Patent ID: 6931178

Claim:
A fiber optic coupler for coupling a tapered optical element, said coupler comprising: a metal tube having an inner circumferential surface, a first open circular end, a second open circular end, and a central axis; and a clear hollow insert, positioned within the inner circumferential surface of said metal tube, said hollow insert including; an input tapered region extending from said first open circular end for a first predetermined distance along said central axis, said tapered region including a first plurality of grabbers, each one of said first plurality of grabbers extending radially from said inner circumferential surface of said metal tube and said first plurality of grabbers collectively defining a first portion of a cone extending from said first open circular end, a coupling region, starting at said first predetermined distance from said first open circular end and extending a second predetermined distance along said central axis, the radial thickness of said coupling region defining a second portion of said cone extending from said first open circular end, and a constant area region extending to said second open circular end along said axis, said constant area region including a second plurality of grabbers wherein each one of said second plurality of grabbers extends radially from said inner circumferential surface for a third predetermined distance.