US Government as Represented by the Secretary of the Army

Gregory P Behrmann

Dale Smith

William S Potter

A mount for supporting a silicon v-groove array that contains delicate opal fibers. Optical fibers are arranged in a planar silicon v-groove array to form a focal plane array, which is connected to a first L-bracket. The focal plane array and the first L-bracket combination are attached to a second L-bracket via a shock/vibration isolation pad. The second L-bracket includes an extended cylinder which is threaded so that a strain relief can be screwed directly into the second L-bracket and the fibers extending out the first L-bracket can be fed through the second L-bracket and directly into a monocoil. The second L-bracket also includes space to attach front, side and top covers over the focal plane array. In a related method, the silicon v-groove array is epoxied to the first L-bracket. After preparation of the focal plane array, e.g. polishing of the fibers, is completed, the focal plane array/first bracket combination is connected to the second L-bracket, with the pad therebetween. The covers are then attached to the L-bracket.

Focal plane array mount for a fiber optic detector system and related

An optical fiber connector distribution assembly including a front piece, a an out area, and a back piece. A bundle of thin optical fibers from a focal plane array is connected to the assembly by a monocoil and a strain relief. A bottom half and a top half of the front piece include eight corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses, four on each side of a relatively larger central recess having a connection for the strain relief. When the top and bottom halves of the front piece are connected, each of the eight cylindrical portions formed by the corresponding semi-cylindrical recesses receives first and second halves of an optical fiber connector. Bottom and top halves of the back piece also similarly house first and second halves of connectors. Once inside the assembly, the fibers are split into groups in the fan out area. Each group then enters the first half of the connector where it is transformed into a linear array of fibers. The second half of the connector houses a corresponding linear array of larger diameter fibers. The assembly fixedly but removably holds the connectors in place by respective set screws. Shock and vibration isolation is achieved by placing the assembly on a shock/vibration isolation pad.

Growing community of inventors

Columbia, MD, United States of America

Gregory P Behrmann