OPTICAL FIBER ENTRY STRAIN RELIEF INTERFACE FOR COMPRESSION-MOLDED STRUCTURES

摘要

An optical fiber entry strain relief interface includes a composite structure (lay-up) 10 having an optical fiber 20 embedded therein. The optical fiber 20 enters (or exits) the lay-up 10 at at least one point 24 and passes through transition layers 47 comprising an adhesive film 42, a thin rubber sealing layer 44, and a thick rubber strain relief layer 46, and through a polymer plug 48 located above the layer 46. The lay-up is consolidated by heating the lay-up over a temperature profile and applying pressure through mostly closed compression molding tools 30,32. The adhesive film 42 bonds the adjacent layer 44 to the upper surface of the lay-up 10, the sealing layer 44 becomes soft enough to seal around the fiber 20 at a temperature lower than the temperature at which the resin 16 exhibits a low enough viscosity to leak out of the lay-up 10, thereby preventing the resin from leaking out of the lay-up 10 during lay-up consolidation, the strain relief layer 46 provides a rubber strain relief for the optical fiber 20, and the plug 48 supports the layers 47 during consolidation.