Ferrule with encapsulated protruding fibers

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9091818-B2
Application number	US-201113326852-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 15, 2011
Priority date	Dec 15, 2011
Publication date	Jul 28, 2015
Grant date	Jul 28, 2015

Abstract

A process for preparing terminated fibers comprising: (a) deposition one or more fibers in a ferrule having a ferrule end face such that a portion of each fiber extends forward beyond the ferrule end face; (b) after step (a), positioning a register surface in a predetermined position relative to the ferrule end face; (c) after step (b), depositing an optically-clear filler between the end face and the register surface and around the portion of each fiber; and (d) once the filler solidifies, releasing the register surface form the filler to define a mating surface on the filler.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A process for preparing terminated fibers comprising:
(a) depositing one or more fibers in a ferrule having a ferrule end face such that a portion of each fiber extends forward beyond said ferrule end face;
(b) after step (a), positioning a register surface in a predetermined position relative to said ferrule end face;
(c) after step (a), depositing an optically-clear filler between said end face and a register surface and around said portion of each fiber; and
(d) once said filler solidifies, releasing said register surface form said filler to define a mating surface on said filler.

2. The process of claim 1 , wherein said register surface used in step (b) is the same register surface used in step (c).

3. The process of claim 1 , wherein said register surface used in step (b) is a first register surface and said register surface used is step (c) is a second register surface different from said first register surface.

4. The process of claim 1 , wherein step (a) comprises cleaving said portion of each fiber, thereby forming cleaved fiber end faces.

5. The process of claim 4 , wherein said cleaving is laser cleaving.

6. The process of claim 1 , wherein step (b) comprises registering said fiber end faces by moving said register surface backward, thereby pushing said fibers backward until one or more of said fiber end faces abut said register surface and until said register surface is in said predetermined position relative to said ferrule end face.

7. The process of claim 6 , wherein said ferrule has at least one first alignment member and said register surface is part of a tool which also comprises a second alignment member, and, in step (b), positioning said register surface comprises interengaging said second alignment member of a tool with said first alignment member such that a register surface of said tool is aligned with said ferrule.

8. The process of claim 7 , wherein said ferrule is an MT-type ferrule.

9. The process of claim 7 , wherein one of said first or second alignment members is an alignment pin and the other is an alignment hole for receiving said alignment pin.

10. The process of claim 9 , wherein said first alignment member is an alignment hole and said second alignment member is an alignment pin.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein said ferrule is a multifiber ferrule.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein said register surface is planar.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein said register surface is non-planar.

14. The process of claim 1 , wherein said register surface is at least one of curved, V-shaped, stepped, ellipsoid, intersecting ridges, square stepped pyramid, cylindrical, conical, elongated stepped concentric columns, and curved ridge.

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein said ferrule end face is not polished.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein, said optically-clear filler is a UV-curable adhesive.

17. The process of claim 1 , wherein step (b) is performed before step (c).

Assignees

• Kadar-Kallen Michael Aaron
• Tyco Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Kadar-Kallen Michael Aaron

Classifications

• G02B6/382

  with index-matching medium between light guides (provisionally see G02B6/4212) · CPC title

• G02B6/3861

  Adhesive bonding (adhesives in general C09J) · CPC title

• G02B6/325 Primary

  comprising a transparent member, e.g. window, protective plate · CPC title