Patent ID: 6788873
Filing Date: 2004-09-07
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A method for hermetically sealing a fiber optic light guide in a metallic feedthrough sleeve by means of glass solder, said fiber optic light guide comprising a longitudinally extending glass fiber (2) provided with at least one protective layer or coating (3,4), said method comprising the steps of:a) preparing a feedthrough sleeve (5) consisting of a metallic material, said metallic material comprising an Invar alloy; b) removing said at least one protective layer or coating (3,4) from an arbitrary position on the fiber optic light guide (1) to expose said glass fiber (2); c) preparing two half-cylinder-shaped pressed parts (7) by a process according to press/sinter technology from a low-melting composite-glass solder, said low-melting composite-glass solder having thermal expansion properties adapted to said metallic material of the feedthrough sleeve (5), the half-cylinder-shaped pressed parts (7) each having a respective axial groove (7a) with a corresponding cross-section adapted to a diameter of the exposed glass fiber (2); d) assembling half-cylinder-shaped pressed parts (7) together with the exposed glass fiber (2) inserted in the grooves (7a) of the half-cylinder-shaped pressed parts in said arbitrary position on the fiber optic light guide; and e) melting the half-cylinder-shaped pressed parts (7) together with each other and with the glass fiber (2) and the feedthrough sleeve (5) by local heating.