Patents
`\)\/\/\./\)\é\&\é
`
`In re Application of: Michael L. Wach et al.
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`Conf. No.2 6907
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`Application No.: 11/980,337
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`Art Unit: 2874
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`Filed: October 30, 2007
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`Examiner: Petkovsek, Daniel
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`Title:
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`Facile Optical Assemblies and
`Components
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`Docket No.2 06948.105029 CON2
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`UNDER 37 C.F.R. §§ 1.125 & 1.121 AND RESPONSE
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`AMENDMENT AND SUBSTITUTE SPECIFICATION
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`Mail Stop Amendment
`Commissioner for Patents
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`P. O. Box 1450
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`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450
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`Sir:
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`The Applicants request entry of the amendments discussed below and consideration of
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`the remarks that follow.
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`Amendments to the Specification begin on page 2 of this paper.
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`Amendments to the Drawings begin on page 3 of this paper.
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`Remarks begin on page 4 below.
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`
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`I hereby certify that this correspondence is being deposited with the United States Postal Service as first
`class mail in an envelope addressed to: Mail Stop Amendmen Commi
`ioner for Patents, P. O. Box 1450,
`Alexandria, VA 22313-1450, on February 25, 201 1.
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`
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`Page 1
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`ILLUMINA, INC. EXHIBIT ‘I012
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`Michael L. Wach, Reg. No. 54,517
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`Page 1
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`U.S. Patent App. No. 11/980,337
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`Submitted February 25, 2011
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`AMENDMENTS TO THE SPECIFICATION
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`Please replace the specification of record,
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`including the abstract, with the attached
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`Substitute Specification.
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`[This area has been left blank intentionally]
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`Page 2
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`Page 2
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`U.S. Patent App. No. 1 l/980,337
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`Submitted February 25, 201 1
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`AMENDMENTS TO THE DRAWINGS
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`Please amend the drawings of the application to incorporate the sixteen attached
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`replacement sheets of drawings, replacing the sixteen drawing sheets that were filed on July 8,
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`2010 and that each carried the legend “New Sheet”.
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`[This area has been left blank intentionally]
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`Page 3
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`Page 3
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`U.S. Patent App. No. 11/980,337
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`Submitted February 25, 2011
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`REMARKS
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`The undersigned thanks Examiner Petkovsek for a careful review of this application. The
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`following remarks are submitted in traverse of the pending rejections and objections.
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`1.
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`Substitute Specification
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`A Substitute Specification (other than the claims) has been submitted under 37 CFR §
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`1.125 (b) and (c) and 37 CFR § 1.121 (b)(3) with markings showing changes relative to the
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`immediate prior version of the specification of record. An accompanying clean version (without
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`markings) is also supplied.
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`The specification has been amended to reflect drawing renumbering, which was
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`requested by the Examiner as discussed below. Amendments at line 25 of page 18, lines 2 and
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`26 of page 24, line 21 of page 26, and line 9 of page 31 address minor issues of a grammatical or
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`typographical nature (citing to the marked-up version of the specification).
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`The abstract has been amended in a manner that addresses the Examiner’s concerns.
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`Retraction of the pending abstract objection is courteously requested.
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`The Substitute Specification includes no new matter. Entry of the attached Substitute
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`Specification is respectfully requested.
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`II.
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`Drawing Amendments
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`The attached sixteen Replacement Sheets renumber the figures that were submitted on
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`July 8, 2010 and that each carried the legend “New Sheet”, as requested by the Examiner. With
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`entry of these Replacement Sheets, the figures are numbered 1-23. The attached Replacement
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`Sheets further provide formal drawings for Figure 19 (Replacement Sheet 12/16), Figures 20 and
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`20a (Replacement Sheet 13/16), Figure 21 (Replacement Sheet 14/16), Figure 22 (Replacement
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`Sheet 15/16), and Figure 23 (Replacement Sheet 16/16).
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`The new drawings include no new matter. Retraction of the pending drawing objection is
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`kindly requested.
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`Page 4
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`Page 4
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`U.S. Patent App. No. 1 I/980,337
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`Submitted February 25, 2011
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`III.
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`Notice Regarding Related Re-Examination Proceedings
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`The present application incorporates U.S. Patent Application Number 60/213,983 by
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`reference, and the Substitute Specification and amended drawing set directly include content
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`from U.S. Patent Application Number 60/213,983. U.S. Patent Number 6,542,673 claims
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`priority to U.S. Patent Application Number 60/213,983. Reexamination of U.S. Patent Number
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`6,542,673 has been requested under Reexamination Control Number 90/011,437.
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`The
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`“Transaction History” posted on the U.S. Patent Office’s “Public PAIR” web portal as of
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`February 25, 2011 indicates that issues remain in the reexamination proceedings for U.S. Patent
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`Number 6,542,673 under Reexamination Control Number 95/000,463.
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`IV.
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`The New Matter Rejection of Claim 47 Is Improper
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`The Examiner has asserted “a new matter rejection of Claim 47 under 35 U.S.C. 112, first
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`paragraph” that relies upon an improper distinction between the substitute specification and the
`7!
`66
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`“original specification
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`at the time the application was filed’ (emphases as applied by
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`Examiner). As discussed in further detail below, the information in the substitute specification
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`should be treated as part of the text of the application as filed, and that text fully supports the
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`claimed invention as required by the first paragraph of 35 U.S.C. 112. Moreover, Claim 47 is
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`completely supported by a single document
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`that was properly incogporated by reference,
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`specifically U.S. Provisional Patent Application Number 60/213,983.
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`A.
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`The Examiner’s Position Is Contrary to MPEP Procedures
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`The Examiner’s rejection is based on an alleged distinction between the “original
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`specification
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`at the time the application was filed” and the specification as amended to repeat
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`what had been incorporated by reference. This approach disregards the examination procedures
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`set forth in the Patent Office’s Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, a relevant portion of
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`which has been repeated below for the Examiner’s convenience. Proper examination procedure
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`dictates that “information incorporated [by reference] is as much a part of the application as filed
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`as if the text was repeated in the application, and should be treated as part of the text of the
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`application as filed. Replacing the identified material incorporated by reference with the actual
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`text is not new matter.”
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`Page 5
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`Page 5
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`U.S. Patent App. No. 11/980,337
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`Submitted February 25, 2011
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`Manual of Patent Examining Procedure, Rev. 6, Sept. 2007 (emphasis added):
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`2163.07(b) Incorporation by Reference[R-3]
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`Instead of repeating some information contained in another
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`document, an application may attempt to incorporate the content of
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`another document or part thereof by reference to the document in
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`the text of the specification. The information incorporated is as
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`much a part of the application as filed as if the text was repeated in
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`the application, and should be treated as part of the text of the
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`application as filed. Replacing the identified material incogporated
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`by reference with the actual text is not new matter. See >37 CFR
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`1.57 and< MPEP § 608.0l(p)
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`for Office policy regarding
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`incorporation by reference. See MPEP § 2181 for the impact of
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`incorporation by reference on the determination of whether
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`applicant has complied with the requirements of 35 U.S.C. 112,
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`second paragraph when 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph is invoked.
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`Current Patent and Trademark Office procedures provide for incorporation by reference
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`of “essential material” by reference to U.S. patent applications and U.S. patents. See Manual of
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`Patent Examining Procedure § 608.01(p) (Rev. 7, July 2008) and 37 CFR §«1.57(b). See also In
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`re Hawkins, 486 F.2d 569, 574, 179 USPQ 157, 161 (CCPA 1973).
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`Page 6
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`Page 6
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`U.S. Patent App. No. 11/980,337
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`Submitted February 25, 2011
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`B.
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`The Specification Fully Supports the Claimed Invention
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`The specification in fact Q contain a written description of the invention, and of the
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`manner and process of making and using it, in such full, clear, concise, and exact terms as to
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`enable any person skilled in the art to which it pertains, or with which it
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`is most nearly
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`connected, to make and use the same and @ set forth the best mode contemplated by the
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`inventor of carrying out his invention in accordance with 35 U.S.C. § 112, first paragraph.
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`The Examiner has emphasized the following claim terms “in response to illuminating,”
`99
`CG
`99
`66
`99
`66
`“actinic radiation,
`reading,
`camera,” and
`generating a laser
`interference pattern,
`“determining a code” with respect
`to concerns about whether the “original specification”
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`contains adequate disclosure (emphases in official action). The invention of Claim 47, these
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`claim terms, and the particular combination of method claim terms Q all described in the
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`original specification in such a way as to reasonably convey to one skilled in the art that the
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`Applicants had possession thereof.
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`Claim 47 is supported throughout the original text of the patent specification, claims, and
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`drawings. Table I below shows exempla1y instances of such support for each feature of
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`Claim 47, citing to the clean copy of the specification, as attached hereto in the form of the
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`Substitute Specification. The citations provided in Table I. are to content of U.S. Provisional
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`Patent Application Number 60/213,983 as properly repeated in the Substitute Specification. That
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`is, Figges 22 and 23 and the identified lines on pages 28-34 are from a single patent application
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`properly incorporated by reference. See heading at lines 9 and 10 of page 28, “From US Patent
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`Application 60/213,983 entitled “Micro Identifier System and Components for Optical
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`Assemblies.”
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`Referring to the citations provided in Table I below, lines 22-25 of page 28 recite, “The
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`invention further relates to a system having an identifying mechanism on or in high performance
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`waveguides that is machine-readable (especially, by optical means, for example using a laser
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`interference pattern) for quick and accurate recall of information included in the identifying
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`mechanism.” Lines 15-29 of page 32 recite: “Although fiber 41y has an identifier space 45y and
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`information thereon, it also has a series of precisely located disruptions 48y in the index of
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`refraction of peripheral cladding interior. These disruptions 48y are induced in a manner
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`generally consistent with the disclosure, for example, in the above referenced 950 and 110
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`Page?
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`-7-
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`Page 7
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`U.S. Patent App. No. 11/980,337
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`Submitted February 25, 201]
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`patents as modified in the ‘639 patent. However, instead of focusing the actinic radiation in the
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`fiber core the radiation is focused in the cladding.
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`Since such disruptions can be crafted to be
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`wavelength specific, a large number of individual wavelengths translated into codes are readily
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`readable.”
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`One of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the patent application under examination
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`would appreciate that the teaching of reading laser interference patterns on page 28 applies, inter
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`alia, to the teaching of forming refractive index disruptions provided on page 32. Accordingly,
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`one of ordinagg skill in the art would appreciate that the incorporated content of US Patent
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`Application 60/213,983, entitled “Micro Identifier System and Components for Optical
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`Assemblies” fully satisfies paragraph 1 of 35 U.S.C. § 112 for the combination of elements
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`reguired by Claim 47.
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`Table I.
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`,
`Claim 47
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`Exemplary Support in Original
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`
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`Patent A lication Disclosure
`Amethodcomrisin: —
`providing a segment of optical fiber comprising a first
`Figures 22, 23;
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`end face, a second end face, and a cylindrical surface
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`Page 34, 11. 21-23
` extendin from the first end face to the second end face;
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`
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`forming refractive index disruptions within a volume
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`Page 32,11. 10-27;
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`
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`defined by the first end face, the second end face, and
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`Figures 22, 23
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`the cylindrical surface in response to illuminating the
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`segment of o tical fiber with actinic radiation;
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`
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`generating a laser interference pattern from the formed
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`Page 28, 11. 22-25;
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`refractive index disru tions;
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`.
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`,
`
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`reading the
`laser
`interference pattern through the
`Page 28, 11. 22-25;
` cylindrical surface with a camera; and
`Page 34, 11. 21-23;
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`Page 31, ll. 7, 12;
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`Page 30, 11. 9-13;
`Page 32, 11. 6-8;
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`Page 8
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`Page 8
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`U.S. Patent App. No. l 1/980,337
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`Submitted February 25, 201 1
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`Moreover, the Applicants respectfully submit that the Examiner has failed to provide a
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`showing regarding persons skilled in the art
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`that would support a proper rejection.
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`The
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`Applicants submit that the Examiner has the initial burden of presenting evidence or reasoning to
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`explain why persons skilled in the art would not recognize in the disclosure a description of the
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`invention defined by the claims. See In re Wertheim, 541 F.2d 257, 263 (CCPA 1976).
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`C.
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`Request for Rejection Withdrawal
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`In view of the foregoing discussion regarding the improperness of the pending rejection
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`of Claim 47, the Applicants request retraction of the rejection and allowance of the claim.
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`CONCLUSION
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`The Applicants and undersigned thank the Examiner for consideration of this paper and
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`ask the Examiner to please reconsider his position in view of the foregoing remarks and to enter
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`the above amendments. The Applicants submit that the application is in condition for allowance
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`and courteously request prompt issuance of a notice of allowance. If any issues exist that can be
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`resolved with an Examiner’s Amendment or a telephone conference, please contact
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`the
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`undersigned at 770-846-9238 in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia.
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`The accompanying papers are believed to provide payment for all fees due in this case,
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`including all fees required for consideration of this paper and entry of the amendment. However,
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`should the Commissioner deem that any additional fees (including any fees for extensions of
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`time) or credits are due, the Commissioner is authorized to debit such fees from, or to credit any
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`such overpayments to, USPTO Deposit Account Number 50-5230.
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`
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`Res ectfully sub
`
`
`Michael L. Wach
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`Reg. No. 54,517
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`Michael L Wach
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`4425 Mariners Ridge
`Alpharetta, GA 30005
`Telephone: (678) 366-1882
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`Page 9
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`Page 9
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`SUBSTITUTE SPECIFICATION
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`MARKED UP COPY
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`Page 10
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`Page 10
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`FACILE OPTICAL ASSEMBLIES AND COMPONENTS
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`CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
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`The present application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. Non-Provisional
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`Patent Application Number 10/429,166, entitled "Facile Production of Optical Communication
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`Assemblies and Components” and filed on May 2, 2003 in the name of Wach et al, now U.S.
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`Patent Number 7,298,936, which is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. Non-
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`Provisional Patent Application Number 10/010,854, entitled "Facile Production of Optical
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`Communication Assemblies and Components” and filed on December 4, 2001 in the name of
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`10
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`Wach et al., which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 to the filing date of Dec. 4, 2000
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`accorded to the US Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/251,270. The entire contents of
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`U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Application Number 10/429,166 and U.S. Non-Provisional Patent
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`Application Number 10/010,854 are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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`15
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`BACKGROUND OF THE lNVENTlON
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`Fiber to fiber and fiber to waveguide linking devices that have been described in the
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`art tend to focus on a substantial length of fiber placed for linkage to another fiber or to a
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`planar waveguide. Prior art connectors and splicing devices typically do not meet the
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`increased demand for minimizing on-line manufacturing time or part replacement/repair time
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`20
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`to meet the overall cost requirements for optical communications equipment, particularly in
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`high volume production operations. With the tremendous need for increasing bandwidth, a
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`need exists in the art for increased precision in such linkages and for modifying or eliminating
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`rate-limiting steps in component manufacturing. The increase in overall demand for high
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`quality optical components at modest cost has intensified the importance of achieving high
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`25
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`quality consistently and efficiently.
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`Fiber modification techniques disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,477, entitled "Method
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`and Apparatus for Improved Fiber Optic Light Management," filed Mar. 13, 1997, address
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`Page 11
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`Page 11
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`these challenges. However, the increased capability of separating wavelengths made possible
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`by these advances has further increased the need for precision in other aspects of
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`manufacturing optical assemblies. Cirrex U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/318,451,
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`entitled, ”Optical Assembly with High Performance Filter,” filed May 25, 1999, (incorporated
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`herein by reference in its entirety), which has now issued as U.S. Patent Number 6,404,953,
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`describes various modifications to fibers. Content of U.S. Patent Application Serial No.
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`09/318,451 has been inserted below under the heading ”From US Patent Application No.
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`09/318,451 Entitled ”Optica| Assembly with High Performance Filter’’’’ with FlGs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
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`7, 8, 9, 10, 11a, and 11b respectively renumbered as FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17,
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`18a, and 18b the-letter-1X1 and the letter ”x” appended to the figure-nu-mbeas
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`and—figure reference numbers to avoid confusion with other disclosed figures and figure
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`reference numbers. Cirrex U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 60/213,983 entitled, "Micro
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`Identifier System and Components for Optical Assemblies," filed Jun. 24, 2000 (also
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`incorporated herein by reference in its entirety) describes a system having an identifying
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`mechanism for high performance waveguides that is machine-readable (especially, by optical
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`means, for example, using a laser interference pattern) for quick and accurate recall of
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`information included in the identifying mechanism. Content of U.S. Patent Application Serial
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`No. 60/213,983 has been inserted below under the heading ”From US Patent Application
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`Number 60/213,983 Entitled ”Micro Identifier System and Components for Optical
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`Assemblies” with F|Gs. 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4, and 5 respectively renumbered as F|Gs. 19, 20, 20a, 21,
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`22, and 23 t-he-letter-1% and the letter "y” appended to the figeH=e-numbers-and
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`figure reference numbers to avoid confusion with other disclosed figures and figure reference
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`numbers. Many of the individual components of such optical assemblies are extremely small
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`and technically complex. Differences between component assembly pieces or even
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`differences within individual pieces are difficult to discern. The ’983 patent application
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`describes how etching or engraving, for example, of a cladding surface can provide precise
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`and detailed product information, including: the manufacturer, the core and cladding
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`dimensions, compositions, indices of refraction, and other imprinting. Internal identifiers of
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`that type can also be utilized for system integrity/uniformity checks for quality assurance.
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`Page 12
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`Additional details may be important for other types of optical fibers. For example, the
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`end face of one fiber may be intentionally angled so that its face is not uniformly
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`perpendicular to its axis and the axis of a waveguide with which it is to be mated. (See Cirrex
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`U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 09/578,777, entitled, "Method and System for Increasing a
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`Number of Information Channels Carried by Optical Waveguides,” which is incorporated
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`herein in its entirety by reference and which has now issued as U.S. Patent Number
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`6,542,660.) For a very slight angle, it may be critical to have the end face precisely oriented as
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`it mates with the waveguide. The extent to which the fiber core is off-center or elliptical may
`also be included in the identifier. ‘The identifier on the fiber and the waveguide provides
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`10
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`sufficient information for the mating to be precise.
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`One advantage of using the peripheral surface of a fiber end face for the identifier is
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`relative space availability. The entire periphery of the end face could be utilized if information
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`space and image clarity are required. Similarly, the probability of that area causing fiber
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`function limitations is low and could be reduced further, for example, by covering disrupted
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`(etched/engraved) surface areas with material that would restore transparency to
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`wavelengths negatively affected without detrimentally affecting the readability of the image.
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`Such factors play a role in determining which identifier process, marking and location to
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`utilize. It also may be critical to high volume production for the information to be read
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`significantly in advance of the mating operation and in some cases even by a different
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`manufacturer. Each improvement in one area exposes additional challenges for the
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`manufacturing processes in other areas, for example, in assuring appropriate, precise fiber to
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`fiber, or fiber to waveguide mating.
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`SUMMARY
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`In accordance with the present invention, a modified fiber interlink, typically an optical
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`assembly multi-channel subcomponent, can be created to form the optical link between
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`multiple channel waveguides to be mated. For example, modified fiber interlinks form optical
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`paths between multiple fibers and a multi-channel planar waveguide. Modified optical fibers
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`Page 13
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`are those that have been shaped or coated to an extent beyond the demands of normal
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`communications optical fibersfiln one example, modified fibers are no longer than about two
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`feet in length and can have either a non-cylindrical end face, a non-flat end face, an end face
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`the plane of which is not perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the waveguide, an end face
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`coated with high density filter, or an identifier on or near an end face. In another example, the
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`modified fiber can include at least one high density filter in the interlink within an interlink
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`channel
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`Modified fiber interlinks can be manufactured in a separate operation and thus taken
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`off-line from the main optical assembly manufacturing line. These integral interlinks, in which
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`fibers have been shaped so precisely and/or coated with special filters, can be included in
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`optical assemblies to ultimately provide their beneficial functions without slowing the entire
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`assembly operation. This off-line production can result in a subcomponent that minimizes
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`linkage time in the full component assembly operation. The subcomponent also can decrease
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`the potential for defective linkages or less than optimal performance in both the
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`subcomponent manufacturing operation and the assembly operation.
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`10
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`15
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`BRIEF DESCRIPTION or THE DRAWINGS
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`FIG. 1 depicts in exaggerated perspective an interlink having four differently
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`configured waveguides in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
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`20
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`invention.
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`FIG. 2 shows the exemplary interlink of FIG. 1 in cutaway along the AA plane.
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`FIG. 3 depicts in exaggerated perspective a planar waveguide configured for mating
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`with the exemplary interlink of FIG. 1.
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`FIG. 3a illustrates in exaggerated perspective a planar waveguide face having a groove
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`25
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`surrounding each port for mating with a mating projection surrounding each mating port on a
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`modified fiber interlink in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present
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`invention.
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`FIG. 3b illustrates a mating projection and a groove for a planar waveguide interlink
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`interface in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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`FIG. 4 depicts in cutaway an interlink with cylindrical fibers with high density filters on
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`fiber ends in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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`FIG. 5 illustrates a fiber of FIG. 4 having an identifier embedded thereon in accordance
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`with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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`FIG. 6 illustrates in schematic two interlinks used in an add-drop multiplexer
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`application in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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`FIG. 7 illustrates in cutaway additional configurations of waveguides in interlink
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`10
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`applications in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
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`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS
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`As shown by the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 1, interlink 4 links by providing optical
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`channels, waveguides 5, 6 (an optical fiber formed by fusing fiber segment 6a to fiber segment
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`6b formingjunction 12a) 8, and 9, between a planar waveguide (see planar waveguide unit 30
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`in FIG. 3) and at least one optical fiber system 10 of which optical fiber 19f is a part. Optical
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`fiber 19f can be mated to waveguide 9, preferably an optical fiber, at interface 17, by
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`inserting fiber 19f in channel or recess 4c of block 4a (See FIG. 2 for additional detail). For
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`example, by using an appropriate epoxy, fiber 19f can be fused to fiber 9 with a filter disposed
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`at the interface 17 therebetween. Optical fiber 18f can be mated to waveguide 8 at interface
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`18 by inserting fiber 18f into a locking mechanism 22 such as an optical seal housing. The
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`locking mechanism 22 is coupled to face 2 of the interlink 4 by flanges 21 that engage the
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`locking mechanism 22. Disposed at interface 18 can be a filter. Overall, waveguides 5, 6, 8,
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`and 9 of interlink 4 demonstrate various types of optical connections that can exist within
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`interlink 4. It will be understood that the present invention is not limited to the number and
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`types of waveguides shown within interlink 4. For example, FIG. 7 illustrates yet another
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`Page 15
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`exemplary embodiment of the type of waveguide, configuration that can be disposed within
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`an interlink 4.
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`Block 4a is rigid, constructed of material opaque to the wavelengths of light expected
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`to be transmitted through the embedded waveguides and light to which the unit is exposed.
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`The material is preferably a plastic that is resistant to thermal expansion and is thermally
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`stable. Fibers 15f, 16f, 18f of the optical fiber system can mate with waveguide ends 15, 16,
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`and 18 respectively of interlink 4. Multi-channel planar optical waveguide unit 30 (see FIG. 3)
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`has a docking surface 39 and ports 31, 32, 33’ and 34 optically open to waveguide channels of
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`planar optical waveguide unit 30 which ultimately communicate with waveguides 35a, 35b,
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`35c and 35d. Face surface region 1 of interlink 4 (FlG.1) and its positioning pins 7a, 7b, 7c, 7d
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`and 7e mate with docking surface 39 (FIG. 3) and its pin receptacles 37a, 37b, 37c, 37d, and
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`37e, respectively. Ports 11, 12, 13 and 14 of interlink 4 (FIG. 1) mate precisely with ports 31,
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`32, 33 and 34 respectively (FIG. 3) of planar optical waveguide unit 30. Secure mating for each
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`of the respective waveguide ends can be accomplished by using an appropriate epoxy or other
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`material (e.g. index matching gel) to assure transparent connection. For less than permanent
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`connection, the mating could also be secured by using an index matching gel and a connection
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`system that securely but releasably connects (e.g. using latches) interlink 4 face surface 1 with
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`10
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`15
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`_
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`the docking surface 39 of planar waveguide unit 30. Another alternative that could be used in
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`lieu of or with placement pins and receptacles is a male/female grooving system, as shown in
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`20
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`exaggerated perspective in FIG. 3b.
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`FIG. 3a shows a multi-channel planar waveguide face (docking surface) 36 having
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`groove 36g spaced and completely but separately surrounding each of the ports, 31a, 32a, 33a
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`and 34a. A mating modified fiber interlink would include a precisely dimensioned face surface
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`having shaped, continuous projections 26p that would mate with groove 36g, as illustrated in
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`25
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`FIG. 3b. The interlink would also include ports that would mate precisely with ports 31a, 32a,
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`33a and 34a. As best ‘shown in FIG. 3b, mating projection 26p mates exactly with groove 36g,
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`but the projection could be modified to guide itself to the full depth of groove 36g. The
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`advantage of a grooving system is that it helps to assure no unintended photon transfer
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`between non mated ports.
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`Page 16
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`In FIG. 1, modified fiber interlink 4 includes optical waveguides of four different
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`configurations for purposes of illustrating the versatility of applicant's invention. Waveguide 5
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`is a single mode optical fiber which between face 1 and face 2 of unit 4 is embedded in solid
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`opaque block 4a. A significant portion of optical fiber 5 protrudes from face 2 for linking,
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`desirably by fusion at end 15 to a matching optical fiber 15f of optical fiber system 10. The
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`embedded part of optical fiber 5 has an axial cross section that has been modified to
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`transition from a circular cross section at distal end 15 and extending beyond face 2 into block
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`4a to a rectangular cross section at the proximal end of fiber 5 at port 11. Each of the
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`transitional optical waveguides 5, 6, 9 and 8 has a proximal end at least near face surface
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`region 1. In an exemplary embodiment of this invention, waveguides 5, 6, 8, 9 of interlink 4
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`are each a separate optical fiber, with at least one having on its proximal end an integral high
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`density filter. In another exemplary embodiment, each separate fiber 5, 6, 8 and 9 has a distal
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`end and at least one has a high density filter on its distal end. Such filters are described in
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`detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,477 mentioned above. Optical fibers 5 and 6 of interlink 4
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`protrude from face surface region 2 and each has a distal end, 15 and 16, respectively,
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`exterior to block 4a. The longitudinal axis of optical fiber 6 is positioned obliquely to face
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`surface region 1. However, high density filter 12b on the proximal end of fiber 6 (shown more
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`clearly in FIG. 2) is preferably parallel to an optical fiber face surface 1 because of the end
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`shaping on both ends of fiber segment 6a and on the juncture end 12a of 6b. It is this sort of
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`precision and flexibility in fusing that highlights the advantages of the interlinks of the
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`exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In another exemplary embodiment, the
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`waveguides of interlink 4 are optical fibers with the proximal end of the fibers 5 (at port 11), 6
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`(at port 12), 9 (at port 13) and 8 (at port 14) each being slightly recessed from face surface 1.
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`This allows for an appropriate amount of epoxy or other optically transparent material for
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`fusing the fiber ends, for example, to selected waveguide channels in planar waveguide unit
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`30.
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`FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an interlink comprising cylindrical fibers with
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`high density filters on fiber ends in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the
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`invention. Referring now to FIG. 4, an interlink 41 comprises a block 44 and cylindrical fibers
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`10
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`15
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`20
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`25
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`Page 17
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`Page 17
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`45f, 46f, 47f, and 48f. The block 44 is preferably constructed of a rigid material opaque to the
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`wavelengths of light expected to be transmitted through an embedded portion of the optical
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`fibers 45f, 46f, 47f, and 48f and light to which the unit is exposed. The optical fibers 45f, 46f,
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`47f, and 48f provide optical channels or waveguides for carrying optical signals. Along face
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`surface 41 of the block 44, the optical fibers 45f, 46f, 47f, and 48f comprise ports 45, 46, 47,
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`and 48, respectively. Filters 45b, 46b, 47b, and 48b, typically high density filters, are
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`positioned along each proximal end face of the optical fibers 45f, 46f, 47f, and 48f,
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`respectively, at the ports 45, 46, 47, and 48 along the face 41. Distal ends 45a, 46a, 47a, and
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`48a of the optical fibers 45f, 46f, 47f, and 48f, respectively, protrude from a face surface 42 of
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`the interlink 44. One or more of the distal ends 45a, 46a, 47a, and 48a can include an optical
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`filter, such as a high density filter 48a positioned at the distal end 48b. At the face surface 42,
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`a significant portion of each optical fiber 45, 46, 47, and 48 protrudes from the block 44 for
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`linking, preferably by fusion to another optical fiber.
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`Fig. 5 illustrates a fiber of FIG. 4 having an identifier embedded adjacent to one end of
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`the fiber in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. As shown in
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`FIG. 5, the optical fiber 45 can comprise an outside surface 43 including an identifier 43a. The
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`identifier 43a is conveniently located proximate to an end of the optical fiber 45 where it can
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`remain visible during operation of the interlink 44. The identifier 43a typically provides
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`identification information to facilitate mating of the optical fiber 45 with another optical fiber
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`or waveguide structure. The identifier 43a preferably includes sufficient space for the
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`incorporation of a micro bar code, magnetic identifier or other identification information. To
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`assist in appropriate alignment in mating of optical assemblies, the identifier 43a can identify
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`the dimensions and characteristics of the optical fiber 45. In addition, the core and
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`polarization axes can be identified with respect to the location of the identifier 43a. In the