Asymmetrical miniature bends in optical fibers and method of forming same

• US 6,295,398 B1
• Filed: 08/24/1999
• Issued: 09/25/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AFL Telecommunications LLC (Fujikura Limited)
• Original Assignee: Thomas & Betts International Incorporated (ABB Limited)
• Inventors: Gillham, Frederick J., Stowe, David W., Ouellette, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Sang H.
• Application Number:
  US09/382,072
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 385/13, 385/15, 385/16, 385/32, 385/42, 385/43, 385/45, 250/227.16, 250/227.14
• US Class Current: 385/32
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2552 reshaping or reforming of light guides for coupling using thermal heating, e.g. tapering, forming of a lens on light guide ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2835 formed or shaped by thermal treatment, e.g. couplers
• 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 6/3628 for mounting fibres to supporting carriers G02B6/3608, G02B6/3616 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3829 Bent or angled connectors G02B6/3827 takes precedence

Claims