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. 20, 2001
Filed:
Mar. 15, 1999
Sumio Seo, Asheville, NC (US);
James Yanik, Asheville, NC (US);
John T. Lambert, Swannanoa, NC (US);
Superior Modular Products Incorporated, Swannanoa, NC (US);
Abstract
A splice module for use in fiber optic cable alignment and splicing devices is disclosed, having a multi-piece v-groove module and, in one embodiment, a separately disposable electrode module such that in use only the electrode module needs to be replaced after each fiber optic cable splicing operation. The v-groove module comprises three pieces of nonconductive ceramic material held together with an adhesive. The three pieces provide for a precision v-groove for fiber optic cable alignment during mechanical splicing or fusion splicing. The electrode module includes a nonconductive ceramic with plated electrode circuit and an adhesive for mounting in the v-groove module. The electrode module provides the arc for fusing fiber optic cable and is designed to be user replaceable and inexpensive. Also disclosed is a tool and method for the easy user replacement of the electrode module of the present invention. In addition, the v-groove module may be used for the mechanical alignment of fibers as the basis for a permanent splice.