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US 6,546,752 B2Granted
Method of making optical coupling device
AssigneeFiberstars, Inc.
InventorsJuris Sulcs, John M. Davenport, Roger F. Buelow, II
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method of making an optical device comprises the steps of providing a body of vitreous material that is generally tubular along an axis. A portion of the body is molded with external mold structure for forming a bulbous portion when the interior of the tube is pressurized. An axial portion is cut from the bulbous portion to form a first coupling device with first and second axially oriented openings. This method can produce optical coupling devices with excellent optical quality in an economical manner.
Claims23
A method of making an optical coupling device, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a body of vitreous material that is generally tubular along an axis;
- b) molding a portion of the body by placing external mold structure around an axial portion of the body, sealing one axial end of the portion with a plug, and pumping gas into another axial end of the portion so as to force the exterior surface of the portion to conform to an inner shape of the mold structure, for forming a bulbous portion;
- and
- c) cutting an axial portion from the bulbous portion to form a first optical coupling device with first and second axially oriented edges respectively defining first and second openings that are continuously hollow from the first opening to the second opening;
- d) after providing a body of vitreous material and prior to the step of molding a portion of the body, gathering material along an axial portion of the body, which axial portion is substantially shorter than the bulbous portion, for forming at least one ridge extending outwardly;
- and
- e) the step of molding a portion of the body includes forming the-at least one ridge.
4 more elements
A method of making an optical coupling device, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a body of vitreous material that is generally tubular along an axis;
- b) molding a portion of the body by placing external mold structure around an axial portion of the body, sealing one axial end of the portion with a plug, and pumping gas into another axial end of the portion so as to force the exterior surface of the portion to conform to an inner shape of the mold structure, for forming a bulbous portion;
- c) cutting an axial portion from the bulbous portion to form a first optical coupling device with first and second axially oriented, substantially planar edges respectively defining first and second openings that are continuously hollow from the first opening to the second opening;
- and
- d) recessing the first edge in the direction of the second edge to form a recessed edge region for receiving a respective portion of a lamp such that the lamp can be positioned closer to the second edge than in the absence of such recessing.
2 more elements
A method of making an optical device, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a body of vitreous material that is generally tubular along an axis;
- b) molding a portion of the body with external mold structure for forming a bulbous portion with a substantially enlarged mid-portion relative to axial end portions when the interior of the tube is pressurized;
- and
- c) thereafter cutting an axial portion from the bulbous portion to form a first optical coupling device with first and second axially oriented edges respectively defining first and second openings that is are continuously hollow from the first opening to the second opening;
- such cutting including cutting at a position proximate the axial center of the mid-portion and at a position closer to an axial end portion;
- d) after providing a body of vitreous material and prior to the step of molding a portion of the body, gathering material along an axial portion of the body, which axial portion is substantially shorter than the bulbous portion, for forming at least one ridge extending outwardly;
- and
- e) the step of molding a portion of the body includes forming the at least one ridge.
5 more elements
A method of making an optical device, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing a body of vitreous material that is generally tubular along an axis;
- b) molding a portion of the body with external mold structure for forming a bulbous portion with a substantially enlarged mid-portion relative to axial end portions when the interior of the tube is pressurized;
- c) thereafter cutting an axial portion from the bulbous portion to form a first optical coupling device with first and second axially oriented edges respectively defining first and second openings that are continuously hollow from the first opening to the second opening;
- such cutting including cutting at a position proximate the axial center of the mid-portion and at a position closer to an axial end portion;
- and
- d) forming at least one recess in a first opening of the optical coupling device body extending toward the second opening and being for receiving a respective portion of a lamp.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.