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. 26, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 24, 1999
Frederick J. Gillham, Westborough, MA (US);
Thomas R. Ouellette, Milford, MA (US);
David W. Stowe, Milford, MA (US);
Thomas & Betts International, Inc., Sparks, NV (US);
Abstract
An optical assembly has a miniature fiber optic bend fixedly attached to a substrate to form an integral assembly with an optical component also fixedly attached to the substrate. The assembly includes at least one optical fiber having an entering fiber portion and a return fiber portion. A miniature bend is formed in an intermediate portion that comprises an optical fiber portion between the entering fiber portion and the return fiber portion to provide a reversal of direction between the entering fiber portion and the return fiber portion. The entering fiber portion and the return fiber portion are preferably fixed in overlying relationship within a channel formed in the substrate. The resulting device is smaller, more environmentally stable, and more robust, because there is no relative motion between components. The resulting device also has fewer parts and processing steps to manufacture.