Optical waveguides – Accessories – External retainer/clamp
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-17
2001-04-10
Bovernick, Rodney (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
Accessories
External retainer/clamp
C385S134000, C385S135000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06215942
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to improvements to the field of optical components, and more particularly to aspects of systems and methods for holding optical components in position in a device.
TECHNICAL BACKGROUND
There are currently being manufactured and developed a number of devices and systems for use in fiber-optic networks. These devices and systems include optical amplifiers that provide direct amplification of fiber-optic signals without the need to convert the light signal into an electrical signal. These fiber-optic devices and systems typically include a number of optical components having fiber leads that must be spliced together. The optical fiber leads are easily damaged. Structures have been developed for mounting the optical components into the fiber-optic devices and for stowing the spliced leads out of harm's way.
One disadvantage of currently used optical component mounting structures is that they require a relatively large amount of space within the fiber-optic device. This is increasingly problematic as the trend in fiber-optic devices is towards smaller packages. Thus there is a need for a system for mounting optical components within a fiber-optic device that protects the optical components while efficiently using the space available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This and other disadvantages of the prior art are addressed by the present invention. A first embodiment of the invention provides a box for holding optical components, including, a base having surface for receiving multiple optical components, the base being attachable into a fiber-optic device. A clamping bar is attached to the base over the optical components, such that the optical components are held in place by friction between the clamping bar and the base, with optical fiber leads from the optical components extending outside of opposite ends of the box for splicing. A further embodiment of the invention provides a method for holding optical components in a fiber-optic device. The method includes the steps of laying down optical components onto a base having a surface for receiving the optical components and attaching a clamping bar over the layer of optical components, such that the optical components are held in place by friction between the clamping bar and the base, with optical fiber leads from the optical components extending beyond opposite ends of the base for splicing.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the invention as described in the written description and claims hereof, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are merely exemplary of the invention, and are intended to provide an overview or framework to understanding the nature and character of the invention as it is claimed.
The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate one or more embodiment(s) of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5438641 (1995-08-01), Malacarne
patent: 5509099 (1996-04-01), Hermsen et al.
patent: 5572617 (1996-11-01), Bernhardt et al.
patent: 5668909 (1997-09-01), Mozzati
patent: 5787219 (1998-07-01), Mueller et al.
patent: 5835658 (1998-11-01), Smith
DeMeritt Jeffery A.
Kubissa Cynthia A.
Wetherill Todd M.
Bovernick Rodney
Corning Incorporated
Kim Ellen E.
Smith Eric M.
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