Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-19
2001-02-06
Palmer, Phan T. H. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Particular coupling structure
C385S065000, C385S083000, C385S130000, C385S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06185348
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to the field of routing optical signals and more specifically to an apparatus and method for manufacturing a multifiber interconnection circuit.
DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART
Multifiber interconnection circuits are widely known and used in the field of optical fibers. A commonly known flexible optical fiber interconnection circuit includes a configuration of optical fibers sandwiched between a pair of flexible plastic sheets, such as Kapton, or a printed circuit board (PCB). Typically, at opposing edges of the pair of sheets are the circuit's connection points for input and output. Generally, these circuits are connected at one end to another device for input, such as a laser array or another connector. The optical interconnection circuit reorganizes the light signals in a predetermined manner as it transports them across to the opposing end, typically connected to another connector or light transferring device. The input fibers and the output fibers can be either fusion spliced or mechanically spliced to the devices between which the interconnection circuit is to communicate. These interconnection circuits can take the shape of either a cross-connection circuit or a fan-out circuit.
In a typical cross-connection circuit, several separate groups of fibers are provided with input signals. Internal to the circuit, the groups of fibers can be separated and arranged to form new groupings, consisting of fibers from different input groups, to form output groups. This arrangement results in a reconfiguration of the fibers and, therefore, a reconfiguration of the light signal that was received by the interconnection circuit. The input groups can be made with ribbonized fibers or individual fibers. Ribbonized fibers are essentially groups of separate fibers bonded together with a matrix material, thus appearing as a single structure. Where ribbonized fibers are used to provide the input for the cross-connection circuit, the fibers are separated within the structure of the circuit, reconfigured, and re-ribbonized into output groups. When individual fibers are used in the input groups, the individual fibers are separated from their input groups within the structure of the circuit and arranged to form new groups of fibers for output. These output groups can be ribbonized using ribbon connectors or another method of bonding fibers together at the output groups.
In a simple fan-out interconnection circuit, one group of fibers provides an input signal into the circuit, generally, as received from another device. The fibers are arranged in the circuit such as to separate the group, therefore separating the signal and providing multiple outputs. Similar to the cross-connection circuit, the fan-out circuit can be made using ribbonized fibers or individual fibers for the input.
Traditionally, such interconnection circuits have been manufactured by dedicated machinery or by hand. Production by dedicated machinery requires high initial investment costs while hand production is difficult to duplicate in high volume. Both production processes are costly and require the use of highly skilled labor.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is an apparatus and method for assembling a multifiber interconnection circuit where the multifiber interconnection circuit includes at least one optical fiber disposed between a first cover member and a second cover member. Briefly described, in architecture, the apparatus essentially comprises a template, a receiving member, and a transfer member. The template has a first end and a second end and a means for engaging and routing an elongated member, such as an optical fiber, from the first end of the template to the second end of the template. The receiving member forms the first cover member of the interconnection circuit and is arranged and configured to receive the optical fiber engaged by the template. The transfer member includes a support surface configured to support the receiving member for reception of the optical fiber. The invention may also include an alignment guide to align and orient the template with the transfer member for accurate transfer of the optical fiber from the template to the receiving member.
The present invention can also be viewed as a method for assembling a multifiber interconnection circuit. The method essentially comprises the steps of providing at least one passage of a predetermined configuration in a template and arranging an elongated member, such as an optical fiber, in the passage. A receiving member is positioned on a transfer plate and the optical fiber can be transferred from the template to the receiving member by placing the template adjacent the transfer plate such that the receiving member and optical fiber are disposed therebetween.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5732173 (1998-03-01), Bylander et al.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Palmer Phan T. H.
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