An optical light source is interfaced to an optical fiber by mounting the optical light source on a source carrier, mounting the optical fiber on a fiber carrier, aligning the optical fiber with the optical light source and bonding the source carrier to the fiber carrier thereby securing the alignment of the optical fiber and the optical light source. The fiber carrier can be made to have the same or substantially the same thermal expansion characteristics of those of said source carrier. A lens may be interposed between the light source and the fiber, typically by forming a convex surface on the tip of the fiber. The apparatus so made thus comprises an optical fiber carrier, an optical fiber attached to the fiber carrier, a source carrier and an optical light source mounted on the source carrier aligned with the optical fiber. A lens may be provided between the source and the fiber, typically formed on the tip of the fiber. For both method and apparatus, separate source and fiber carriers may be dispensed with and a single carrier used for both source and fiber.

Patent Information

Number	US  4946553
Country	US
Status	Issued
Date	08/07/1990