Hermetically sealed ferrule

• US 20040047571A1
• Filed: 09/06/2002
• Published: 03/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/06/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Terry Vanderwert, Warren Timothy Boord
• Original Assignee: Terry Vanderwert, Warren Timothy Boord
• Inventors: Boord, Warren Timothy, Vanderwert, Terry
• Application Number:
  US10/237,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20040047571A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/94
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4248 Feed-through connections for the hermetical passage of fibres through a package wall see provisionally also G02B6/4428

Abstract

A hermetically sealed ferrule includes one or more walls cooperating to enclose a volume. At least one of the walls defines an orifice permitting passage to the enclosed volume. A fiber optic ribbon passes through the orifice to the enclosed volume. The fiber optic ribbon includes a plurality of optical fibers with a protective coating surrounding each of the optical fibers. Each optical fiber is exposed where it passes through the orifice. A low-temperature melting point glass seals a space between the exposed optical fibers and the region of the wall defining the orifice. A first epoxy layer extends between the fiber optic ribbon, an outer surface of the region of the wall defining the orifice, and the low-temperature melting point glass. A second epoxy layer extends between the fiber optic ribbon, an inner surface of the region of the wall defining the orifice, and the low-temperature melting point glass.

Claims

1. A hermetically sealed ferrule, comprising:

a set of one or more walls cooperating to enclose a volume, at least one of the walls having a region defining an orifice permitting passage to the enclosed volume;

a fiber optic ribbon passing through the orifice to the enclosed volume, the fiber optic ribbon comprising a plurality of optical fibers with a protective coating surrounding each of the optical fibers, wherein each optical fiber is exposed as it passes through the orifice;

a low-temperature melting point glass sealing a space between the exposed optical fibers and the region of the wall defining the orifice;

a first epoxy layer extending between the fiber optic ribbon, an outer surface of the region of the wall defining the orifice, and the low-temperature melting point glass; and

a second epoxy layer extending between the fiber optic ribbon, an inner surface of the region of the wall defining the orifice, and the low-temperature melting point glass.

2. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the low-temperature melting point glass has a melting point of less than 400°

C.

3. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the first and second epoxy layers comprise an ultraviolet cured epoxy.

4. The ferrule of claim 1, further comprising:

an elongated ring surrounding the orifice and joined to the outer surface of the region of the wall defining the orifice; and

a third layer of epoxy filling a space between the ring and the optical fiber.

5. The ferrule of claim 4, further comprising:

a rubber sheath extending over a portion of the elongated ring, and extending along a length of the fiber ribbon, so as to prevent the optical fibers within the fiber ribbon from breaking when the ribbon is bent.

6. The ferrule of claim 5, further comprising:

a layer of room temperature vulcanizing silicone adhering the rubber sheath to fiber ribbon.

7. The ferrule of claim 5, wherein the elongated ring defines a lip on its outer surface, and wherein the rubber sheath extends over the lip.

8. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein an optical device selected from a set of optical devices consisting of a prism, a lens, a diffraction grating, polarization management components, and a fan-out circuit is housed within the enclosed volume.

9. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the orifice is shaped as a slot.

10. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic ribbon contains at least eight optical fibers.

11. The ferrule of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic ribbon contains at least twelve optical fibers.

12. The ferrule of claim 5, wherein a silicon wafer is disposed along one side of the optical fiber ribbon, and is housed within the rubber sheath.

13. The ferrule of claim 12, wherein two or more silicon wafers are disposed along two sides of the optical fiber ribbon, and are housed within the rubber sheath.

14. A hermetically sealed ferrule, comprising:

a set of one or more walls cooperating to enclose a volume, at least one of the walls having a region defining a first and second orifice permitting passage to the enclosed volume;

a first fiber optic ribbon passing through the first orifice to the enclosed volume, the first fiber optic ribbon comprising a plurality of optical fibers with a protective coating surrounding each of the optical fibers, wherein each optical fiber is exposed as it passes through the orifice;

a second fiber optic ribbon passing through the second orifice to the enclosed volume, the second fiber optic ribbon comprising a plurality of optical fibers with a protective coating surrounding each of the optical fibers, wherein each optical fiber is exposed as it passes through the orifice;

a low-temperature melting point glass sealing a space between the exposed optical fibers of the first optical fiber ribbon and the region of the wall defining the first orifice;

a low-temperature melting point glass sealing a space between the exposed optical fibers of the second optical fiber ribbon and the region of the wall defining the second orifice;

a first epoxy layer extending between the first fiber optic ribbon, an outer surface of the region of the wall defining the first orifice, and the low-temperature melting point glass;

a second epoxy layer extending between the second fiber optic ribbon, an outer surface of the region of the wall defining the second orifice, and the low-temperature melting point glass;

a third epoxy layer extending between the first fiber optic ribbon, an inner surface of the region of the wall defining the first orifice, and the low-temperature melting point glass; and

a fourth epoxy layer extending between the second fiber optic ribbon, an inner surface of the region of the wall defining the second orifice, and the low-temperature melting point glass.

15. The ferrule of claim 14, wherein the low-temperature melting point glass has a melting point of less than 400°

C.

16. The ferrule of claim 14, wherein the first, second, third and fourth epoxy layers comprise an ultraviolet cured epoxy.

17. The ferrule of claim 14, further comprising:

an elongated ring surrounding the first and second orifices and joined to the outer surface of the region of the wall defining the first and second orifices; and

a fifth layer of epoxy filling a space between the ring and the first and second optical fibers.

18. The ferrule of claim 17, further comprising:

a rubber sheath extending over a portion of the elongated ring, and extending along a length of the first and second fiber ribbons, so as to prevent the optical fibers within the first and second fiber ribbons from breaking when the ribbons are bent.

19. The ferrule of claim 18, further comprising:

a layer of room temperature vulcanizing silicone adhering the rubber sheath to first and second fiber ribbons.

20. The ferrule of claim 18, wherein the elongated ring defines a lip on its outer surface, and wherein the rubber sheath extends over the lip.

21. The ferrule of claim 14, wherein an optical device selected from a set of optical devices consisting of a prism, a lens, a diffraction grating, polarization management components, and a fan-out circuit is housed within the enclosed volume.

22. The ferrule of claim 14, wherein the first and second orifices are shaped as a slot.

23. The ferrule of claim 14, wherein the fiber optic ribbon contains at least eight optical fibers.

24. The ferrule of claim 14, wherein the fiber optic ribbon contains at least twelve optical fibers.

25. The ferrule of claim 18, wherein silicon wafers are disposed along one side of the each of the first and second optical fiber ribbons, and are housed within the rubber sheath.

26. The ferrule of claim 25, wherein two or more silicon wafers are disposed along two sides of each of the first and second optical fiber ribbons, and are housed within the rubber sheath.