Patent EP0171614A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0171614A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Optical fiber connecting coupler
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd
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Filing: 1985-07-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-07-12
Abstract
Abstract A sleeve for connecting optical fibers has a cylindrical shape and an axial passage extending therethrough. The sleeve defines a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of the sleeve. The notch extends radially inward to expose the passage. The width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the sleeve, across the opening into the passage provided by the notch, is less than the diameter of optical fibers being connected in the sleeve. The notch allows visual inspection of optical fibers in the passage. The length of the notch may be five times the diameter of the optical fibers being connected. An adhesive may be disposed in the notch which provides a matching function between the optical fibers. The sleeve may be surrounded by a housing to form a coupler.
Inventors
- 👤 Toshiaki C/O Yokohama Works Of Sumitomo Kakii
- 👤 Koichiro C/O Yokohama Works Of Sumitomo Matsuno
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 19:54
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3801; G02B6/3803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
101 words
A sleeve for connecting optical fibers having a cylindrical shape and an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said optical fibers, said sleeve defining a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of said sleeve, said notch extending radially inward to expose said passage, the width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, across the opening into said passage provided by said notch, being less than the diameter of said optical fibers, said notch having a size to permit visual inspection of optical fibers in said passage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
101 words
A sleeve for connecting optical fibers having a cylindrical shape and an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said optical fibers, said sleeve defining a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of said sleeve, said notch extending radially inward to expose said passage, the width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, across the opening into said passage provided by said notch, being less than the diameter of said optical fibers, said notch having a size to permit visual inspection of optical fibers in said passage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
A sleeve as in claim 1 wherein said notch has an axial length at least 5 times the diameter of said optical fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A sleeve as in claim 1 further comprising adhesive material disposed in said notch, said adhesive material being selected to provide a matching function between optical fibers disposed in said sleeve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical fiber coupler comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical shape and an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of optical fibers being coupled, said sleeve defining a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of said sleeve, said notch extending radially inward to expose said passage, the width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, across the opening into said passage provided by said notch, being less than the diameter of said optical fibers, said notch having a size to permit visual inspection of optical fibers in said passage; and a housing surrounding said sleeve and sealing said notch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
An optical fiber coupler comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical shape and an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of optical fibers being coupled, said sleeve defining a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of said sleeve, said notch extending radially inward to expose said passage, the width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, across the opening into said passage provided by said notch, being less than the diameter of said optical fibers, said notch having a size to permit visual inspection of optical fibers in said passage; and a housing surrounding said sleeve and sealing said notch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A coupler as in claim 4 wherein said notch has an axial length at least 5 times the diameter of said optical fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
A coupler as in claim 4 further comprising adhesive material disposed in said notch, said adhesive material being selected to provide a matching function.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A coupler as in claim 4 wherein said housing includes a portion extending into said notch.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A coupler as in claim 4 wherein said housing includes first and second halves and pressure-sensitive adhesive layers disposed at opposite ends on inner peripheral surfaces of at least one of said housing halves.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A coupler as in claim 8 further comprising a foam layer disposed on said pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and another pressure-sensitive adhesive layer disposed on.said foam layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
A coupler as in claim 8 wherein one of said halves defines a groove for guiding said optical fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A coupler as in claim 4 further comprising a spring sleeve surrounding said housing.'
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
131 words
An optical fiber coupler comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical shape and an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of optical fibers being coupled, said sleeve defining a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of said sleeve, said notch extending radially inward to expose said passage, the width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, across the opening into said passage provided by said notch, being less than the diameter of said optical fibers, said notch having an axial length at least five times the diameter of said optical fibers; adhesive material disposed in said notch, said adhesive material providing a matching function between said optical fibers; and a housing, surrounding said sleeve and sealing said notch.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
131 words
An optical fiber coupler comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical shape and an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of optical fibers being coupled, said sleeve defining a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of said sleeve, said notch extending radially inward to expose said passage, the width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, across the opening into said passage provided by said notch, being less than the diameter of said optical fibers, said notch having an axial length at least five times the diameter of said optical fibers; adhesive material disposed in said notch, said adhesive material providing a matching function between said optical fibers; and a housing, surrounding said sleeve and sealing said notch.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
160 words
An optical fiber coupler comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical shape and an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said optical fibers being coupled, said sleeve defining a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of said sleeve, said notch extending radially inward to expose said passage, the width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, across the opening into said passage provided by said notch, being less the diameter of said optical fibers, said notch having an axial length at least five times the diameter of said optical fibers; adhesive material disposed in said notch, said adhesive material providing a matching function between said optical fibers; a housing surrounding said sleeve, said housing having first and second halves extending axially along said sleeve, said housing sealing said notch; and a spring sleeve surrounding said halves of said housing to maintain said housing about said sleeve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
160 words
An optical fiber coupler comprising: a sleeve having a cylindrical shape and an axial passage therethrough, said passage having a diameter slightly larger than the diameter of said optical fibers being coupled, said sleeve defining a notch in an outer periphery of a central portion of said sleeve, said notch extending radially inward to expose said passage, the width, in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said sleeve, across the opening into said passage provided by said notch, being less the diameter of said optical fibers, said notch having an axial length at least five times the diameter of said optical fibers; adhesive material disposed in said notch, said adhesive material providing a matching function between said optical fibers; a housing surrounding said sleeve, said housing having first and second halves extending axially along said sleeve, said housing sealing said notch; and a spring sleeve surrounding said halves of said housing to maintain said housing about said sleeve.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
16 words
A coupler as in claim 13 wherein a portion of said housing extends into said notch.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
27 words
A coupler as in claim 13 further comprising a pressure-sensitive layer disposed at each opposite end of one of said housing halves on an inner peripheral surface.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
28 words
A coupler as in claim 15 further comprising a foam layer disposed on each said pressure-sensitive layer and another pressure-sensitive adhesive layer disposed on each said foam layers.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
A coupler as in claim 15 wherein another of said halves of said housing having a groove for guiding said optical fibers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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