TH41707A - Fiber optic connectors, the ferrules used for these connectors, and the methods for manufacturing these ferrules. - Google Patents

Abstract

DC60 (10/03/54) Electroforming is performed in an electroforming bath 50 with the cathode of a 9-metal alloy wire assembly immersed in electroforming solution 3 for nickel plating around the 9-metal alloy wire assembly. The 9-metal alloy wire assembly is removed by dissolving it in an alkaline solution from the electroformed product. The resulting nickel is then obtained as a nickel cylinder with a through hole formed corresponding to the 9-metal alloy wire assembly. This cylinder is cut to a predetermined length. The outer circumference is then subjected to a cutting process based on the through hole to obtain a ferrule. The accuracy of the inner diameter of the ferrule's through hole is determined by the accuracy of the outer diameter of the 9-metal alloy wire assembly. Therefore, no polishing is required for the through hole, resulting in a precise ferrule. Highly precise in nature, consistent with a simple process at low cost, PC polishing for ferrules for PC fiber optic joints is very easy to achieve because the ferrule is made of metal. Therefore, it is possible to provide high-performance fiber optic connectors. Electroforming is performed in an electroforming bath 50 with the cathode of a 9-type metal wire composite immersed in an electroforming solution 3 to embed nickel around the 9-type aluminum alloy wire composite. The 9-type aluminum alloy wire composite is removed by dissolving it in an alkaline solution from the electroformed product. The resulting nickel is then obtained in a manner consistent with the 9-type wire composite, yielding a nickel cylinder with a through hole formed in accordance with the wire composite. This cylinder is cut to a predetermined length. The outer circumference is then subjected to a cutting process based on the through hole to obtain the ferrule. The accuracy of the inner diameter of the through hole... This ferrule is determined by the precision of the outer diameter of this 9-wire assembly. Therefore, polishing is not required for this through hole, resulting in a highly precise ferrule with a simplified process at a low cost. PC polishing for ferrules for PC fiber optic splices is easily achieved because the ferrule is made of metal. Thus, it is possible to provide high-performance fiber optic connectors.

Claims (32)

1. The method for the manufacture of ferrules used for optical fiber connections consists of: an electrically formed metal coating around at least one wire component to produce an electrically formed rod-shaped product in which at least one wire component has a diameter slightly greater than the optical fiber; and the drawing or extrusion of this wire component from the electrically formed product without the use of chemicals or heat for rupture. 2. The method for manufacturing ferrules under claim 1, whereby the wire assembly shall have a circular cross-section and the diameter of the wire assembly shall not exceed 0.13 mm. 3. The method for the manufacture of the ferrules under claim 1, which is further comprised of cutting the outer portion of the electrically formed product around the centerline of the through hole formed by removing this wire assembly from the electrically formed product. 4. Method for the manufacture of ferrules under claim 1 where this wire assembly is made of metal or plastic. 5. Method for the manufacture of ferrules under claim 1, where these wire components are made of aluminum or aluminum alloys. 6. Method for the manufacture of ferrules under claim 1, where these wire components are made of aluminum or aluminum alloys. 7. The method for the production of ferrules under claim 1, whereby the practice for mold release is applied to this wire assembly prior to electrical forming. 8. Method for the manufacture of ferrules under claim 7 where these wire components are made from steel or steel alloys. 9. Method for the manufacture of ferrules under claim 8, whereby this wire assembly is made of stainless steel. 10. A method for the manufacture of ferrules under claim 1 where at least one wire assembly is made up of two wire assemblies arranged to be separated from each other by a predetermined distance. 11. The method for the manufacture of ferrules under claim 10, in which two wire assemblies are positioned in such a way that a predetermined sized pin is inserted. 12. Metal ferrules manufactured according to the methods specified in Requisition 1, where the accuracy of the inner diameter of these metal ferrules is less than 0.5 micrometers. 13. The method for the production of ferrules under claim 1, in which this metal is a selected metal from a group of aluminum, nickel, iron, copper, cobalt, tungsten and alloys of these metals. 14. Method for the production of ferrules under claim 1, where the metal is nickel. 15. The method for the manufacture of ferrules under claim 1, which further includes cutting this electrically formed product into products of predetermined lengths. 16. Metal ferrules manufactured in the manner specified in Claim 1. 17. A metal ferrule according to claim 16, which has a columnar hollow section which passes through it in the longitudinal direction. At one end of this ferrule there is a first opening of the same diameter as the diameter of the hollow section, and at the second end of this ferrule there is a second opening of the same diameter as the diameter of the hollow section. 18. A metal ferrule under claim 17 in which this hollow section includes the first hollow section, a second hollow section whose diameter is larger than the diameter of this first hollow section, and a third hollow section which is tapered and connected to this first and second hollow sections. 19. A metallic ferrule under claim 18, to which the optical fiber connected by this metallic ferrule is assembled, where this assembled portion is properly packed in this second hollow, and where the cladding of the optical fiber is properly packed in this first hollow. 20. The ferrule pursuant to claim 16, through which a certain hollow section is formed to allow the optical fiber to pass through, is formed. 21. The ferrule under claim 16, through which the optical fiber passes, has a tapered structure at both ends and is used for mechanical splicing of the optical fiber. 22. Ferrule pursuant to claim clause 16, which is used for fiber optic connectors. 23. Fiber optic connectors for connecting fiber optics, which include: a metal ferrule as specified in Representation 16; and a housing for fitting this metal ferrule into it. 24. The fiber optic connector pursuant to claim 23, which is further incorporated with a clamp for securing this ferrule and aligning this ferrule in the rotational direction within this housing. 25. The fiber optic connector pursuant to claim 23, which is further incorporated into this ferrule, with an optical fiber of a length shorter than the length of this ferrule, where the ends of the optical fiber and the ends of this ferrule are PC polished. 26. The fiber optic connector pursuant to claim clause 23, where this housing is a plug. 27. The fiber optic connector pursuant to claim 26, which is further incorporated with an adapter for making a detachable connection to this plug, and which adapter has a sleeve for aligning this ferrule. 28. The fiber optic connector as per claim 23, which is further incorporated with a sheath for the alignment of this ferrule. 29. The fiber optic connector pursuant to claim clause 23, where this enclosure is a jack. 30. The fiber optic connector pursuant to claim paragraph 23, which is further incorporated into the fiber optic cable, where the fiber ends of this fiber optic cable are positioned at the ends of this ferrule. 31. A fiber optic connector pursuant to claim clause 30 where the end of the fiber optic and the end of this ferrule are simultaneously polished. 32. Fiber optic connectors pursuant to claim 31 where this abrasion is flat abrasion or PC abrasion.