Optical fiber array assembly with preform for supporting fibers
AssigneeCorning Incorporated
InventorTheresa A. Winer
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A preform having an array of axially extending holes is reduced in diameter for adjusting a spacing between the holes as well as the hole diameters to desired dimensions. Sections of the reduced preform having the desired dimensions are removed for supporting arrays of optical fibers in predetermined patterns. Tips of the fibers are mounted flush with a mounting surface of one of the preform sections, and the preform section is mounted together with a common support for an array of optical conveyances arranged in the same pattern for collectively coupling the array of fibers to the array of optical conveyances. Various active and passive optical components including VCSELs, MEMS, and even other fiber arrays can be among the optical conveyances collectively coupled to the fiber array.
Claims51
A method of coupling an array of optical fibers to an array of optical conveyances comprising steps of:
- arranging a preform having an axis and an array of axially extending holes;
- collapsing the preform about its axis for reducing a spacing pattern of the holes;
- removing a transverse section from the collapsed preform containing a spacing pattern of the holes matching a spacing pattern of the optical conveyances within the array of optical conveyances;
- assembling the optical fibers within the holes into the array of optical fibers;
- and
- mounting the transverse section of the collapsed preform along with the assembled fibers together with a common support of the array of optical conveyances for collectively aligning the array of fibers to the array of optical conveyances.
A method of arranging optical fibers in a desired array format comprising steps of:
- fabricating a preform having an axis and axially extending holes arranged in a predetermined pattern;
- preparing the preform to a malleable state;
- applying a cross-sectional reducing force that reduces a scale of the predetermined pattern of holes in the preform;
- removing a transverse section from the reduced preform at which the predetermined pattern is reduced in scale;
- and
- mounting the optical fibers in the axially extending holes to arrange the fibers in the desired array format.
A coupling system for coupling an array of optical fibers to an array of optical conveyances comprising:
- a transverse section of a collapsed preform having an array of holes containing tips of an array of optical fibers, in which the collapsed preform is formed from a cylindrical preform that is reduced in diameter by a cross-sectional reducing force to a diameter at which the array of holes is scaled to match a spacing pattern of the array of optical conveyances;
- the tips of the array of optical fibers exposed in a coupling surface of the transverse section;
- a common support of an array of optical conveyances having a coupling surface through which the array of optical conveyances is exposed;
- and
- the transverse section being joined to the common support to collectively couple the array of optical fibers to the array of optical conveyances.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.