Abstract: A process for preparing a laminated glazing comprises providing a first glass sheet formed into a desired shape with a first thickness by a first procedure and providing a second glass sheet formed into a desired shape with a second thickness by a second procedure with an interlayer located therebetween, and laminating together the first and second glass sheets and the interlayer at a temperature and pressure sufficient to adhere the interlayer material to the glass sheets and in which the process further comprises applying a mould which is shaped substantially the same as the first glass sheet, against the second glass sheet, during laminating to adhere the interlayer material to the two glass sheets such that after lamination, the shape of the second glass sheet is substantially the same as the shape of the first glass sheet.

Abstract: A method of separating a portion of an object comprising: presenting an object having a thickness; using a laser emission at a wavelength to perforate at least a portion of the thickness of the object sequentially over a length to form a series of perforations between a first portion of the object on one side of the series of perforations and a second portion of the object on the other side of the series of perforations; and applying a stress to the object at the series of perforations to separate the first portion of the object from the second portion of the object, wherein the thickness of the object, at the series of perforations, is transparent to the wavelength of the laser emission.

Abstract: Provided is a small-diameter chalcogenide glass material having excellent weather resistance and mechanical strength and being suitable as an optical element for an infrared sensor. The chalcogenide glass material has an unpolished side surface, a pillar shape with a diameter of 15 mm or less, and a composition of, in terms of % by mole, 40 to 90% S+Se+Te and an inside of the glass material is free of stria with a length of 500 ?m or more.

Abstract: A method for producing a coated and printed glass panel, includes providing a glass substrate having a metal-containing coating on at least one first surface and a polymeric protective layer arranged on this metal-containing coating, removing the temporary polymeric protective layer and the metal-containing coating only in a predetermined region, applying a ceramic ink in the predetermined region, wherein the removing is carried out with a laser and the polymeric protective layer and the metal-containing coating are intact outside the predetermined region after the removing.

Abstract: A method for forming hermetic seals between the cap and sub-mount for electronic and optoelectronic packages includes the formation of metal mounds on the sealing surfaces. Metal mounds, as precursors to a metal hermetic seal between the cap and sub-mount of a sub-mount assembly, facilitates the evacuation and purging of the volume created within cap and sub-mount assemblies prior to formation of the hermetic seal. The method is applied to discrete cap and sub-mount assemblies and also at the wafer level on singulated and non-singulated cap and sub-mount wafers. The method that includes the formation of the hermetic seal provides an inert environment for a plurality of electrical, optoelectrical, and optical die that are attached within an enclosed volume of the sub-mount assembly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for manufacturing glass tube shell of electrodeless lamp, which comprises seven steps: washing, coating, bepowdering, wiping off, abutting and annealing, wherein the coating step introduced in the present invention is primarily for increasing the evenness and densification degree of the inner wall of the glass tube, so as to guarantee the adhesion homogeneity of the step of bepowdering; besides, the present invention uses multi-step temperature controlling process for steps of coating, bepowdering and baking to effectively guarantee the coating thickness, and increase the productivity by 50%, in addition, a fan is introduced to align to the entrance of the glass tube when baking the powder, so as to increase the entrance of oxygen, and improve the baking efficiency, at last, high temperature annealing is performed to the joint to eliminate the stress after abutting.

Abstract: A method of sealing a workpiece comprising forming an inorganic film over a surface of a first substrate, arranging a workpiece to be protected between the first substrate and a second substrate wherein the inorganic film is in contact with the second substrate; and sealing the workpiece between the first and second substrates as a function of the composition of impurities in the first or second substrates and as a function of the composition of the inorganic film by locally heating the inorganic film with a predetermined laser radiation wavelength. The inorganic film, the first substrate, or the second substrate can be transmissive at approximately 420 nm to approximately 750 nm.

Abstract: A low pressure air or vacuum glass and manufacturing method thereof, the low pressure air or vacuum glass comprising upper glass and lower glass; the upper glass and the lower glass are flat glass or convex glass; the peripheries of the upper glass and the lower glass are provided with an edge sealing bar frame and/or an edge sealing groove, and are welded together via a low temperature glass solder, thus forming a closed low pressure air layer or vacuum layer therebetween. The low pressure or vacuum glass is of simple manufacturing process, low cost, high production efficiency, reliable sealing connection, and good sealing effect.

Abstract: Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to coated articles including substrates that support printed patterns and thin film layer stacks that can have the patterns and the layer stacks formed thereon and then be cut, heat treated, and optionally built into an insulated glass unit, laminated to another substrate, and/or used in another product. In certain example embodiments, this is made possible by bonding to the glass the frit material used in forming the pattern, re-annealing the glass following the bonding, disposing the thin film layer stack on the re-annealed substrate supporting the bonded pattern, and then cutting and heat treating. The frit advantageously does not re-melt during heat treatment because the melting temperature is higher than the temperature used in heat treatment. Associated methods also are provided.

Abstract: The invention is a method for structuring a flat substrate composed of glass material in the course of a viscous flow process. The glass flat substrate is joined to a surface of a flat substrate, which is preferably a semiconductor flat substrate, having at least one depression bounded by a circumferential edge located in the surface. In the course of a subsequent tempering process, glass material is changed to a viscous free-flowing state in which at least proportions of the free-flowing glass material of the flat substrate flow over the circumferential edge into the depression in the flat substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heat treating a plurality of glass substrates. The glass substrates are supported on support platform and housed in a heat treating furnace. The substrates are supported in a substantially vertical orientation by restraining pins extending through walls of the furnace, and are separated from each other by frame-shaped spacing members. The spacing members reduce convection currents between the substrates and reduce or eliminate the post-heat treating distortion of each glass substrate to less than 100 ?m over the entire surface of the substrate.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods for making an enclosure having a three-dimensionally shaped glass wall portion comprising an initial step of shaping a glass charge into a preform having a preform cross-section corresponding in shape to a smaller cross-sectional shape for the three-dimensional glass wall portion. At least a surface portion of the preform is then finished if necessary to remove any visible optical surface defects therefrom and/or to meet geometric tolerances, and the preform is drawn along an elongation axis perpendicular to the preform cross-section to reduce or draw down the preform in size to the smaller cross-sectional shape for the three dimensional glass wall portion. The smaller cross-sectional shape or sections thereof are then tempered to provide a strengthened glass wall portion having a compressively stressed surface layer thereon.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods for windows integration with cover glass and for processing cover glass to provide windows for electronic devices are disclosed. Transparent windows such as a transparent camera window, a transparent illuminator window and/or a transparent display window can be integrated into the cover glass. The apparatus, systems and methods are especially suitable for cover glasses, or displays (e.g., LCD displays), assembled in small form factor electronic devices such as handheld electronic devices (e.g., mobile phones, media players, personal digital assistants, remote controls, etc.). The apparatus, systems and methods can also be used for cover glasses or displays for other relatively larger form factor electronic devices (e.g., portable computers, tablet computers, displays, monitors, televisions, etc.).

Abstract: A process for producing a synthetic silica glass optical component which contains at least 1×1017 molecules/cm3 and has an OH concentration of at most 200 ppm and substantially no reduction type defects, by treating a synthetic silica glass having a hydrogen molecule content of less than 1×1017 molecules/cm3 at a temperature of from 300 to 600° C. in a hydrogen gas-containing atmosphere at a pressure of from 2 to 30 atms.

Abstract: The present invention is aimed to provide a method for producing a glass substrate with a thickness of not more than 200 ?m, which is satisfied with the quality required for a substrate on which a thin-film electric circuit is formed, and a sheet glass substrate obtained according to this method. The present invention is concerned with a method for producing a glass substrate having a sheet thickness of from 10 to 200 ?m, including a forming step of forming a molten glass into a ribbon shape in accordance with a down draw method, an annealing step of annealing the glass ribbon, and a cutting step of cutting the glass ribbon to give a glass substrate, wherein an average cooling rate in a temperature range of from the (annealing point+200° C.) to the (annealing point+50° C.) is controlled to the range of from 300 to 2,500° C./min.

Abstract: A glass composition for a tubular glass body used to form a glass-metal joint in a tubular solar collector. Includes a borosilicate glass having a dilatometric chart with a hard segment and a soft- segment hysteresis. The soft segment glass transition temperature is less than the hard-segment glass transition temperature for a temperature difference ?T higher than 20° C. The composition comprises: 5% to 8% Na2O, O, 1% to 3% K20, O, 1% to 1.5% CaO, 5% to 7.5% Al203, 70% to 75% Si02, 11.6% to 13.7% B203, Owing and owing to the choice of the B203 in the range indicated, in combination with the other components, there is a glass transition temperature lower than other borosilicate glasses. The remarkable difference between the soft and hard segments glass transition temperatures make it possible to obtain a tubular glass body particularly suitable for a solar collector.

Abstract: A method of making a vacuum insulating glass (VIG) unit. The method includes providing first and second substantially parallel spaced-apart glass substrates, a glass frit being provided at least partially between the first and second glass substrates for sealing said one or more edge portions to be sealed; and irradiating infrared energy towards the one or more edge portions to be sealed in forming an edge seal. The glass frit has a glass redox (FeO/Fe2O3) that is higher than a glass redox (FeO/Fe2O3) of the first and second substrates.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for producing a laminated vacuum-tight connection between the glass pane and the frame, wherein said connection is formed by a thermal soldering material and can be produced directly by a soldering process, during which soldering material inserted between the frame and the glass pane is melted. For this purpose, during the manufacturing process, the glass pane receives the properties of a tempered safety glass pane (TSG) pursuant to DIN 12150-1.

Abstract: A plurality of via-holes are formed in panel-shaped glass, and a plurality of via-holes are formed in two bases. Then, the panel-shaped glass is interposed between the two bases, positions of a plurality of the via-holes of the bases and a plurality of the via-holes of the panel-shaped glass are aligned, wires made of a conductive material are penetrated, and the wires between the two bases are stretched. Then, the panel-shaped glass is heated to a point higher than a softening point of the glass, the wires between the bases are buried by the glass, and the glass is cooled to form a glass ingot having the buried wires. Then, the ingot is sliced to form a glass substrate, the glass panel is polished to expose the wires on front and rear surfaces as the through electrodes.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a glass substrate with through electrodes, the method including: a wire stretching process in which a plurality of conductive wires are stretched in parallel between upper and lower bases; a wire burying process in which a plurality of the wires between the bases are buried by glass; an ingot formation process in which a glass ingot having the buried wires is formed by cooling the glass; a slicing process in which a glass panel is formed by slicing the glass ingot; and a polishing process in which a plurality of the wires are exposed on front and rear surfaces of the glass panel to provide the through electrodes.

Abstract: Provided is a method, including: performing heat treatment under a state in which a thick core plate glass (2a) having a higher thermal expansion coefficient and a thin surface-layer plate glass (3a) having a lower thermal expansion coefficient are brought into surface-to-surface contact so that a bonding surface (2x) and (3x) of the core plate glass (2a) and the surface-layer plate glass (3a) attain a close contact state, thereby directly bonding the core plate glass and the surface-layer plate glass (2a) and (3a); then, additionally performing heat treatment so that the surface-to-surface contact portion has a temperature equal to or higher than a lower strain point out of strain points of the core plate glass and the surface-layer plate glass; and then, performing cooling so as to attain a temperature lower than the lower strain point, to thereby form a compression stress in a surface layer portion (3) corresponding to the surface-layer plate glass (3a) and form a tensile stress in a core portion (2) corre

Abstract: Provided is a method, including: performing heat treatment, under a state in which a thick core plate glass (2a) having a higher thermal expansion coefficient and a thin surface-layer plate glass (3a) having a lower thermal expansion coefficient are laminated together, so that the laminated portion has a temperature equal to or higher than the lower softening point out of the softening points of the core plate glass (2a) and the surface-layer plate glass (3a), thereby melt-bonding the core plate glass (2a) and the surface-layer plate glass (3a); and then performing cooling so as to attain a temperature less than the lower strain point out of strain points of the core plate glass (2a) and the surface-layer plate glass (3a), to thereby form a compression stress in a surface layer portion (3) corresponding to the surface-layer plate glass (3a) and form a tensile stress in a core portion (2) corresponding to the core plate glass (2a).

Abstract: A fused silica glass article having a low absolute refractive index and low concentrations of hydroxyl groups, halogens, and metal having a low absolute refractive index. The glass article contains less than about 10 ppm protium-containing and deuterium-containing hydroxyl groups by weight and less than about 20 ppm halogens by weight. The silica glass article also has an absolute refractive index (ARI) less than or equal to 1.560820. In one embodiment, the ARI of the fused silica article is achieved by lowering the fictive temperature of the fused silica. A method of lowering the fictive temperature is also described.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing single microlenses or an arrays of microlenses composed of a glass-type material, in which method a first substrate is provided with a surface containing impressions over which a second substrate composed of a glass-type material is placed at least partially overlapping it and is joined therewith under vacuum conditions. The substrate composite is tempered in such a manner that the second substrate softens and flows into the impressions of the first substrate, thereby structuring the side of the second substrate facing away from the first substrate in order to form at least one microlens surface.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method for producing single microlenses or an arrays of microlenses composed of a glass-type material, in which method a first substrate is provided with a surface containing impressions over which a second substrate composed of a glass-type material is placed at least partially overlapping it and is joined therewith under vacuum conditions. The substrate composite is tempered in such a manner that the second substrate softens and flows into the impressions of the first substrate, thereby structuring the side of the second substrate facing away from the first substrate in order to form at least one microlens surface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a glass substrate by a fusion process includes flowing fused glass into a fusion pipe, and gradually cooling and solidifying the fused glass by allowing the glass to flow downward from the fusion pipe. An asperity is formed on a surface of the glass substrate by fastening and pressing the glass toward a direction of thickness of the glass with a pair of transfer rollers while the glass is flowing down from the fusion pipe.

Abstract: Method of making an article, the method comprising coalescing a plurality of the glass particles. The article may comprise glass, glass-ceramic, and/or crystalline ceramic. Examples of articles include kitchenware (e.g., plates), dental brackets, and reinforcing fibers, cutting tool inserts, abrasives, and structural components of gas engines, (e.g., valves and bearings).

Abstract: A method of constructing a glass panel which comprises two confronting edge sealed glass sheets, the method comprises the steps of providing a solder glass band around the margin of one surface of each glass sheet, forming, at a first temperature, an hermetic bond between the solder glass band and the associated surface of each glass sheet, positioning the glass sheets in spaced-apart confronting relationship, forming, at a second temperature which is lower than the first temperature, an hermetic seal between the two solder glass bands whilst maintaining the spaced apart relationship between the glass sheets.

Abstract: A method for constructing a mirror blank, including arranging hollow glass balls, on a front face sheet, and in close proximity to each other to permit fusing upon expansion; restricting the expansion of the hollow glass balls with a bounding structure during expansion of the hollow glass balls to force the hollow glass balls into a densely packed array of cells; applying heat to soften the hollow glass balls and increase the pressure within the hollow glass balls as the hollow glass balls fuse with each other during expansion, forming cells, wherein as a result of fusing, the hollow glass balls contact the front face sheet as a result of the increased pressure within the hollow glass balls; annealing and cooling the mirror blank to below annealing temperature associated with the hollow glass balls; and venting the cells.

Abstract: A process for making a netted shell structure includes the steps of providing an elongated member made of a transparent heat-fusible material, and forming the elongated member into a plurality of ring sections which extend around an axis and which have a plurality of wavy speaks along the length of the ring sections. The ring sections are arranged in succession. The wavy peaks of each of the ring sections are welded to an adjacent one of the ring sections.

Abstract: A knitted fabric comprises fibers. At least part of these are metal fibers. The fabric has 90 or more stitches per square centimeter. The fabric is used as a separation cloth (12) between mould (11) and glass (14). The increased number of stitchers per square centimeter reduces the risks for markings on the glass.

Abstract: A vacuum insulating glass (IG) unit and method of manufacturing the same. A peripheral or edge seal (11) of a vacuum IG unit is formed utilizing microwave energy (17) in order to enable tempered glass sheets (2, 3) of the IG unit to retain a significant portion of their original temper strength. In certain exemplary embodiments, the edge seal may be formed of glass frit or solder glass. In certain embodiments, at least a portion (12, 12a, 301) of the edge seal material may be deposited on one or both substrates prior to a thermal tempering process so that during tempering the edge seal material is permitted to diffuse into (i.e., bond to) the glass substrate(s) (2, 3). Optionally, additional edge seal material (303) may be added after tempering. The final edge seal (11) is preferably formed via microwave heating (17) of the edge seal material.

Abstract: In the method according to the invention cold or unheated hardened glass and/or glass-ceramic parts are bonded together with a metallic ductile joining material, preferably silver, copper, aluminum or an alloy of those metals, to form a brittle article. The parts to be joined in an initial unheated state are placed with the metallic ductile joining material between them in a high frequency alternating field with frequencies preferably from 100 to 500 kHz. Then the joining material is inductively heated locally to melt it by means of the alternating field and the parts are pressed together to form a sufficiently strong bond between the parts.

Abstract: A process for micromachining capillaries was having circular cross-sections in glass substrates. Microchannels are isotropically etched into a flat glass substrate, resulting in a semi-circular half-channel (or a rectangle with rounded corners). A second flat glass substrate is then fusion bonded to the first substrate, producing sealed microchannels with rounded bottom corners and a flat top surface having sharp corners. The process is completed by annealing at a sufficiently high temperature (approximately 750 C.) to allow surface tension forces and diffusional effects to lower the over-all energy of the microchannels by transforming the cross-section to a circular shape. The process can be used to form microchannels with circular cross-sections by etching channels into a glass substrate, then anodically bonding to a silicon wafer and annealing. The process will work with other materials such as polymers.

Abstract: A vacuum insulating glass (IG) unit and method of manufacturing the same. A peripheral or edge seal (11) of a vacuum IG unit is formed utilizing microwave energy (17) in order to enable tempered glass sheets (2, 3) of the IG unit to retain a significant portion of their original temper strength. In certain exemplary embodiments, the edge seal may be formed of glass frit or solder glass. In certain embodiments, at least a portion (12, 12a, 301) of the edge seal material may be deposited on one or both substrates prior to a thermal tempering process so that during tempering the edge seal material is permitted to diffuse into (i.e., bond to) the glass substrate(s) (2, 3). Optionally, additional edge seal material (303) may be added after tempering. The final edge seal (11) is preferably formed via microwave heating (17) of the edge seal material.

Abstract: A method for producing an electrochromic mirror comprises a step of obtaining an electrochromic mirror cell by laminating two electrically conductive substrates applied with a sealant on the peripheral edge of the conductive surface; a step of sealing the cell after injecting an electrolyte therein; and annealing the cell containing the electrolyte.

Abstract: In a method for evaluating the homogeneity of the refractive index of an optical member, the refractive index distribution of the optical member is measured, the measured refractive index distribution is separated into a rotationally symmetric element and a non-rotationally symmetric element in the optical axis direction before or after correction of the power element, and the rotationally symmetric element is further subjected to 2nd/4th-order element correction. Upon execution of such comprehensive evaluation, a photolithography optical member, which can realize a fine, sharp exposure-transfer pattern (e.g., a line width of 0.3 &mgr;m or less) is provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of making a device for stabilizing a Bragg grating relative to temperature, the device being of the type comprising two materials having coefficients of thermal expansion that are far apart, the method comprising the steps consisting in:supplying a glass and a metal suitable for fixing to each other by a chemical reaction between them in an appropriate range of temperatures; andputting the glass and the metal into contact with each other at a temperature lying in said appropriate temperature range so as to fix them together.

Abstract: A double wall reaction chamber assembly comprising a cylindrical inner wall and a cylindrical outer wall axially parallel thereto, the inner wall having an annular junction with a thickened annular junction flange on the outer surface thereof. The lower end of the outer wall being fused to the outer surface of the thickened annular junction. The outer surface of the inner wall and the inner surface of the annular junction flange define a sloping annular drainage channel to a downwardly sloping drainage port, enabling liquid to drain from the junction. The double wall reaction chamber assembly has a cylindrical inner wall and a cylindrical outer wall axially parallel thereto. It has a lower end fused to the inner wall. A gas distribution tube has a gas inlet end and a gas distributor end, the gas distributor end comprising a split tee having a junction.

Abstract: A heat-fused unitary ferrule includes a first glass substrate and a second glass substrate. The first glass substrate and the second glass substrate are unitarily joined by heat-fusion. A method for producing a heat-fused unitary ferrule includes the steps of: bringing a surface to be heat-fused of the first glass substrate having a groove for fixing an optical fiber into contact with a surface to be heat-fused of the second glass substrate; and subjecting the first and second glass substrates to heat-fusion at a temperature ranging from (Tg1-100).degree. C. to (Tg2+150).degree. C. (Tg1 denotes the higher glass transition temperature, and Tg2 denotes the lower glass transition temperature of the first and second glass substrates).

Abstract: In a method of forming a glass to metal seal between one end of a glass lamp tube (for, for example, a flash lamp or laser lamp), a metal rod which is terminated by the electrode is heated, and has molten glass sealing material applied thereto to form a beaded sleeve. The tube to which the electrode is to be attached is heated, and further sealing material is applied to the end of the tube so as to create a dome of material which closes off that end. Excess sealing material is then removed from the dome so as to leave an annulus of sealing material around the end wall of the, now open, tube. The electrode and rod can then be inserted into the tube until the bead on the rod is near the annulus at the end of the tube, and the tube can be worked, while being rotated, down to form a frusto-conical end such that movement of the bead relative to the annulus then brings the two into contact while a positive gas pressure is maintained within the tube.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a side glass for a vacuum fluorescent display is provided wherein a glass is cut to a predetermined length in accordance with the size of the vacuum fluorescent display. The glass is then bent to coincide two ends of the glass in accordance with the shape of the vacuum fluorescent display, and the two ends of the glass are adhered to one another. A sealing frit is applied on the upper side of the glass, and is plasticized and cured.

Abstract: A method for the controlled bending of anodically bonded two-dimensional composites of glass and metal or semiconductor materials. The composite is heated after bonding, for up to 200 hours to a temperature of from 250.degree. C. to Tg-10 K. As a result of this heating, controlled compaction of the glass body and, hence, bending of the composite, are achieved to reduce or reverse any distortion that has occurred during bonding.

Abstract: Methods of making gradient property refractive elements such as gradient index lens blanks. The spatial distributions of constituents achieved by subjecting various starting assemblages to various diffusion conditions are predicted. Each such predicted spatial distribution of constituents is converted to a spatial distribution of the graded property. The property distribution which best approximates a desired distribution is selected, to thereby select one starting assemblage and one set of diffusion conditions. That assemblage and set of conditions are used in fabrication of the element.

Abstract: A method for producing bas-relief stained glass comprises the steps of providing glass ground to a powder. The powdered glass is mixed with a vehicle to produce a paste which is applied to a sheet of glass. The applied layer of paste forms a design on the sheet of glass and has a raised appearance relative to the sheet of glass. The sheet of glass is heated for a period of time at a temperature high enough to bond the powdered glass paste to the sheet of glass, but low enough to prevent permanent deformation of the sheet of glass and to maintain the design formed by the paste on the sheet of glass.

Abstract: Drawing, from a first installation, organic filaments in the form of one or more layers which converge toward a same point, and drawing, from a second installation, glass filaments which are joined together to form at least one strand. Guiding structure is provided to laterally introduce the glass strand into the area defined by the organic filaments before it is combined with the filaments at their point of convergence. A blowing device (48, 36) is also provided either outside or inside the area defined by the organic fibers.

Abstract: A process for producing a preform (44) includes pretreating roving by submerging it in a tank (18) and cooling the binder (20) on the glass fibers before the glass fibers are chopped. The fibers and solidified binder are then chopped and deposited onto a preform screen (32). Heat is applied to soften the binder that is on the chopped glass fibers and cooled to set the binder and form the preform on the screen.

Abstract: An optical fiber coupler having a crosstalk characteristic of at least 18 dB. The optical fiber coupler includes a plurality of optical fibers. A length of glass in the optical fibers is exposed by removing the covering. The glass lengths are fused together and extended, during which time the fibers are twisted and subjected to a tension. The twisted fibers are then fixed to a protecting member while the tension is sustained.

Abstract: The first process for producing an optical fiber coupler includes a first step wherein at least one of the optical fibers to be used is stripped of the coating, a second step in which the bare portion of that optical fiber is heated for a predetermined time to diffuse the dopants, a third step wherein the other optical fibers which have not been heat-treated are stripped of their coating, a fourth step in which the bare portions of all the optical fibers are heated as they are brought into intimate contact, thereby forming a unitary portion, and a fifth step wherein the unitary portion is drawn via heating to form the coupling portion of an optical fiber coupler.

Abstract: An optical fiber fusion splicer apparatus (20) comprises a laser power source that produces a laser beam (32) having a laser beam axis (26). The laser power source includes a laser (22), a shutter (28) that controllably blocks and passes the laser beam, and an optical system (30) that expands the diameter of the laser beam. A parabolic mirror (34) has its axis coincident with the laser beam axis (26) and a bore (48) therethrough coincident with the laser beam axis (26). Optical fiber clamps (42, 46) hold the two optical fibers (40, 44) with their axes coincident with the laser beam axis (26) and their ends (62, 64) at the focal point (38) of the parabolic mirror (34). A sensor (82) measures the power reaching the optical fiber ends (62, 64) at the focal point (38) of the parabolic mirror (34), and a controller (72) controls the power level of the laser (22) responsive to the power measured by the sensor.