Patent ID: 7236671
Filing Date: 2007-06-26
Classification: C03B,G02B,H01S

Abstract:
1. A fused fiber bundle having a terminal section ending with an endface, the fused fiber bundle comprising: a plurality of optical fibers, each of the optical fibers having a terminal segment ending with a proximal end, and a distal end; and a cellular holding structure, the cellular holding structure including a cellular web portion having a plurality of longitudinal cells arranged substantially in parallel and surrounded by a web material; and a tube portion surrounding the cellular web portion; wherein at the endface, the ratio of the cross-sectional area of the endface to the cross-sectional area of the cellular web portion is at least about 2.5; wherein the terminal segments of the optical fibers are arranged substantially in parallel, and wherein the terminal segment of each optical fiber is disposed in a longitudinal cell of the cellular holding structure and substantially fused to the web material, thereby forming the terminal section of the fused fiber bundle.