), is then inserted into aligned holes in the substrate and attached to the substrate. The precise mounting of the connective device to the substrate enables optional coupling of optical signals from the optical fiber(s) to optoelectronic chips mounted over holes of the substrate.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of mounting one or more fibers to a planar substrate, comprising the steps of
inserting said fibers through aligned holes of a support plate and a dummy substrate, a thickness of said dummy substrate having a predetermined ratio to a thickness of said planar substrate,
shortening the length of said fibers to a first surface of said dummy substrate,
mounting said fibers to said support plate,
removing said support plate with mounted fibers from said dummy substrate,
inserting said fibers into aligned holes of said planar substrate, and
attaching said support plate to said planar substrate.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said shortening step includes the step of cutting the length of said fibers at said first surface.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2 wherein said shortening step further includes the step of polishing said cut fibers at said first surface.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said mounting step includes the step of gluing said fibers to said support plate.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said dummy substrate is substantially identical in size to said planar substrate.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said inserting step includes the step of using a stop plate to determine when to stop said inserting step.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said support plate is substantially identical in size to said planar substrate.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said dummy substrate and said planar substrate are made from the same material.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said attaching step includes the step of gluing said mounting plate to said planar substrate.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said holes are etched in said planar substrate, and wherein the fibers are inserted into a surface of said planar substrate having the larger hole openings.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said holes are etched in said planar substrate, and wherein the fibers are inserted into a surface of said planar substrate having the smaller hole openings.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said holes are taper-drilled in said planar substrate, and wherein the fibers are inserted into a surface of said planar substrate having the larger hole openings.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1 wherein said holes are etched in said dummy substrate, and wherein the fibers are inserted into a surface of said planar substrate and dummy substrate having the larger hole openings.

### Claim 14

A method of mounting one or more fibers to a planar substrate, comprising the steps of
inserting said fibers through aligned holes of a support plate and a dummy substrate until a predetermined stop position is reached,
mounting said fibers to said support plate,
removing said support plate with mounted fibers from said dummy substrate,
inserting said fibers into aligned holes of said planar substrate, and
attaching said support plate to said planar substrate.