Compact package for high-aspect-ratio rectangular (HARR) optical fiber or other optical fiber

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11280973-B2
Application number	US-202016889392-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 1, 2020
Priority date	Jun 1, 2020
Publication date	Mar 22, 2022
Grant date	Mar 22, 2022

Abstract

An apparatus includes a base having walls that define a track. The track has input and output ends and defines a coiled path that spirals inward from the input end, reaches an inflection point where a direction of curvature is reversed, and spirals outward towards the output end. The track is configured to receive and maintain a majority of an optical fiber in an at least substantially planar coiled arrangement. The apparatus also includes a first transition arm positioned at the input end and a second transition arm positioned at the output end. Each transition arm is configured to be mechanically coupled to the base and includes a groove configured to receive and maintain a portion of the optical fiber in an at least substantially straight orientation. The walls and transition arms are configured to maintain thermal contact with the optical fiber along its entire length.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a base comprising walls that define a track, the track having an input end and an output end, the track defining a coiled path that spirals inward from the input end of the track, reaches an inflection point where a direction of curvature is reversed, and spirals outward in a reverse direction to the output end of the track, the track configured to receive a majority of an optical fiber and to maintain the majority of the optical fiber in an at least substantially planar coiled arrangement; and
a first transition arm positioned at the input end of the track and a second transition arm positioned at the output end of the track, each transition arm configured to be mechanically coupled to the base, each transition arm comprising a groove configured to receive a portion of the optical fiber and to maintain the portion of the optical fiber in an at least substantially straight orientation;
wherein the walls and the transition arms are configured to maintain thermal contact with the optical fiber along an entire length of the optical fiber.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more thermally-conductive spacers positioned within the track, the one or more thermally-conductive spacers configured to push the optical fiber into the walls of the base and to transfer thermal energy from the optical fiber to the walls of the base.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first mode stripper configured to contact the portion of the optical fiber in the first transition arm; and
a second mode stripper configured to contact the portion of the optical fiber in the second transition arm;
wherein each mode stripper is configured to remove optical energy propagating through an outer cladding of the optical fiber.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first clamp configured to receive and hold an input end of the optical fiber; and
a second clamp configured to receive and hold an output end of the optical fiber.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising:
one or more thermally-conductive spacers positioned within the groove of each transition arm and configured to push the optical fiber into at least one of a mode stripper and a clamp.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each transition arm is partially recessed within the base so that the portions of the optical fiber in the transition arms are at least substantially planar with the majority of the optical fiber in the track.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each transition arm is mechanically coupled to an enlarged portion of one of the walls using spring-loaded connectors, the enlarged portion of the wall having slots that are elongated in a direction parallel to a length of the transition arm in order to allow translation of the transition arm along part of the enlarged portion of the wall.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the walls of the base comprise second grooves configured to receive the optical fiber.

9. A system comprising:
an optical fiber; and
a package configured to receive the optical fiber, the package comprising:
a base comprising walls that define a track, the track having an input end and an output end, the track defining a coiled path that spirals inward from the input end of the track, reaches an inflection point where a direction of curvature is reversed, and spirals outward in a reverse direction to the output end of the track, the track configured to receive a majority of the optical fiber and to maintain the majority of the optical fiber in an at least substantially planar coiled arrangement; and
a first transition arm positioned at the input end of the track and a second transition arm positioned at the output end of the track, each transition arm configured to be mechanically coupled to the base, each transition arm comprising a groove configured to receive a portion of the optical fiber and to maintain the portion of the optical fiber in an at least substantially straight orientation;

wherein the walls and the transition arms are configured to maintain thermal contact with the optical fiber along an entire length of the optical fiber.

10. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the package further comprises one or more thermally-conductive spacers positioned within the track; and
the one or more thermally-conductive spacers are configured to push the optical fiber into the walls of the base and to transfer thermal energy from the optical fiber to the walls of the base.

11. The system of claim 9 , wherein the package further comprises:
a first mode stripper configured to contact the portion of the optical fiber in the first transition arm; and
a second mode stripper configured to contact the portion of the optical fiber in the second transition arm; and
wherein each mode stripper is configured to remove optical energy propagating through an outer cladding of the optical fiber.

12. The system of claim 9 , wherein the package further comprises:
a first clamp configured to receive and hold an input end of the optical fiber; and
a second clamp configured to receive and hold an output end of the optical fiber.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the optical fiber comprises an outer cladding;
the input end of the optical fiber held by the first clamp lacks the outer cladding and is attached to a first endcap; and
the output end of the optical fiber held by the second clamp lacks the outer cladding and is attached to a second endcap.

14. The system of claim 9 , wherein the package further comprises one or more thermally-conductive spacers positioned within the groove of each transition arm and configured to push the optical fiber into at least one of a mode stripper and a clamp.

15. The system of claim 9 , wherein each transition arm is partially recessed within the base so that the portions of the optical fiber in the transition arms are at least substantially planar with the majority of the optical fiber in the track.

16. The system of claim 9 , wherein each transition arm is mechanically coupled to an enlarged portion of one of the walls using spring-loaded connectors, the enlarged portion of the wall having slots that are elongated in a direction parallel to a length of the transition arm in order to allow translation of the transition arm along part of the enlarged portion of the wall.

17. The system of claim 9 , wherein the walls of the base comprise second grooves configured to receive the optical fiber.

18. The system of claim 9 , wherein:
the optical fiber comprises a core having a larger dimension and a smaller dimension;
the optical fiber is bent about an axis parallel to its larger dimension to coil the optical fiber in the package; and
the package is configured to minimize bending of the optical fiber about an axis parallel to its smaller dimension.

19. A method comprising:
obtaining a base comprising walls that define a track, the track having an input end and an output end, the track defining a coiled path that spirals inward from the input end of the track, reaches an inflection point where a direction of curvature is reversed, and spirals outward in a reverse direction to the output end of the track;
positioning a first transition arm at the input end of the track and a second transition arm at the output end of the track, each transition arm mechanically coupled to the base;
inserting a majority of an optical fiber into the track, the track maintaining the majority of the optical fiber in an at least substantially planar

Assignees

• Raytheon Co

Inventors

• Rockwell David A
• Strohkendl Friedrich P
• Mcvey Ray

Classifications

• G02B6/44528

  Patch-cords; Connector arrangements in the system or in the box (routing arrangements H04Q1/00) · CPC title

• G02B6/4441 Primary

  Boxes · CPC title

• G02B6/4477

  with means for strain-relieving to interior strengths element · CPC title

• G02B6/3608 Primary

  Fibre wiring boards, i.e. where fibres are embedded or attached in a pattern on or to a substrate, e.g. flexible sheets (optical ribbon cables in support members G02B6/4401) · CPC title

• G02B6/3838

  using grooves for light guides · CPC title