Method for bonding a fiber to a sleeve for fiber optic packaging applications

A method of hermetically sealing in connection with a fiber and a sleeve wherein said fiber extends through said sleeve, and wherein said fiber has a tip extending outward from a nonplanar end of said sleeve, said nonplanar end comprising a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, comprising the steps of:

• disposing a hermetic sealing member adjacent said nonplanar end of said sleeve wherein said fiber tip extends outward from said hermetic sealing member, wherein said hermetic sealing member comprises a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, wherein said sealing member is preformed to comprise a preformed end having a shape which is an entire inverse profile of said nonplanar end, and wherein said disposing step comprises disposing said preformed end to fully mate with and be in abutment with said nonplanar end;
• heating said hermetic sealing member to a first temperature sufficient to cause said second material to flow adjacent said nonplanar end of said sleeve;
• and
• cooling said hermetic sealing member to a second temperature less than said first temperature, wherein a compressive force is generated between said first and second materials due to the differences in said first and second coefficients of thermal expansion, said compressive force forming a hermetic seal between said first and second materials.

A method of bonding a sealing member to a fiber and a sleeve wherein said fiber extends through said sleeve, and wherein said fiber has a tip extending outward from a nonplanar end of said sleeve, said nonplanar end comprising a first material comprises alumina and has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, comprising the steps of:

• disposing said sealing member adjacent said nonplanar end of said sleeve wherein said fiber tip extends outward from said sealing member, wherein said sealing member comprises a second material comprising glass and having a second coefficient of thermal expansion;
• heating said sealing mender to a first temperature sufficient to cause said second material to flow adjacent said nonplanar end of said sleeve;
• and
• cooling said sealing member to a second temperature less than said first temperature, wherein a compressire force is generated between said first and second materials due to the differences in said first and second coefficients of thermal expansion, said compressire force forming a seal between said first and second materials and a bond between said sealing member, said fiber, and said sleeve.

A method of bonding a sealing member to a fiber and a sleeve wherein said fiber extends through said sleeve, and wherein said fiber has a tip extending outward from a nonplanar end of said sleeve, said nonplanar end comprising a first material comprises nickel and iron and has a first coefficient of thermal expansion, comprising the steps of:

• disposing said sealing member adjacent said nonplanar end of said sleeve wherein said fiber tip extends outward from said sealing member, wherein said sealing member comprises a second material comprising glass and having a second coefficient of thermal expansion;
• heating said sealing member to a first temperature sufficient to cause said second material to flow adjacent said nonplanar end of said sleeve;
• and
• cooling said sealing member to a second temperature less than said first temperature, wherein a compressive force is generated between said first and second materials due to the differences in said first and second coefficients of thermal expansion, said compressive force forming a seal between said first and second materials and a bond between said sealing member, said fiber, and said sleeve.

A method of bonding a sealing member to a fiber and a sleeve wherein said fiber extends through said sleeve, and wherein said fiber has a tip extending outward from a nonplanar end of said sleeve, said nonplanar end comprising a first material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion, comprising the steps of:

• disposing said sealing member adjacent said nonplanar end of said sleeve wherein said fiber tip extends outward from said sealing member, wherein said sealing member comprises a second material having a second coefficient of thermal expansion;
• heating said sealing member to a first temperature sufficient to cause said second material to flow adjacent said nonplanar end of said sleeve;
• and
• cooling said sealing member to a second temperature less than said first temperature, wherein a compressire force is generated between said first and second materials due to the differences in said first and second coefficients of thermal expansion, said compressive force forming a seal between said first and second materials;
• and
• wherein said nonplanar end of said sleeve comprises an outward protrusion from said sleeve and wherein said second material contracts at a faster rate than said first material during said cooling step and a bond between said sealing member, said fiber, and said sleeve.