Connector ferrule and method of sealing
AssigneePolymicro Technologies, LLC
InventorsJames P. Clarkin, John Shannon, Michael Swengler
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention includes a ferrule having a layer of material on an inner surface of a hole therein which is selected to be preferentially softenable relative to the bulk material of the ferrule. The ferrule according to the present invention can be fused to optical fibers, capillaries and the like while reducing deformation of the fused component and the ferrule.
Claims26
A ferrule having an interior wall defining a hole, at least a portion of the interior wall comprising a layer of material preferentially softenable relative to the remainder of the ferrule, wherein the ferrule and the layer of material preferentially softenable relative to the remainder of the ferrule are substantially similar materials.
A fiber Bragg grating device comprising:
- a ferrule having an interior wall defining a hole, at least a portion of the interior wall comprising a layer of material preferentially softenable relative to the remainder of the ferrule;
- and
- a fiber including a Bragg grating disposed within the hole of the ferrule and permanently fused to the ferrule by at least partially softening the layer.
A method of fusing an optical fiber into a ferrule having an interior wall defining a hole, at least a portion of the interior wall comprising a layer of material preferentially softenable relative to the remainder of the ferrule, comprising:
- disposing a portion of the optical fiber within the hole;
- heating the layer such that at least a portion of the layer softens and flows between the interior wall and the optical fiber;
- and
- allowing the softened portion to solidify to form a permanently fused region between the ferrule and the optical fiber.
A method of manufacture, comprising:
- providing a preform including an interior wall defining a hole;
- depositing a material preferentially softenable relative to the remainder of the preform onto at least a portion of the hole, wherein the preform and the layer of material preferentially softenable relative to the remainder of the preform are substantially similar materials;
- drawing the preform;
- and
- cutting the drawn preform to form a plurality of ferrules.
A method of manufacture, comprising:
- providing a tubular member including interior walls defining one or more holes;
- depositing a material preferentially softenable relative to the tubular member onto the interior walls by chemical vapor deposition;
- and
- cutting the tubular member to form a plurality of ferrules.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.