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:
May. 21, 2002
Filed:
Aug. 03, 2000
Jon W. Engelberth, Denville, NJ (US);
John David Weld, Ledgewood, NJ (US);
Other;
Abstract
In accordance with the invention, an optical fiber array comprises a substrate providing a planar array of optical fibers. The optical fibers are parallel to an array axis, but the fiber ends present smooth, polished surfaces angled from the array axis to minimize return loss of light directed along the axis. Three embodiments are described. The first is a series of 1×n strip arrays each mounted at an angle to the array axis to form a saw tooth configuration faceplate. The holes in each strip are also angled to compensate for the angled mount. A second embodiment uses an angled planar faceplate having tapered holes. A third embodiment uses an angled faceplate planar with double-tapered holes to obtain the angled end surfaces. In each embodiment, the fiber ends are substantially coplanar with the faceplate surface but the ends are angled with respect to the array axis.