Hermetic fiber ferrule and feedthrough
AssigneeJDS Uniphase Corporation
InventorsAbdul Jaleel K. Moidu, William Thomas Moore
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides a hermetic fiber-optic seal, such as in an optical fiber ferrule or feedthrough, having an optical fiber, a glass solder for encasing at least a portion of the optical fiber, a first glass sleeve for encasing at least a first portion of the glass solder, a second glass sleeve for encasing at least a second portion of the glass solder, and an outer sleeve for encasing at least a portion of the first glass sleeve and the second glass sleeve. A gap filled with glass solder may be provided between the first glass sleeve and the second glass sleeve. The hermetic fiber-optic seal is made by an extrusion process.
Claims12
A hermetic fiber-optic seal comprising:
- an optical fiber;
- a glass solder for encasing at least a portion of the optical fiber;
- a first glass sleeve for encasing at least a first portion of the glass solder;
- a second glass sleeve for encasing at least a second portion of the glass solder, the first glass sleeve and the second glass sleeve being serially disposed about the optical fiber;
- and
- an outer sleeve for encasing at least a portion of the first glass sleeve and the second glass sleeve.
A method of hermetically sealing at least a portion of an optical fiber comprising the steps of:
- providing a length of optical fiber;
- providing a first glass sleeve having a first bore therethrough;
- providing a second glass sleeve having a second bore therethrough;
- providing a glass solder pre-form having a third bore therethrough, said glass solder pre-from being disposed between the first glass sleeve and the second glass sleeve such that the first bore, the second bore, and the third bore are substantially aligned;
- providing an outer sleeve for encasing the glass solder pre-form and at least a portion of the first glass sleeve and the second glass sleeve;
- inserting said length of optical fiber through the substantially aligned first, second, and third bore;
- providing a pre-load to the first glass sleeve, the second glass sleeve, and the glass solder pre-form;
- and
- heating at least a portion of said outer sleeve for extruding the glass solder pre-form between the optical fiber and said first and second glass sleeve.
A method of making a hermetic fiber-optic ferrule comprising the steps of:
- providing a length of optical fiber;
- providing a first glass sleeve having a first bore therethrough;
- providing a glass solder pre-form having a second bore therethrough, the glass solder pre-form and the first glass sleeve being serially disposed such that the first bore and the second bore are substantially aligned;
- providing an outer sleeve for encasing the glass solder pre-form and at least a portion of the first glass sleeve;
- inserting said length of optical fiber through the substantially aligned first and second bore;
- providing a pre-load to the first glass sleeve and the glass solder pre-form;
- and
- heating at least a portion of said outer sleeve for extruding the glass solder pre-form between the optical fiber and the first glass sleeve.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.