US5402510A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of preparing an optical fiber with multiple lenses to optimize coupling with a phototransducer, and an optical system obtained thereby
Assignee: Orange SA
•
Filing: 1993-12-14
•
Granted: 1995-03-28
•
Expires: 2013-12-14
Abstract
Abstract The present invention relates to a method of preparing an optical fiber for optimum coupling with a phototransducer, comprising the following steps: cleaving an end surface on an optical fiber; and depositing a succession of convex lenses on said cleaved surface over the core of the fiber, the lenses being in axial alignment and of decreasing radii of curvature on going away from the fiber. The present invention also provides a system obtained by implementing the method.
Inventors
- 👤 Ndiata Kalonji
- 👤 Jack Semo
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 11:37
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4202; G02B6/4203; G02B6/255; G02B6/2552; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4206
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of preparing an optical fiber for optimum coupling with a phototransducer, comprising the following steps: cleaving an end surface on an optical fiber; and depositing a succession of convex lenses on said cleaved surface over the core of the fiber, the lenses being in axial alignment and of decreasing radii of curvature on going away from the fiber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
60 words
A method of preparing an optical fiber for optimum coupling with a phototransducer, comprising the following steps: cleaving an end surface on an optical fiber; and depositing a succession of convex lenses on said cleaved surface over the core of the fiber, the lenses being in axial alignment and of decreasing radii of curvature on going away from the fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
113 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the various lenses are deposited on the cleaved surface by successively reiterating the following sequence of steps as many times as there are required lenses: a) stretching a length of optical fiber; b) aligning the resulting tip on the axis of the core of the fiber for the first lens, and subsequently on the axis of the front lens, and making contact with a small amount of pressure; c) surface welding the tip that has been put into contact; d) applying traction to the tip to leave behind a calibrated needle; and e) making a lens by controlled melting of the needle obtained in this way.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 1, including the step of depositing at least two lens in succession.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method according to claim 1, including the step of depositing a number of lenses greater than two.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the radius of curvature of the lenses is less than a few tens of micrometers.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 1, further consisting in placing an element of graded index multimode fiber in line with the optical fiber and in depositing the lenses on a cleaved face of said element of graded index multimode fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of placing a piece of step index multimode fiber in line with the element of graded index multimode fiber and in placing the lenses on said length of step index multimode fiber.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 6, wherein the radii of curvature of the lenses lies in the range 10 μm to 100 μm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical system comprising a phototransducer coupled to an optical fiber, obtained by implementing the method according to claim 1.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
11 words
A system according to claim 9, including at least two lenses.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
A system according to claim 9, including a number of lenses greater than two.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
22 words
A system according to claim 9, wherein the radius of curvature of each lens is less than a few tens of microns.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A system according to claim 9, including an element of graded index multimode fiber interposed between the set of lenses and the monomode fiber.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
28 words
A system according to claim 13, further including a piece of step index multimode fiber between the set of lenses and the element of graded index multimode fiber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
23 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the radii of curvature of the lenses lie in the range 10 μm to 100 μm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3932184A
Cited
US3910677A
Cited
US4143940A
Cited
US4067937A
Cited
GB1586188A
Cited
US4370021A
Cited
US4243399A
Cited
US4137060A
Cited
US4193663A
Cited
US4398790A
Cited
US4490020A
Cited
US4456330A
Cited
JPS58158620A
Cited
US4671609A
Cited
FR2548391A1
Cited
US4678268A
Cited
JPS60111208A
Cited
DE3407413A1
Cited
EP0155379A2
Cited
US4778247A
Cited
US4744620A
Cited
US4824195A
Cited
US4737006A
Cited
US4784466A
Cited
US4721353A
Cited
EP0260742A1
Cited
DE3632743A1
Cited
US4818263A
Cited
US4795227A
Cited
US4883333A
Cited
US4867776A
Cited
US5204781A
Cited
US4932989A
Cited
US4935939A
Cited
US5011254A
Cited
US5037174A
Cited
US5101457A
Cited
FR2681437A1
Cited
US5271077A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-03-27 | 1998-09-26 | 1999-03-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-03-27 | 2002-09-26 | 2003-03-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-03-27 | 2006-09-26 | 2007-03-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |