Apparatus for coupling light between an optical fiber and a light element

• US 4,759,605 A
• Filed: 10/23/1987
• Issued: 07/26/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1985
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raychem Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Original Assignee: Raychem Corporation (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Shen, Nelson M., Moisson, Marc F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGO, HUNG NHAT
• Application Number:
  US07/115,580
• Time in Patent Office: 277 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.15, 350/96.16, 350/96.18, 350/96.2
• US Class Current: 385/32
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/35 in which light is transversely coupled into or out of the fibre or waveguide, e.g. using integrating spheres G01M11/31 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2852 using tapping light guides arranged sidewardly, e.g. in a non-parallel relationship with respect to the bus light guides (light extraction or launching through cladding, with or without surface discontinuities, bent structures)
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3803 Adjustment or alignment devices for alignment prior to splicing
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4243 Mounting of the optical light guide into a groove mounting optical light guides into a groove in general G02B6/3636
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4259 of the transparent type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4286 Optical modules with optical power monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4289 by inducing bending, microbending or macrobending, to the light guide

Abstract

An apparatus for injecting light into or withdrawing light from an optical fiber using a resiliently deformable material includes a hard transparent member disposed in contact with a surface of the resiliently deformable material in a vicinity of a light element which minimizes material creep of the resiliently deformable material in a vicinity of the light element which stabilizes a coupling and decoupling efficiency with an optical fiber.

Claims

1. An apparatus for coupling light between an optical fiber and a light element, comprising:

a light element;

a resiliently deformable material having a first surface in contact with a first optical fiber;

means for preventing deformation of a second surface of the resiliently deformable material through which light passes when coupled or decoupled with the first optical fiber through a side thereof, the light element being disposed outside the resiliently deformable material, the deformation prevention means comprising a hard transparent member disposed in contact with the second surface;

a container for containing and enclosing the resiliently deformable material about all external surfaces thereof in conjunction with the hard transparent member except for the first surface, the container having an opening therein in a vicinity of the hard transparent member, and another opening therein in a vicinity of the first surface.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, the first surface contacting the optical fiber, the light element comprising a light source which emits light which enters the resiliently deformable material at the second surface and enters the side of the optical fiber by passing through the first surface.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, the light element comprising an LED or a laser.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, the first surface contacting the optical fiber, the light element comprising a light detector which detects light which enters the resiliently deformable material at the first surface from a side of the optical fiber and enters the light detector by passing through the second surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, the light detector comprising a photodetector.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, the first surface being curved.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising means for bending and holding the optical fiber against the first surface.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, one of the first surface and the bending and holding means having a groove therein into which the optical fiber is at least partially contained so as to position the optical fiber on the first surface.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, the resiliently deformable material including means to allow deformation thereof when pressure is exerted against the first surface so as to position the optical fiber thereon.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, the deformation allowing means including at least one void in the resiliently deformable material.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, light being coupled or decoupled with the optical fiber through an optical fiber buffer at a side of the optical fiber at a bend of the optical fiber.

12. The apparatus of claim 4, further comprising means for aligning an end of the first optical fiber with an end of a second optical fiber by maximizing an amount of light detected by the light detector.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising means for injecting light into the second optical fiber through a side thereof, the injecting means comprising a light source, a second resiliently deformable material having a first surface in contact with the second optical fiber, and means for preventing deformation of a second surface of the second resiliently deformable material through which injected light passes, the light source being disposed outside the second material.