The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 31, 1992
Filed:
Jan. 31, 1991
Mark B Cholewa, Mt. Penn Township, Berks County, PA (US);
Lee H Fisher, North Catasauqua, PA (US);
Lawrence A Greenberg, Allentown, PA (US);
AT&T Bell Laboratories, Murray Hill, NJ (US);
Abstract
A method is disclosed for processing an optical fiber to include an integral lens and a metallized outer coating. The fiber is first etched to include a tapered transition region and a thinned end region. The etched fiber is subsequently metallized and covered with a protective coating. A wet chemical etching technique is used to form an integral lens over the endface of the fiber. The protective coating is then stripped and any free metal is removed. The method allows for the fiber metallization to be in relative close proximity to the lens such that the fiber may be soldered into place near its endface, limiting any subsequent movement of the fiber relative to the aligned optical device.