Optical fiber splitter module and fiber optic array therefor
First Claim
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1. A splitter module comprising:
- a housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening extending therebetween;
a splitter chip disposed within the housing;
a plurality of optical fibers having a first end and a second end, the first end of the plurality of optical fibers being attached with respect to a first edge of the splitter chip for transmitting optical signals therebetween, the second end of each of the plurality of optical fibers having an outer coating thereupon with an outer diameter between about five and about twenty times larger than a diameter of each of the plurality of optical fibers at the first end, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are stacked in a plurality of horizontal planes at the second end to facilitate minimizing the overall width of the plurality of the optical fibers; and
at least one input optical fiber attached to a second edge, of the splitter chip and being in optical communication with each of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the splitter chip is configured for splitting a signal from the at least one input optical fiber into a plurality of signals for optical communication with the plurality of optical fibers.
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Abstract
An optical fiber splitter has a higher density fiber optic array that allows for smaller packaging. The optical fibers that extend from the optical fiber splitter have one end connectorized and their spacing at the other end reduced, thereby eliminating components that were heretofore required. A method of making the fiber optic array includes interleaving the optical fibers to reduce the overall dimensions of the fiber optic array and the fiber optic splitter. A tool is used to reduce the spacing of the optical fibers in the fiber optic array.
71 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A splitter module comprising:
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a housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening extending therebetween; a splitter chip disposed within the housing; a plurality of optical fibers having a first end and a second end, the first end of the plurality of optical fibers being attached with respect to a first edge of the splitter chip for transmitting optical signals therebetween, the second end of each of the plurality of optical fibers having an outer coating thereupon with an outer diameter between about five and about twenty times larger than a diameter of each of the plurality of optical fibers at the first end, wherein the plurality of optical fibers are stacked in a plurality of horizontal planes at the second end to facilitate minimizing the overall width of the plurality of the optical fibers; and at least one input optical fiber attached to a second edge, of the splitter chip and being in optical communication with each of the plurality of optical fibers, wherein the splitter chip is configured for splitting a signal from the at least one input optical fiber into a plurality of signals for optical communication with the plurality of optical fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification