US 12,405,424 B2
Fiber array launcher assembly
Dustin Guenther, La Mirada, CA (US); Gregory D. Goodno, Los Angeles, CA (US); and James Ho, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed by NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed on Jan. 9, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/407,884.
Application 18/407,884 is a continuation of application No. 17/647,775, filed on Jan. 12, 2022, granted, now 11,914,168.
Prior Publication US 2024/0142792 A1, May 2, 2024
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G02B 27/62 (2006.01); G02B 6/26 (2006.01); G02B 27/10 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/262 (2013.01) [G02B 27/106 (2013.01); G02B 27/62 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber array launcher assembly, said launcher assembly comprising:
a hollow body including a front end and a rear end;
an alignment plate including an array of holes coupled to the rear end of the body;
a beam shaper including an array of lenses coupled to the front end of the body, wherein a separate lens is aligned with each hole in the alignment plate; and
a plurality of fiber assemblies each including a fiber having an end face spliced to an end of an endcap where the endcap has a larger diameter than a diameter of the fiber, wherein a separate endcap is secured in each hole so that the fiber is aligned with the associated lens, and wherein each endcap extends into a hollow portion of the hollow body.