Optical fiber ferrule
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsRobert G. Frey, Timothy D. Fletcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A ceramic optical fiber ferrule is constructed from CaTiO.sub.3 (calcium titanate) or CeO.sub.2 --ZrO.sub.2 (ceria-zirconia). The ferrule is PC-radiused and thus includes a first, convex end having a predetermined radius of curvature, a second end, and an axial bore which joins the first and second ends. An optical fiber can be fixedly positioned within the bore and a terminal end of the optical fiber can be created by standard polishing or grinding techniques which is coplanar with the first, convex end of the ferrule.
Claims29
An optical fiber ferrule comprising a ceramic body of CaTiO.sub.3, said body comprising:
- a) a first, convex end having a predetermined radius of curvature;
- b) a second end;
- and
- c) a bore through said body which joins said first and second ends.
An optical fiber connector, comprising:
- a) a ferrule comprising a ceramic body of CaTiO.sub.3, said body comprising:
- 1) a first, convex end with a predetermined radius of curvature,
- 2) a second end, and
- 3) a bore through said body which joins said first and second ends;
- b) a housing having a first end and a second end, said ferrule being contained within said housing such that said first end of said ferrule is extendible from said first end of said housing;
- and
- c) an optical fiber extending through said second end of said housing and through said second end of said ferrule, said optical fiber being fixedly positioned within said bore of said ferrule and having a terminal end proximate said first end of said ferrule.
A method of terminating an optical fiber in a ferrule, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a ferrule comprising a ceramic body of CaTiO.sub.3, said body having a first, convex end with a predetermined radius of curvature, a second end, and a bore which joins said first and second ends;
- b) inserting an optical fiber through said second end of said ferrule and into said bore so that a terminal portion of said optical fiber protrudes from said first end of said ferrule;
- c) cleaving said terminal portion such that a grindable or polishable part of said optical fiber remains extending from said first end of said ferrule;
- and
- d) grinding or polishing said grindable or polishable part of said optical fiber to form a terminal end which is substantially coplanar with said first end of said ferrule.
An optical fiber ferrule comprising a ceramic body of CeO.sub.2 --ZrO.sub.2, said body comprising:
- a) a first, convex end having a predetermined radius of curvature;
- b) a second end;
- and
- c) a bore through said body which joins said first and second ends.
An optical fiber connector, comprising:
- a) a ferrule comprising a ceramic body of CeO.sub.2 --ZrO.sub.2, said body comprising:
- 1) a first, convex end with a predetermined radius of curvature,
- 2) a second end, and
- 3) a bore through said body which joins said first and second ends;
- b) a housing having a first end and a second end, said ferrule being contained within said housing such that said first end of said ferrule is extendible from said first end of said housing;
- and
- c) an optical fiber extending through said second end of said housing and through said second end of said ferrule, said optical fiber being fixedly positioned within said bore of said ferrule and having a terminal end proximate said first end of said ferrule.
A method of terminating an optical fiber in a ferrule, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a ferrule comprising a ceramic body of CeO.sub.2 --ZrO.sub.2, said body comprising a first, convex end with a predetermined radius of curvature, a second end, and a bore which joins said first and second ends;
- b) inserting an optical fiber through said second end of said ferrule and into said bore so that a terminal portion of said optical fiber protrudes from said first end of said ferrule;
- c) cleaving said terminal portion such that a grindable or polishable part of said optical fiber remains extending from said first end of said ferrule;
- and
- d) grinding or polishing said grindable or polishable part of said optical fiber to form a terminal end which is substantially coplanar with said first end of said ferrule.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.