Fiber optic assembly for coupling an optical fiber and a light source
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method for heat molding a plastic optical fiber to a light source having a light emitting surface and mounted to a base, the method comprising the steps of:
- heating the light source;
heating one end of the plastic optical fiber;
aligning the heated one end of the plastic optical fiber with the heated light source;
abutting the heated one end of the plastic optical, fiber against the heated light source to encapsulate the light emitting surface of the light source in plastic optical fiber; and
cooling the plastic optical fiber and the light source.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heat molded optical fiber interconnect molds one end of a plastic optical fiber around light emitting surfaces of a light source such as a light emitting diode to provide a highly efficient optical and mechanical coupling between the optical fiber and the light source. In one preferred embodiment an efficient interconnect for coupling large diameter optical fibers has a converging lens heat molded in the other end of the plastic optical fiber to efficiently couple light to another optical fiber or receiver.
100 Citations
15 Claims
-
1. A method for heat molding a plastic optical fiber to a light source having a light emitting surface and mounted to a base, the method comprising the steps of:
-
heating the light source; heating one end of the plastic optical fiber; aligning the heated one end of the plastic optical fiber with the heated light source; abutting the heated one end of the plastic optical, fiber against the heated light source to encapsulate the light emitting surface of the light source in plastic optical fiber; and cooling the plastic optical fiber and the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
-
-
6. A method for heat molding a plastic optical fiber to a spherical lens positioned partially in an etched well of a light emitting diode, the method comprising the steps of:
-
heating the light emitting diode; heating one end of the plastic optical fiber; aligning the heated one end of the plastic optical fiber with the heated light emitting diode; abutting the heated one end of the plastic optical fiber against the heated light emitting diode to encapsulate the exposed surface of the spherical lens; and cooling the plastic optical fiber, the spherical lens and the light emitting diode. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method or heat molding two plastic optical fibers to a light source having a light emitting surface and mounted to a base, the method comprising the steps of:
-
heating the light source; heating one end of each of the plastic optical fibers; aligning the heated ends of the plastic optical fibers with the heated light source; abutting the heated ends of the plastic optical fibers against the heated light source to encapsulate the light emitting surface of the light source in plastic optical fibers; and cooling the plastic optical fibers and the light source. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
-
Specification