Method of forming an optical connector
AssigneeThe Whitaker Corporation
InventorAntonius P. C. M. Hultermans
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An optical connector (2) includes housing halves (4A) and (4B) having Y-shaped contours (6A, 6B, 8A, 8B) in the abutting faces of the housing halves (4A, 4B). A Y-shaped member (30) is inserted into the housing halves and sandwiched between the two housing halves. An optically transparent gel (20) is inserted into the housing adjacent to the end faces of the Y-piece, such that upon insertion of the optical fibers into the openings created by the Y-shaped contours, the unfinished fiber ends are in optical connection with the gel (20) and split into separate signals.
Claims8
A fiber optic Y-coupler for optically connecting at least three fibers, comprising:
- a housing member having an optically opaque characteristic, said housing having a Y-shaped bore therein for receiving said fibers;
- a preformed one piece, non-viscous coupling member formed of an optically translucent material having three leg portions, an input leg portion and two output legs, disposed in said bore, each leg portion having an optical face for optical abutment of a fiber to be terminated with a viscous matching gel therebetween;
- and
- a cover member enclosing said housing member.
A fiber optic Y-coupler for optically connecting at least three fibers, comprising:
- a housing member having an optically opaque characteristic, said housing having a Y-shaped bore therein for receiving said fibers;
- a preformed one piece coupling member, formed of a solid optically translucent material having three leg portions, an input leg portion and two output legs, is disposed in said bore, each leg portion having an optical face for optical abutment of a fiber to be terminated;
- and
- a gap is formed between at least one of said optical face portions of said coupling member and a fiber to be terminated, wherein said gap a deposit of a semi-solid, optically translucent matching gel is placed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.