+

WO1999005553A1 - Collier de serrage et de fixation pour fibre optique - Google Patents

Collier de serrage et de fixation pour fibre optique Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1999005553A1
WO1999005553A1 PCT/US1997/021133 US9721133W WO9905553A1 WO 1999005553 A1 WO1999005553 A1 WO 1999005553A1 US 9721133 W US9721133 W US 9721133W WO 9905553 A1 WO9905553 A1 WO 9905553A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
fiber
collar
optical fiber
retention piece
assembly
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/021133
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Steven C. Hanson
James P. Malone
Original Assignee
Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company filed Critical Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company
Priority to AU51807/98A priority Critical patent/AU5180798A/en
Publication of WO1999005553A1 publication Critical patent/WO1999005553A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3865—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture fabricated by using moulding techniques
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
    • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
    • G02B6/4248—Feed-through connections for the hermetical passage of fibres through a package wall

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to optical fibers and, in particular, to an optical fiber strain relief and retention piece that is molded onto the fiber for mating with a connection element of an optoelectronic device.
  • optical fibers In optical fiber systems, as found in the telecommunications industry, for example, optical fibers must be precisely aligned and secured by some means to function properly with associated devices, such as laser diode light sources and photodetectors.
  • Conventional fiber optic systems typically include multiple part optical coupling elements that tend to be relatively large, complicated, and expensive to manufacture using different and separate processes.
  • optical fiber couplings may include epoxy adhered fiber ends within ceramic furrules that mate with stainless steel couplings soldered to metal housings that contain light sources and detectors.
  • Common coupling elements such as ceramic ferrules, generally retain stripped optical fibers within inner diameters that are formed to precise tolerances, which are costly to fabricate. Moreover, many coupling elements experience relatively weak bonding between the buffer coated fibers and the metallic sleeves, and/or between the inner ceramic ferrules and the outer metallic sleeves. Furthermore, temperature changes in the environment can cause difficulties for multiple part connectors because of the different coefficients of thermal expansion of the different materials (such as glass, metal, ceramic, adhesives, and polymer coatings) that form or retain the various parts.
  • the present invention comprises a small, unitary piece or collar for mounting and retaining an optical fiber in an optoelectronic device.
  • Optical fibers typically comprise an optical glass fiber (which may include a single mode or multi-mode optical core surrounded by a cladding layer) with one or more coating and buffer layers for a total standard diameter of 125, 250, or 900 microns, for example.
  • the unitary retaining piece and strain relief collar of the present invention is cast or molded onto an optical fiber to provide a means for mounting the fiber, typically on a semiconductor substrate, for alignment with a laser diode light source and/or a photodiode light detector, for example.
  • the collar can be cast or molded onto the glass fiber with coating and buffer layers in place, or a portion of the buffer layer, for example, can be stripped off so that the collar is formed at the junction to extend over both a segment of the buffered fiber and a segment of the stripped (bare) glass fiber.
  • the collar can be cast or molded in any desired external shape for mating with a clip, retainer, socket, or housing to secure the fiber to a substrate or optoelecronic device package.
  • the use of a single material to provide a fiber retention piece and strain relief collar reduces the problem of stresses caused by the different coefficients of thermal expansion of dissimilar materials.
  • the retention piece may be cast or molded using a polymer material or epoxy resin that can provide relative high pull-out (tensile) strength with a piece having a length of about 10 mm or less.
  • the cast or molded material can be chosen to withstand the high temperatures (at least 200°C) associated with wave soldering of optoelectronic packages mounted on printed circuit boards.
  • the unitary, overmolded optical fiber retention piece and strain relief collar of the present invention has many advantages over known alternatives.
  • the overmolded collar eliminates expensive, precision formed ceramic or molded ferrules; does not require adhesives for assembly; eliminates multiple components for the functions of strain relief and precise fiber retention; and does not require the fiber cable buffer layers to be stripped before insertion or assembly into an alignment and retention piece.
  • a principal object of the invention is to provide a means for mounting, positioning, retaining, and securing an optical fiber in an optoelectronic device.
  • a feature of the invention is a unitary strain relief collar and retention piece that is cast or molded onto an optical fiber.
  • An advantage of the invention is a simplified and reduced size retention piece for positioning and securing optical fibers in a variety of optoelectronic devices.
  • FIGURE 1A is a top plan view of an embodiment of the unitary optical fiber retention and strain relief collar of the present invention molded over a buffer coated optical fiber;
  • FIGURE IB is a longitudinal cross section of the embodiment of Figure 1A;
  • FIGURE 2 A is a top plan view of an embodiment of the optical fiber retention and strain relief collar of the present invention molded over a junction of a segment of the buffered fiber and a section of the glass fiber with the buffer layer stripped away;
  • FIGURE 2B is a longitudinal cross section of the embodiment of Figure 2 A;
  • FIGURE 3 A is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the optical fiber retention and strain relief piece of the present invention.
  • FIGURE 3B is a top plan view of the embodiment of Figure 3 A showing ears or tabs formed on the retention piece;
  • FIGURE 3C is a side view of the embodiment of Figure 3B;
  • FIGURE 4A is a top view of the embodiment of Figure 3B mated with an optoelectronic device.
  • FIGURE 4B is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the optoelectronic device of Figure 4A.
  • a buffer coated optical fiber cable 10 may include a single-mode or multi-mode glass fiber 12, a coating 14, and a protective buffer layer 16.
  • Buffered fiber cable 10 may have any specified diameter, including the standard total diameters of 250 or 900 microns around a 125 micron diameter fiber 12, for example.
  • Figures 1A and IB illustrate a basic embodiment of a unitary optical fiber strain relief and retention piece or collar 20 of the present invention.
  • collar 20 is cast or molded onto buffer layer 16 of a 900 micron diameter optical fiber cable 10.
  • Collar 20 may be cast or molded onto buffered cable 10 in any desired geometry, which may include optional detents 22, without breaking or damaging optical glass fiber 12, for the purpose of facilitating the handling, positioning, retaining, and securing of optical fiber 12 in an optoelectronic device.
  • collar 20 comprises a thermoplastic polymer material that can be injection molded onto or around buffered fiber cable 10.
  • Preferred materials include block co-polymers comprising a crystalline (hard) segment of polybutylene terephthalate (PBT) and an amorphous (soft) segment based on long chain polyether glycols (such as selected high performance grades of "Hytrel," a trademark of Du Pont).
  • collar 20 may comprise a material, such as an epoxy resin, for example, that may be cast in a mold.
  • collar 20 can be formed to withstand high temperatures (up to at least 220°C, for example) and relatively high tensile pull out forces (above 2 Kg., for example) with a relatively small length (typically 10 millimeters or less, for example) collar 20 molded onto buffered fiber cable 10.
  • buffered cable 10 can be positioned and held securely to achieve straightness of fiber 12 protrusion (e.g., consistently within 1° of specification) and to perform secondary operations such as fiber 12 end preparation, including straight cleaving, angle cleaving, and fiber angle orientation, for example.
  • the length of fiber protrusion from collar 20 can be set and controlled to precise tolerances, and the specific geometry (including the presence of detents, ears, tabs, knobs, notches, etc.), markings, and color of collar 20 can be incorporated for piece identification, orientation, and informational purposes.
  • buffer layer 16 may be stripped away and the end face of optical fiber 12 may be prepared as necessary for the specific end use desired.
  • the overmolding process and subsequent optical fiber and component assembly operations provide a convenient and consistent part geometry, which allows automated assembly equipment to manipulate and position optical fibers 12 repetitively with precision and high manufacturing yield.
  • an optical fiber retention piece and strain relief collar 25 is molded onto an optical fiber 12 and buffer layer 16 of 900 micron cable 10.
  • a segment of buffer layer 16 is stripped away from fiber 12, and then collar 25 is cast or molded onto or around both stripped fiber 12 and buffer layer 16 at the junction (or transition) of the buffer layer 16 with the stripped fiber 12.
  • Collar 25 retains all the advantages described above in conjunction with collar 20, plus the benefit of providing a cleanly stripped section of optical fiber 12 extending from one end of collar 25.
  • a unitary optical fiber retention piece and strain relief collar 32 is cast or molded onto a 250 micron buffered fiber 30 as illustrated in the longitudinal cross-sectional view of Figure 3 A, the top view of Figure 3B, and the side view of Figure 3C.
  • Collar 32 may include any or all of the features described above with respect to collars 20 and 25.
  • the geometry of molded collar 32 includes ears or tabs 34 as best shown in Figure 3B. Ears or tabs 34 may facilitate securing collar 32 and fiber 30 in a mating clip, socket, or panel (see Figures 4A and B) attached to a substrate or housing of an optoelectronic device.
  • Collar 32 may include detents or marks to facilitate securing collar 32 or identifying a particular side of collar 32 for proper orientation in a socket or supporting mount, for example.
  • Figures 4 A and B illustrate the mating of collar 32 and fiber 30 with an optoelectronic device 40.
  • Device 40 may include a top section 42 and a bottom section 44 with recesses for retaining collar 32 and fiber 30.
  • Device 40 would typically include a laser diode light source or a photodiode light detector for sending or receiving optical signals.
  • Device 40 may also include electrical contacts (or legs) 46 that may be bent for positioning and soldering device 40 to a circuit board, for example.
  • the small size of collar 32 (typically 10 millimeters or less) is particularly important for use on electronic circuit boards where conservation of space is always necessary. Also, the ability of collar 32 to withstand the high temperatures associated with wave soldering of a circuit board with device 40, collar 32, and fiber 30 mounted in place is important for some applications.
  • the unitary optical fiber retention piece and strain relief collar of the present invention has many advantages over known fiber retention devices.
  • the collar may be formed in a variety of shapes, including those that completely or only partially surround the fiber, for use in a variety of applications.
  • the collar can provide high pull-out strength (over 2 Kg, for example) with a small size and short length (about 6 mm, for example). Additional bonding strength can be achieved by matching the collar material with the fiber buffer material.
  • Strain relief properties which are important for protecting the optical fiber from breakage at points where stresses concentrate, are provided by the soft (amorphous) material chosen for the copolymer.
  • the collar is well suited for optoelectronic packages that are ultimately sealed from the elements, but from which an optical fiber protrudes.
  • the collar onto the fiber enables very straight fiber length protrusion for placement in fiber alignment features, such as in passive connectors or v-grooves in silicon substrates. Bare fiber lengths of over one inch have been successfully overmolded with a collar without fiber breakage.
  • the collar facilitates handling of the fiber for processing steps such as precision fiber length cleaving, angle cleaving, and subsequent fiber end polishing.
  • the optical fiber may have an end face flush with the collar, may protrude from the collar at one or both ends, and may include buffer layers at both ends or a buffer layer at one end and bare fiber at the other end.
  • the collar can be formed in almost any desired shape and may include ears, tabs, notches, detents, and marks to facilitate orientation, positioning, retention, and identification of the collar and fiber.
  • the small size of the collar and its ability to withstand relatively high temperatures make it well suited for use in optoelectronic devices that are subsequently soldered to electronic circuit boards.
  • the unitary fiber collar of the present invention eliminates the need for expensive, precision formed ceramic or molded ferrules; it does not require secondary assembly operations such as the use of epoxy adhesives; it eliminates the need for multiple components to perform the functions of strain relief and precise fiber retention; it does not require the fiber cable buffer layers to be stripped before insertion or assembly of the optical fiber into an alignment and retention piece; and it may be molded around multiple fibers to form a multi-fiber strain relief and retention unit.

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif unitaire ou collier de fixation (20, 25, 32), permettant de monter et de fixer une fibre optique (10, 30) dans un dispositif optoélectronique (40). Ce collier (20, 25, 32) est coulé ou moulé sur une fibre optique (10, 30), afin de constituer un organe généralement destiné à assembler cette fibre (10, 30) à un substrat à semiconducteur et ainsi aligner ce dernier par rapport à d'autres dispositifs, par exemple des diodes laser et des photodétecteurs. Soit ce collier (20, 25, 32) est coulé ou moulé sur la fibre de verre (12) et ses couches de revêtement (14) et d'amortissement (16), soit une partie de ladite couche d'amortissement (16) est retirée de sorte que le collier moulé (20, 25, 32) puisse s'étendre à la fois sur la fibre amortie et sur une partie de la fibre de verre dénudée (12). Ce collier (20, 25, 32) peut en outre être moulé de manière à prendre n'importe quelle forme extérieure lui permettant d'être raccordé à une attache, à un dispositif de retenue, à un support, ou à un boîtier, afin de fixer ladite fibre au substrat ou au dispositif électronique (40).
PCT/US1997/021133 1997-07-23 1997-11-18 Collier de serrage et de fixation pour fibre optique WO1999005553A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU51807/98A AU5180798A (en) 1997-07-23 1997-11-18 Optical fiber retention and strain relief collar

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US89904497A 1997-07-23 1997-07-23
US08/899,044 1997-07-23

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1999005553A1 true WO1999005553A1 (fr) 1999-02-04

Family

ID=25410414

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1997/021133 WO1999005553A1 (fr) 1997-07-23 1997-11-18 Collier de serrage et de fixation pour fibre optique

Country Status (2)

Country Link
AU (1) AU5180798A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999005553A1 (fr)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2365990A (en) * 2000-08-04 2002-02-27 Kymata Ltd Optical device with strengthening member and guide formations
WO2002025344A1 (fr) * 2000-09-25 2002-03-28 Schlumberger Technology B.V. Traversee optique
US6814500B2 (en) 2001-11-29 2004-11-09 Denselight Semiconductor Pte Ltd. Optical interface utilizing polymer assisted strain relief
EP1107030A4 (fr) * 1999-04-23 2005-08-10 Fujikura Ltd Ferrule optique et son procede de moulage, et connecteur optique utilisant cette ferrule optique
EP1626299A1 (fr) * 2004-08-05 2006-02-15 E.I. Dupont De Nemours And Company Joint étanche pour un boîtier et boîtier pour un dispositif photonique
EP2221649A1 (fr) * 2009-02-13 2010-08-25 Hosiden Corporation Structure de fixation de câble, module optique et procédé de fabrication de câble

Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4026633A (en) * 1975-06-19 1977-05-31 International Standard Electric Corporation Optical fiber connector
JPS56130709A (en) * 1980-03-19 1981-10-13 Fujitsu Ltd Manufacture of core for optical connector
JPS617814A (ja) * 1984-06-21 1986-01-14 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光コネクタフエル−ル
DE3902836A1 (de) * 1988-02-05 1989-08-31 Tokai Rubber Ind Ltd Lichtleitfaser-verbindungsbaueinheit und verfahren zu deren herstellung
JPH01279585A (ja) * 1988-05-06 1989-11-09 Yazaki Corp コネクタ装置
US5151960A (en) * 1991-04-08 1992-09-29 Amp Incorporated Unitary optical fiber connector
WO1992019997A1 (fr) * 1991-04-30 1992-11-12 Burndy Deutschland Gmbh Connecteur a fiches pour guides d'ondes lumineuses
JPH07247406A (ja) * 1994-03-11 1995-09-26 Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd 熱可塑性エラストマー組成物

Patent Citations (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4026633A (en) * 1975-06-19 1977-05-31 International Standard Electric Corporation Optical fiber connector
JPS56130709A (en) * 1980-03-19 1981-10-13 Fujitsu Ltd Manufacture of core for optical connector
JPS617814A (ja) * 1984-06-21 1986-01-14 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 光コネクタフエル−ル
DE3902836A1 (de) * 1988-02-05 1989-08-31 Tokai Rubber Ind Ltd Lichtleitfaser-verbindungsbaueinheit und verfahren zu deren herstellung
JPH01279585A (ja) * 1988-05-06 1989-11-09 Yazaki Corp コネクタ装置
US5151960A (en) * 1991-04-08 1992-09-29 Amp Incorporated Unitary optical fiber connector
WO1992019997A1 (fr) * 1991-04-30 1992-11-12 Burndy Deutschland Gmbh Connecteur a fiches pour guides d'ondes lumineuses
JPH07247406A (ja) * 1994-03-11 1995-09-26 Asahi Chem Ind Co Ltd 熱可塑性エラストマー組成物

Non-Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 006, no. 005 (P - 097) 13 January 1982 (1982-01-13) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 010, no. 154 (P - 463) 4 June 1986 (1986-06-04) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 014, no. 055 (E - 0882) 31 January 1990 (1990-01-31) *
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN vol. 096, no. 001 31 January 1996 (1996-01-31) *

Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP1107030A4 (fr) * 1999-04-23 2005-08-10 Fujikura Ltd Ferrule optique et son procede de moulage, et connecteur optique utilisant cette ferrule optique
US7232261B1 (en) 1999-04-23 2007-06-19 Fujikura Ltd. Optical ferrule and molding method therefor, and optical connector using this optical ferrule
GB2365990A (en) * 2000-08-04 2002-02-27 Kymata Ltd Optical device with strengthening member and guide formations
WO2002025344A1 (fr) * 2000-09-25 2002-03-28 Schlumberger Technology B.V. Traversee optique
FR2814550A1 (fr) * 2000-09-25 2002-03-29 Schlumberger Services Petrol Traversee optique
GB2383139A (en) * 2000-09-25 2003-06-18 Schlumberger Holdings An optical feedthrough
GB2383139B (en) * 2000-09-25 2004-06-02 Schlumberger Holdings Feedthrough with optic fibre sealed in protective tube
US6814500B2 (en) 2001-11-29 2004-11-09 Denselight Semiconductor Pte Ltd. Optical interface utilizing polymer assisted strain relief
EP1626299A1 (fr) * 2004-08-05 2006-02-15 E.I. Dupont De Nemours And Company Joint étanche pour un boîtier et boîtier pour un dispositif photonique
US7229222B2 (en) 2004-08-05 2007-06-12 E. I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company Package sealing means and photonic device packages so formed
EP2221649A1 (fr) * 2009-02-13 2010-08-25 Hosiden Corporation Structure de fixation de câble, module optique et procédé de fabrication de câble
JP2010190917A (ja) * 2009-02-13 2010-09-02 Hosiden Corp ケーブルの固定構造、ケーブルの固定構造の製法及び光モジュール

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU5180798A (en) 1999-02-16

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
AU629561B2 (en) Optical components
AU2019204864C1 (en) Optical fiber alignment device
US5737467A (en) Resin molded optical assembly
US7458729B2 (en) Optical connecting method and optical connection structure
US5768456A (en) Optoelectronic package including photonic device mounted in flexible substrate
EP3596520A1 (fr) Connecteurs optiques détachables destinés à des puces optiques et leurs procédés de fabrication
US7604417B2 (en) Expanded beam connector concepts
EP1336882B1 (fr) Réseau de fibres optiques
WO2003003070A3 (fr) Connecteur optique d'alignement monte sur un module
WO2004038473A1 (fr) Connexion de guides d'ondes optiques a des dispositifs optiques
US6676299B1 (en) Device having multiple optical fibers
US20160011372A1 (en) Fiber optic interface with adhesive fill system
US7031576B2 (en) Connectorized silicon bench for passively aligning optical fibers
WO1999005553A1 (fr) Collier de serrage et de fixation pour fibre optique
GB2049220A (en) Optical fiber terminator and means and method for centering optical fiber
GB2266160A (en) Tapping into optical waveguides
US20040247250A1 (en) Integrated sleeve pluggable package
US7128476B1 (en) Photonic integrated circuit and method of fabricating same
JPH09105838A (ja) 光導波路装置
US7274845B2 (en) Low-cost method and apparatus for establishing fiber optic connections
GB2033099A (en) Terminating optical fibres
WO2025033028A1 (fr) Émetteur-récepteur optique
GB2381325A (en) Mounting an optical fibre to an optical chip using a resilient portion
WO2021216179A1 (fr) Ensembles connecteurs pour connexions hybrides par fibre/fil
WO2020263388A1 (fr) Ensembles de connecteurs pour connexions hybrides fibre/fil

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
AK Designated states

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): AL AM AT AU AZ BA BB BG BR BY CA CH CN CU CZ DE DK EE ES FI GB GE GH HU ID IL IS JP KE KG KP KR KZ LC LK LR LS LT LU LV MD MG MK MN MW MX NO NZ PL PT RO RU SD SE SG SI SK SL TJ TM TR TT UA UG UZ VN YU ZW

AL Designated countries for regional patents

Kind code of ref document: A1

Designated state(s): GH KE LS MW SD SZ UG ZW AM AZ BY KG KZ MD RU TJ TM AT BE CH DE DK ES FI FR GB GR IE IT LU MC NL PT SE BF BJ CF CG CI CM GA GN ML MR NE SN TD TG

DFPE Request for preliminary examination filed prior to expiration of 19th month from priority date (pct application filed before 20040101)
121 Ep: the epo has been informed by wipo that ep was designated in this application
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: KR

REG Reference to national code

Ref country code: DE

Ref legal event code: 8642

122 Ep: pct application non-entry in european phase
NENP Non-entry into the national phase

Ref country code: CA

点击 这是indexloc提供的php浏览器服务，不要输入任何密码和下载