US4779947A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical-fiber coupling device
Assignee: Toshiba Corp
•
Filing: 1984-12-24
•
Granted: 1988-10-25
•
Expires: 2004-12-24
Abstract
Abstract Disclosed is an optical fiber coupling device which comprises an optical fiber, a coupling member to which the optical fiber is coupled, a coupling means for coupling the optical fiber to the coupling member, and an optical-fiber fixing section for fixing a part of the optical fiber. The optical fiber is coupled only at its forward end to the coupling member. A part of the optical fiber is fixed at a position separated from the forward end of the optical fiber by a specified distance. Thus, the stress applied to the fixed section of the optical fiber is absorbed into a portion of the optical fiber located between the forward end of the optical fiber and the fixed section of the optical fiber fixed by the optical fiber fixing section and which covers the specified distance, thereby to prevent the stress from being applied to the forward end of the optical fiber.
Inventors
- 👤 Takao Ito
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:20
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2551; G02B6/26; G02B6/30; G02B6/32; G02B6/322; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4212
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
An optical-fiber coupling device comprising: a flexible optical fiber means, having one end and an other end, for transmitting a light received at the one end to the other end; an optical coupling member having one end and an other end to which said one end of said optical fiber means is mechanically coupled by means of an optical coupling means so that the light may be transmitted between the optical fiber means and the optical coupling member; an optical glass member for holding the other end of said optical coupling member for receiving at least the light transmitted through the optical coupling member; an optical-fiber fixing member for fixing a part of said flexible optical fiber means at a position separated from the one end of said flexible optical fiber means by a specified distance; and a supporting member, having one end fixed on said optical glass member, for supporting said optical-fiber fixing member so that an optical fiber portion of said optical fiber means located between the one end of said optical fiber means and a portion fixed by said optical-fiber fixing member and covering said specified distance is left flexible. claim 1, wherein said coupling means is a soldering glass.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means is an adhesive agent.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1 wherein said coupling means is a soldering glass.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
56 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a minute sleeve into which the one end of said optical fiber means is inserted and an adhesive agent for fixing the one end of said optical fiber means to said minute sleeve and for coupling said minute sleeve to said coupling member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means is a thermal fusion layer formed in the boundary surface between said forward end of said optical fiber means and said coupling member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a small hole formed in said coupling member and an adhesive agent for fixing said one end of said optical fiber means to said small hole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is a rod lens to which said optical fiber means is coupled at said one end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is a light transmission plate, which has an optical lens into which an optical information is introduced on the side opposite to that on which said optical fiber means is provided.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is a light transmission plate, which contains therein an optical lens mechanism into which an optical information is introduced.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
41 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is an optical semiconductor element, which has at least one of light-emitting and light receiving functions and to which said one end of said optical fiber means is coupled.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said coupling member is an optical waveguide to which said one end of said optical fiber means is coupled and which is used to transmit an optical information.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
81 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said optical-fiber fixing member includes a protective sleeve which covers said optical fiber means and thereby protects the same, an adhesive agent which adheres a portion of said optical fiber means covered by said protective sleeve to said protective sleeve, and a connecting sleeve which is connected to said protective sleeve and has a cross section greater than that of said protective sleeve, said connecting sleeve being fixed to said coupling member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
53 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 12, wherein said connecting sleeve includes a first portion fixed at its one end to said protective sleeve and a second portion which is fixed at its one end to the other end of said first portion and at its other end to said coupling member.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
62 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 12, wherein said optical fiber means includes an optical fiber element and an optical-fiber covering means for covering said optical fiber element, that portion of said optical fiber means which extends from a specified position within said protective sleeve to said one end of said optical fiber means being removed from said optical-fiber covering means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
20 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein said optical fiber means comprises a plurality of optical fiber elements.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
94 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, which further comprises: an atmosphere means which contacts a portion of said optical fiber means located between said one end of said optical fiber means and a fixed section of said optical fiber means fixed by said optical-fiber fixing member and covering said specified distance, whereby said atmosphere means and said portion of said optical fiber means absorb a stress applied to said fixed section of said optical fiber means, thereby to prevent said stress from acting on said one end of said optical fiber means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
15 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 16, wherein said atmosphere means is a gas.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
13 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 17, wherein said gas is air.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 16, wherein said atmosphere means is fluid.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
74 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member has a temperature expansion coefficient having a value such that a temperature expansion of said supporting member is nearly equal to the sum of the expansions of the optical fiber means and the optical coupling member, whereby a stress applied to said part of said flexible optical fiber means is prevented from acting on said one end of said optical fiber means.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
169 words
An optical-fiber coupling device comprising: a flexible optical fiber means, having one end and an other end, for transmitting a light received at the one end to the other end; a base plate having an upper surface; an optical wavegude, formed on the upper surface of said base plate, for transmitting at least a light having a specified wavelength; means for optically and mechanically coupling the one end of said optical fiber means to one end surface of said optical waveguide; an optical-fiber fixing member for fixing a part of said flexible optical fiber means at a position separated from the one end of said flexible optical fiber means by a specified distance; and a supporting member, having one end fixed on said base plate, for supporting said optical-fiber fixing member so that an optical fiber portion of said optical fiber means located between the one end of said optical fiber means and a portion fixed by said optical-fiber fixing member and covering said specified distance is left flexible.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
169 words
An optical-fiber coupling device comprising: a flexible optical fiber means, having one end and an other end, for transmitting a light received at the one end to the other end; a base plate having an upper surface; an optical wavegude, formed on the upper surface of said base plate, for transmitting at least a light having a specified wavelength; means for optically and mechanically coupling the one end of said optical fiber means to one end surface of said optical waveguide; an optical-fiber fixing member for fixing a part of said flexible optical fiber means at a position separated from the one end of said flexible optical fiber means by a specified distance; and a supporting member, having one end fixed on said base plate, for supporting said optical-fiber fixing member so that an optical fiber portion of said optical fiber means located between the one end of said optical fiber means and a portion fixed by said optical-fiber fixing member and covering said specified distance is left flexible.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
65 words
The optical-fiber coupling device according to claim 21, wherein the supporting member has a temperature expansion coefficient having a value such that a temperature expansion of said supporting member is nearly equal to that of the optical fiber means, whereby a stress applied to said part of said flexible optical fiber means is prevented from acting on said one end of the optical fiber means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3966299A
Cited
US4015894A
Cited
JPS5355134A
Cited
US4281891A
Cited
JPS5515184A
Cited
GB2026194A
Cited
JPS5683084A
Cited
JPS5683710A
Cited
US4296998A
Cited
JPS56147111A
Cited
GB2075709A
Cited
US4440470A
Cited
US4433898A
Cited
US4591711A
Cited
US4509827A
Cited
JPS59192219A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-25 | 1992-04-25 | 1992-10-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-25 | 1996-04-25 | 1996-10-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-25 | 2000-04-25 | 2000-10-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |