Connection between a light guide and a light receiver

Details Connection between a light guide and a light receiver Connection between a light guide and a light receiver

1999-09-28

2001-05-15

Sikder, Mohammad (Department: 2874)

Optical waveguides

With disengagable mechanical connector

Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector

C385S089000, C385S090000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06231245

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to optical receivers. More particularly, this invention pertains to an interconnection between an optical waveguide and an optical receiver.
2. Description of Prior Art
Optical receivers, such as those employed in fiber optic systems, are generally encapsulated within cylindrical metal casings. The light-sensitive converter face is located at the smallest possible distance behind a glass window in the top of the metal casing. In the simplest case, the end of the optical waveguide is fitted in a butt-jointed fashion onto the window face of the detector casing and bonded thereto. In more complex structures, provision is made to guide the optical waveguide into the interior of the detector casing. The bushing of the casing must be sealed by a technically-relatively difficult bonding or soldering technique.
FIG. 2
is a side sectional view of such an optical waveguide connection in accordance with the prior art. A planar, light-sensitive converter
4
is located behind a translucent window
5
in an encapsulation
1
having electrical terminals
2
and
3
. The end of the optical waveguide
6
is attached in front of the window
5
by means of a bonding agent
7
.
In many fiber optic systems, the light radiation guided in optical waveguides must be fed to the optoelectric converter with as little loss as possible to permit evaluation of information coded onto the light. In such cases, a stable connection must be provided between the optical waveguide and the receiver. The coupling between the optical waveguide and the receiver (i.e. the converter) should not change (or change as little as possible) in response to varying environmental influences.
Simple bonding of the optical waveguide
6
to the glass window
5
of the detector encapsulation
1
(as explained with reference to
FIG. 2
) experiences inadequate stability. When the flexible optical waveguide
6
is bent, the connection is easily damaged. Alignment of light emerging from the optical waveguide accompanied by bending can change in such a way that part of the light intensity no longer strikes the light-sensitive surface of the converter
4
. On the other hand, an embodiment with a casing bushing requires a special component structure comprising converter and casing. In many cases, standard detectors cannot be used in cylindrical casings with a glass window.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a mechanically secure and electrically stable connection between an optical waveguide and an optoelectric converter.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a connection that can be implemented cost-effectively with commercially available parts.
The invention addresses the preceding and other objects by providing an improvement in a connection between an optical waveguide and an optical receiver. The receiver is of the type that includes an encapsulated light-sensitive converter located behind a translucent window. One end of the optical waveguide is secured in front of and permanently connected to the window of the encapsulation. The improvement includes an encapsulation-end end element of the waveguide. Such element is introduced into a capillary-like collar that is secured to a surface of the window. The end element is bonded within the collar. The collar is surrounded by an anti-kink protective sleeve that overlaps a window-end edge of the encapsulation. The interior of the protective sleeve is filled with a sealing compound in the region of the optical waveguide connection that is surrounded by the collar.
The preceding and other features and advantages of the invention will become further apparent from the detailed description that follows. Such description is accompanied by a set of drawing figures. Numerals of the drawing figures correspond to those of the written description with like numerals referring to like features throughout.


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