By Optical Means Or Of Optical Property Patents (Class 65/485)
  • Patent number: 11434162
    Abstract: A radiation pumped heater includes a ceramic substrate which is heated by a laser beam to a steady state temperature. An optical fiber is heated by conduction and radiation emitted from the ceramic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Soreq Nuclear Research Center
    Inventor: Sharone Goldring
  • Patent number: 10921520
    Abstract: Brightness profile data having a number of dimensions is extracted based on image data in a radial direction of an optical fiber, the brightness profile data representing features for each rotation angle of the optical fiber. Machine learning uses training data to create a prediction model that based on the brightness profile data determines a rotation angle of each pair of optical fibers is. The pair of optical fibers are rotated to the determined rotation angle and then fusion spliced. The training data indicates a correspondence relationship between the rotation angle of the optical fiber and brightness profile in the radial direction for each rotation angle of the optical fiber. The prediction model can determine a rotation angle of an arbitrary optical fiber based on brightness profile data of the arbitrary optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2021
    Assignee: FURUKAWA ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Nishina, Hideaki Hosoi
  • Patent number: 9481129
    Abstract: A portable device for attaching a connector to an optical fiber, the optical fiber having an end, the device comprising means for receiving the optical fiber at the end of the optical fiber; and a connector station for autonomously attaching the connector to the optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignees: COMMSCOPE CONNECTIVITY BELGIUM BVBA
    Inventors: Danny Willy August Verheyden, David Donald Erdman, Michael Gurreri, Randall Bobby Paul, Jan Watté, Robert Charles Flaig, Alan Edward Plotts, Michael Aaron Kadar-Kallen, Shelly Anne Buchter, Jan Vandenbroeck, Patrick Billet, Stefano Beri, André Johannes Maria Hilderink, Hernes Jacobs, Petrus Theodorus Rutgers, Petrus Theodorus Krechting, Martijn Johannes Wolbers, Walter Mattheus, Cristian-Radu Radulescu, Paul Vits, Karel Johannes Van Assenbergh, Pieter Cornelis Johan De Jager, Henk Jan Theodoor Van Der Pol
  • Patent number: 9221711
    Abstract: Provided is a process for producing an optical fiber including a processing process where an optical fiber work made of a glass is held by a processing apparatus for an optical fiber work to be heated and processed, wherein in the processing process, vibration caused by an abnormality of the optical fiber work in the heated state or vibration caused by an abnormality of a glass body which is a portion of the processing apparatus for an optical fiber work and is in the state where the glass body portion is heated due to the heating of the optical fiber work is detected by using an acoustic emission sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroki Hamaguchi, Shunichirou Hirafune, Itaru Ishida
  • Publication number: 20140165657
    Abstract: A fusion splicer includes a pair of holder installation parts for mutually butting optical fibers in a first direction, and a fusion splicing part for mutually fusing and splicing the optical fibers by a pair of electrodes opposed along a second direction, and the holder installation part includes a base fixed to a body, and a positioning member in which a base fitting part fitted into the base is formed in a lower side, and the positioning member can be attached to and detached from both of the bases after an attitude is reversed, and a center position in a width direction along the second direction in the base fitting part is arranged in a straight line of the first direction passing through a center position between the electrodes even in a state in which the positioning member is fitted into any of the bases.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 19, 2014
    Applicant: SEI OPTIFRONTIER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Ryuichiro Sato
  • Publication number: 20140090425
    Abstract: An apparatus and technique are used to fabricate optical microresonators. A fabrication chamber contains all fabrication materials and devices. The microresonators are fabricated from a glass preform mounted on a motorized spindle. A laser is focused onto the preform to partly or fully impinge on the preform. The laser's focus position is controlled by changing the positioning of a lens mounted on a translation stage. Piezoelectric control elements may be mounted to finished microresonators to control of nonlinear parametric oscillation and four-wave mixing effects of the microresonator, control of nonlinear optical stimulated Brillouin scattering and Raman effects of said microresonator and wideband tuning of the frequency spacing between the output modes of a nonlinear-Kerr-effect optical frequency comb generated with said microresonator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 3, 2014
    Applicant: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Commerce
    Inventors: Scott Diddams, Scott Papp, Pascal Del'Haye
  • Publication number: 20140056554
    Abstract: Optical waveguide coupling ratios can be modified for a package by providing a substrate with a photonic circuit disposed on a first section of the substrate and a plurality of optical waveguides formed in glass disposed on a second section of the substrate, the waveguides being connected to the photonic circuit, adjacent ones of the waveguides having a fixed coupling ratio. A three-dimensional region of the glass abutting an end of one or more of the waveguides is lased to change a refractive index of the glass in each three-dimensional region, and thereby extend a length of each waveguide abutting one of the three-dimensional regions so that the coupling ratio between that waveguide and an adjacent waveguide is changed as a function of the extended length. The lasing is controlled based on feedback so that each coupling ratio changed by the lasing varies by less than a target amount.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Publication date: February 27, 2014
    Applicant: TELEFONAKTIEBOLAGET LM ERICSSON (PUBL)
    Inventors: Robert Brunner, Qing Xu, Stephane Lessard
  • Patent number: 8613209
    Abstract: In an optical fiber drawing device of the present invention, as an operational parameters corresponding to the real drawing speed in the duration from the moment of starting the operation of the optical fiber drawing device till the moment of reaching the target drawing speed are extracted from operational parameters stored in a operational parameter storage unit and applied to the optical fiber drawing device. The operational parameters include a base preform feeding speed, a target variation of real drawing speed, a gain multiplied by the speed element related with the variation of the real drawing speed, an operation cycle, a drawing furnace temperature, a coating resin pressure to coat the optical fiber, and flow of cooling gaseous helium, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: Kobe Steel, Ltd.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Miyamoto, Norio Fukuhara, Keiichi Sakamoto, Takao Kaneko
  • Publication number: 20130298610
    Abstract: A fusion splicing apparatus fusion-splices end faces 1a and 3a of a pair of optical fibers 1 and 3 to each other. The apparatus includes a mirror shaft 21 provided with a mirror 23 that is arranged between the end faces 1a and 3a of the pair of optical fibers 1 and 3 that are faced toward and spaced away from each other and is movable between a first position to reflect an image of the end face 1a and a second position to reflect an image of the end face 3a, a first camera 25 that takes the image of the end face 1a reflected in the first position, and a second camera 27 that takes the image of the end face 3a reflected in the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Katsumi SASAKI, Kunihiko TERADA, Noriyuki KAWANISHI, Kouichi YOKOTA
  • Publication number: 20130205835
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are described herein for cleaving an optical element at a defined distance from a splice (or other reference point/feature) of the optical element within a desired precision and/or accuracy. In some embodiments, a method includes receiving an indication of a location of a feature in an intermediate optical assembly visible within an image of the intermediate optical assembly. The feature can be for example, a splice. A position of the intermediate optical assembly is translated relative to a cleave unit based on the indication. After translating, the intermediate optical assembly, the intermediate optical assembly is cleaved to form an optical assembly that has an end face at a location disposed at a non-zero distance from the location of the feature. In some embodiments, the location of the feature can be determined with an image recognition system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2013
    Publication date: August 15, 2013
    Applicant: Vytran, LLC
    Inventor: Vytran, LLC
  • Patent number: 8320719
    Abstract: A method is provided for tuning the fiber optic retarder of a fiber optic current sensor towards a desired temperature dependence, the sensing fiber is exposed to a magnetic field or corresponding electric current and the sensor signal as well as the signal's dependence on the retarder temperature are measured. From this initial sensor signal and its temperature dependence, a target sensor signal can be determined, at which the dependence on the retarder temperature equals a desired value. Then, the retarder is thermally treated until the sensor signal reaches the target value. The method obviates the need for repetitively measuring the temperature dependence during the tuning process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Robert Wueest, Andreas Frank, Klaus Bohnert, Philippe Gabus
  • Patent number: 8210002
    Abstract: Various embodiments of the present invention relate to glass fiber forming bushings, to methods of controlling the temperature of bushings having multiple segments, to systems of controlling the temperature of bushings having multiple segments, and to other systems and methods. In one embodiment, a method of controlling the temperature of a bushing having multiple segments comprises forming a plurality of filaments from a bushing comprising at least two segments, gathering the filaments into at least two ends, measuring the size of each of the at least two ends, comparing the measured size of the at least two ends to a desired end size, adjusting the amount of current passing through the at least two bushing segments in response to the end size comparisons.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Pu Gu, Timothy S. McAbee, James C. Peters, Mark Patrick DeLong
  • Publication number: 20110132037
    Abstract: A hole diameter measuring method for a holey optical fiber of the present invention is a hole diameter measuring method for a holey optical fiber having: continuously irradiating a side of a holey optical fiber bare wire with parallel light rays, the holey optical fiber bare wire obtained by drawing an optical fiber base material; continuously detecting, with a detecting portion, forward scattering light that is generated by the irradiation of the holey optical fiber bare wire with the parallel light rays; and calculating a diameter of at least one hole in the holey optical fiber bare wire using a correlation relationship between a scattering intensity pattern of the detected forward scattering light and the diameter of the at least one hole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 17, 2011
    Publication date: June 9, 2011
    Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventors: Itaru ISHIDA, Shigeru EMORI, Tomio ABIRU
  • Publication number: 20110072858
    Abstract: A method is provided for tuning the fiber optic retarder of a fiber optic current sensor towards a desired temperature dependence, the sensing fiber is exposed to a magnetic field or corresponding electric current and the sensor signal as well as the signal's dependence on the retarder temperature are measured. From this initial sensor signal and its temperature dependence, a target sensor signal can be determined, at which the dependence on the retarder temperature equals a desired value. Then, the retarder is thermally treated until the sensor signal reaches the target value. The method obviates the need for repetitively measuring the temperature dependence during the tuning process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Publication date: March 31, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Robert WUEEST, Andreas FRANK, Klaus BOHNERT, Philippe GABUS
  • Patent number: 7698908
    Abstract: A glass base material, which is a base material of an optical fiber, comprising: a core; and a clad surrounding the core; wherein: a rate of change in a relative-refractive-index-difference between the core and the clad in a longitudinal direction of the glass base material is substantially 6% or less.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2010
    Assignee: Shin-Etsu Chemical Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroshi Oyamada
  • Patent number: 6964288
    Abstract: An automated fiber preparation system and method for automatically fabricating an optical fiber. One or more fabrication processes associated with fiber preparation may be performed on an optical fiber without requiring active user input. The fiber preparation system may be configured to automatically carry out each of the process steps for fabricating an optical fiber pigtail. The fiber preparation system may include a fiber preparation module that is configured to automatically prepare one or both ends of an optical fiber in anticipation of one or more subsequent manufacturing processes involving the fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: kSARIA Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony J. Christopher, Arthur W. Johnson, III, Dale A. Herman, Andre Sharon
  • Patent number: 6843075
    Abstract: A method of controlling process variables, for a fiberizing assembly including a rotary fiberizing disk in the manufacture of fibers from a high temperature, molten, clear or translucent, thermoplastic, fiberizable material, utilizes an optical sensor assembly. The optical sensor assembly includes a water-cooled optical fiber sensor probe which, in effect, only gathers light emitted from the external sidewall surface of the rotary fiberizing disk. The light is conducted from the probe to an electronic unit that converts the light energy into a temperature value. This temperature value is used to monitor the process and to make any changes in process variables, such as but not limited to heat input to the fiberizing disk, rate of rotation of the fiberizing disk, burner air/fuel ratio, required to produce fibers having desired fiber properties.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Johns Manville International, Inc.
    Inventor: James Bennett
  • Publication number: 20040177651
    Abstract: While a pair of left/right observation points of a cladding removed portion of a polarization-maintaining optical fiber are being simultaneously observed, the polarization-maintaining optical fiber is rotated about the axis of the fiber. By doing so, aligning stress applying parts in regard to the polarization-maintaining optical fiber is performed so that the polarization directions may be oriented in the same direction along and with respect to the axis of the fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: September 16, 2004
    Applicant: FUJIKURA LTD.
    Inventor: Takeshi Tanaka
  • Publication number: 20040123629
    Abstract: An optical fiber drawing installation is equipped with an oscillating pulley that applies torsion to the fiber alternately in one rotation direction and then in the opposite direction. To control the torsion applied to the fiber, images are formed of the fiber and the pulley. The images are analyzed to determine the position of the fiber relative to the pulley. The torsion is calculated from the calculated position, on the assumption that the fiber rolls on the pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2003
    Publication date: July 1, 2004
    Applicant: ALCATEL
    Inventors: Eric Lainet, Frederic Hayrault, Daniel Coelho
  • Publication number: 20040107734
    Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods for removing or decreasing the undesirable oscillations in MFD and dispersion in an OTDR trace of an optical fiber. In addition, the present invention removes the undesirable oscillations in core ovality of a preform fabricated by a vapor deposition technique. Briefly stated, the present invention comprises increasing the rotational rate of the substrate tube during the deposition process to between 50-65 rpm, preferably approximately 60 rpm.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 4, 2002
    Publication date: June 10, 2004
    Inventors: Paresh Kenkare, Paul F. Glodis
  • Patent number: 6722162
    Abstract: An automatic quartz-tube leveling device for automatically measuring the leveling state of an optical-fiber preform on an on-line basis using a modified-chemical-vapor deposition (MCVD) technique is disclosed. A quartz tube is disposed in a horizontal supporting element such as a lathe. A measuring device is provided with a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device, interposing the quartz tube, for measuring an upper eccentric value and a lower eccentric value along a length of the quartz tube. A controller receives the measured upper and lower eccentric values from the measuring device, compares the measured values with predetermined reference values, and specifies a necessary leveling span of the quartz tube. A transfer device then moves to a necessary leveling span of the quartz tube to carry out leveling of the quartz tube, under control of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sung-Wook Bang
  • Patent number: 6724963
    Abstract: The present invention provides for an apparatus and method to manufacture optical fiber in a way that produces controlled and patterned diffusion of optical radiation along its length. The novelty of the described invention is that the patterns of diffusion are produced at the time the optical fiber is manufactured. The “in-line” manufacturing method avoids the need for post-production treatment of the fiber, which makes the process highly efficient and economical. Light diffusing optical fibers of significant length can be produced. Several manufacturing configurations to achieve the desired effects and their inclusion in the fiber production process are described. The processes can be configured to process optical fibers constructed from a wide variety of known glass, polymeric or other materials. The partially diffusing optical fibers of this invention have applications ranging from illuminated fabrics and toys and to lighting systems and medical instruments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 20, 2004
    Assignee: CeramOptec Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Wolfgang Neuberger
  • Publication number: 20030196458
    Abstract: A method of controlling process variables, for a fiberizing assembly including a rotary fiberizing disk in the manufacture of fibers from a high temperature, molten, clear or translucent, thermoplastic, fiberizable material, utilizes an optical sensor assembly. The optical sensor assembly includes a water-cooled optical fiber sensor probe which, in effect, only gathers light emitted from the external sidewall surface of the rotary fiberizing disk. The light is conducted from the probe to an electronic unit that converts the light energy into a temperature value. This temperature value is used to monitor the process and to make any changes in process variables, such as but not limited to heat input to the fiberizing disk, rate of rotation of the fiberizing disk, burner air/fuel ratio, required to produce fibers having desired fiber properties.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 23, 2002
    Publication date: October 23, 2003
    Inventor: James Bennett
  • Publication number: 20030159472
    Abstract: A laser beam emitted from a laser element is received by a laser receiver. The soot deposition process is carried out by controlling a growing shoot deposition surface at a constant specified position based upon information carried by the received laser beam. The laser receiver is provided with a filter for absorbing heat rays generated by a burner flame and a heat shielding plate made of material having a high heat resistance to prevent the temperature of the receiver from rising. The receiver is also cooled with a stream of cooling gas. The above-described arrangement can prevent the occurrence of malfunction of the sensor portion due to its temperature rise and assures the reliable position control of the soot deposition, achieving a high accuracy of the soot perform produced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2003
    Publication date: August 28, 2003
    Applicant: SUMITOMO ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Nakahara, Tatsuo Saito, Kazuki Kunitake
  • Publication number: 20030126892
    Abstract: A fiber measurement system for obtaining a fiber bending loss data of a moving fiber when compared with a static fiber is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Applicant: Walsin Lihwa Corp.
    Inventors: Shyh-Lin Tsao, Wen-Ming Cheng, Pin-Chun Lin, Chin-Jen Leu
  • Patent number: 6571583
    Abstract: A device draws an optical fiber from one end of a preform melted by a furnace, an optical sensor being disposed a the exit from the furnace to measure the diameter of the optical fiber for the purpose of adjusting the tension with which the optical fiber is drawn. The sensor is surrounded by a mask in two parts joined at two pairs of edges to form a dark chamber through which the optical fiber passes. The mask protects the optical sensor from radiation from ambient light sources, especially rays emitted by the furnace, which cause localized measurement artifacts. It improves the accuracy of measurement of the diameter of the optical fiber leading, by eliminating artifacts, to a reduction in the number of times the optical fiber is cut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2003
    Assignee: Alcatel
    Inventor: Laurent Maurin
  • Patent number: 6516635
    Abstract: Method and system for constructing and testing integrity of a combination of first and second spaced apart optical fiber couplers that each receive and hold two fibers. A segment of each fiber in a separation region between the couplers is heated, twisted and elongated by selected amounts to form a fiber complex, located between the first and second couplers. The fibers in the second coupler are subjected to further controlled elongation. A spectrum analyzer receives a common light beam passed through each of the two fibers and fiber couplers and measures successive maximum and minimum values of an interferometric variable IF and pit-to-pit or peak-to-peak spacing of the IF values as fiber segment elongation is varied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Tera Fiberoptics, Inc.
    Inventors: Yawen Yang, Tzong-Shinn Jiang
  • Publication number: 20030005729
    Abstract: An automatic quartz-tube leveling device for automatically measuring the leveling state of an optical-fiber preform on an on-line basis using a modified-chemical-vapor deposition (MCVD) technique is disclosed. A quartz tube is disposed in a horizontal supporting element such as a lathe. A measuring device is provided with a light-emitting device and a light-receiving device, interposing the quartz tube, for measuring an upper eccentric value and a lower eccentric value along a length of the quartz tube. A controller receives the measured upper and lower eccentric values from the measuring device, compares the measured values with predetermined reference values, and specifies a necessary leveling span of the quartz tube. A transfer device then moves to a necessary leveling span of the quartz tube to carry out leveling of the quartz tube, under control of the controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2002
    Publication date: January 9, 2003
    Inventor: Sung-Wook Bang
  • Publication number: 20020069674
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for automated manufacturing of optical fiber. According to one embodiment of the invention, an automated conveyor system automatically moves spools of optical fiber from one manufacturing process step to another. The spools are preferably mounted on pallets which circuit around on a plurality of non-interconnected track segments. The segments may include, for example, a segment transporting spools from draw, one or more test segments, and a shipping segment. Data-containing devices are mounted to the spool or pallet and allow data to be uploaded, downloaded and transferred as the fiber on the spool is processed and tested.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2000
    Publication date: June 13, 2002
    Inventors: Patricia C. Guy, Patti A. Henderson, William J. Kish, Emanuel Miliotis, Bruce W. Reding
  • Publication number: 20020053224
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the shape and position of a deformable object are described. At least a portion of an object is heated to a temperature sufficient to render the heated portion deformable by a force. An image profile of the heated portion of the object is obtained. A controller compares the image profile to a reference profile and produces an error image signal. Based on the error image signal, an instruction signal is generated. A force applicator responsive to the instruction signal applies a radial force to at least one distinct predetermined location on the heated portion of the object in response to the instruction signal to cause the heated portion of the object to conform to the reference profile. The invention is particularly useful in controlling the shape of an optical fiber preform.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 24, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Roger Charlton, Daniel G. Fletcher, Charles A. Giebner
  • Publication number: 20020021502
    Abstract: An optical workstation comprising an optical breadboard supported by a frame, the frame comprising a plurality of upstanding legs interconnected by laterally extending cross-beams, the cross-beams defining a space into which the optical breadboard is received and laterally enclosed. By laterally enclosing the optical breadboard with the cross-beam frame elements, side protection for the optical breadboard is provided, thus protecting it from lateral impacts against which conventional damping mounts are not effective. In addition, since the cross-beams are part of the frame structure, they provide a stable and rigid platform for mounting optical and other components at the very edge of the workstation outside the optical breadboard area. Anchor points in the cross-beams are provided for this purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 8, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Applicant: Melles Griot Limited
    Inventors: Philip Andrew Davies, Anil M. Patel, Malcolm Sargeant, Brian Watson, Tony Wills
  • Publication number: 20020020193
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a base material for an optical fiber, includes steps of: holding a bar material by a support member; and adjusting to reduce a difference between an axis of the bar material and a rotational axis of the support member. Furthermore, an optical fiber base material grasping apparatus for holding a bar material having an axis, includes: a support member having a center axis, the support member being rotatable around the center axis; and an adjusting mechanism for reducing a difference between the axis of the bar material and the central axis of the support member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2000
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Tadakatsu Shimada, Dai Inoue, Hiroshi Oyamada, Kazuhisa Hatayama, Hiroshi Machida, Tetsuya Otosaka, Fumio Saitoh, Yasuhiro Nakashima, Takeshi Kamio, Masami Terashima, Isao Arisaka, Shoichiro Kemmochi, Hideo Hirasama
  • Publication number: 20010045108
    Abstract: A method for shaping an end of an optical fiber having a core to provide a novel optical fiber (or waveguide) includes the steps of contacting the fiber against a mold having a predetermined shape, The fiber and/or mold is heated. The fibers can be made of silica. The method is well suited for making wedge-shaped (i.e., standard screwdriver-like shaped) fiber tips. In addition, an apparatus for molding a shaped tip precisely located with respect to a core of an optical fiber includes a mold having one or more surfaces of the mold being configured and dimensioned to impart a predetermined shape to an end of an optical fiber contacted therewith, the predetermined shape being precisely located with respect to the core of the optical fiber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 29, 2001
    Inventors: Dan A. Steinberg, Mindaugas F. Dautartas, John Fisher, Martin G. Meder
  • Publication number: 20010020375
    Abstract: The present invention is a process for manufacturing an optical fiber Bragg grating, which in a preferred embodiment includes the steps of: (a) removing at least a portion of a removable coating on an optical fiber element in at least one section to sufficiently expose the optical fiber in the section for a subsequent treatment by a source of optical radiation; (b) fixing the at least one section with respect to the source of optical radiation; (c) directing optical radiation from the source into the optical fiber to produce at least one Bragg grating in the at least one section; and (d) covering the at least one section. The present invention also extends to an apparatus for carrying out the process steps described above, which includes means for coating removal, means for fiber immobilization, means for writing a Bragg grating, and means for packaging.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2000
    Publication date: September 13, 2001
    Applicant: 3M Innovative Properties Company
    Inventors: James C. Novack, Bryon J. Cronk, Bruce A. Rabine, Gary A. Ball, Harmeet Singh, Paul E. Sanders
  • Patent number: 6275631
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating a long-period fiber grating, including a laser source, a first lens for adjusting the focal point of laser generated by the laser source, a dispersing portion for dispersing laser passed through the first lens so that the size of a beam of the laser is broadened, a second lens for collimating the dispersed laser, and a composite amplitude mask for periodically transmitting laser collimated by the second lens, to an optical fiber, wherein the refractive index of the core of the optical fiber is periodically changed by laser which has passed through the composite amplitude mask. The coupling bandwidth of a long-period fiber grating can be controlled by adjusting the size of a laser beam which reaches an optical fiber. The wavelength where coupling occurs is controlled by adjusting the rotation angle of two amplitude masks, so that a desired light transmission spectrum is easily created.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2001
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joo-nyung Jang
  • Patent number: 6237370
    Abstract: A system for automated production of a fiber optic device includes a chamber regulating an environment and/or atmosphere within for the automated production of the fiber optic device. The system also includes a sealable input port, communicating with the chamber and substantially sealing the environment and the atmosphere of the chamber. The sealable input port receives an optical fiber for insertion therethrough into the chamber. A movable holding stage is included within the chamber, including at least one clamp to be secured to the optical fiber. An energy source is disposed within the chamber, and used to apply energy to the optical fiber. The system also includes a gripping device within the chamber. The gripping device includes a cavity adapted for receiving the optical fiber therethrough and for securing thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Inventor: Cary Bloom
  • Patent number: 6203214
    Abstract: Asymmetric stress in the tip of a polarization-maintaining optical fiber is measured using the photoelastic effect to determine the fiber polarization axes of two fibers appointed to be joined. The fibers are rotated to align their respective polarization axes and are joined together. A single polarization-maintaining optical fiber is thereby produced in an accurate, reliable, time efficient and cost effective manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Inventor: Laurence N. Wesson
  • Patent number: 6122936
    Abstract: An apparatus for integrating steps of a process for interconnecting optical fibers. The apparatus contains a planar surface having a plurality of openings. A plurality of optical fiber processing modules are suspended within the plurality of openings, with each of the modules configured to execute a different step of the optical fiber interconnection process. A material transfer mechanism, such as a robot arm, is arranged above the planar surface and is connected to a controller. The apparatus can incorporate an optical fiber precision handling tool, which holds, transports and aligns the fibers to be processed. The robot arm is operative to pick-up and move the optical fiber precision handling tool between the plurality of modules. This allows the optical fibers to be transferred through a series of process steps without having to re-secure or re-orient the fibers between the steps.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Ciena Corporation
    Inventors: Andrei Csipkes, William Keith Chandler, Waqar Mahmood
  • Patent number: 6109064
    Abstract: The transmission properties of an optical fiber are enhanced by cooling the fiber gradually to temperatures of at least -300.degree. Fahrenheit, maintaining the fiber at such reduced temperature for a time suitable to stabilize the transmission properties of the fiber, and then allowing the fiber gradually to return to normal room temperature. The heating of the fiber to restore it to room temperature in part is accomplished by transmitting through the fiber optical pulses of the frequency and repetition rate the fiber will experience in normal use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Networks, Inc.
    Inventor: George A. King
  • Patent number: 6109066
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a device for manufacturing a composite yarn formed by the combination of continuous glass filaments and continuous filaments of a thermoplastic organic substance, comprising, on the one hand, at least one bushing which is fed with glass, the lower face of which is provided with a multiplicity of orifices from which a multiplicity of glass filaments is drawn, and is associated with a coating device and, on the other hand, at least one extrusion head fed with a molten thermoplastic organic substance, the lower face of which is provided with a multiplicity of orifices from which a multiplicity of organic filaments is drawn, the said head being associated with a drawing device comprising at least two drums and with a venturi device which projects the organic filaments into the sheet formed by the glass filaments, and means, common to the bushing and to the extrusion head, which enable the composite yarn to be assembled and drawn, for example by a winding device such as a bobbin win
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2000
    Assignee: Vetrotex France S.A.
    Inventors: Dominique Loubinoux, Daniel Richard
  • Patent number: 6012305
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing an optical fiber porous glass preform using the VAD method which can stably produce a high quality optical fiber porous glass preform, wherein a target bar is only rotatably supported by a chuck and is not pulled upward, a lower tip of a soot body is detected by a laser and a photodetector, and a core burner and a cladding burner is lowered in response to the result detected. A tip position detecting drive and burners are synchronizingly lowered while the deposit of porous glass grows at the lower portion of the target bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2000
    Assignee: The Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahide Kuwabara, Tetsuro Wada, Yukio Komura
  • Patent number: 6003341
    Abstract: A system for automated production of a fiber optic device includes a chamber regulating an environment and/or atmosphere within for the automated production of the fiber optic device. The system also includes a sealable input port, communicating with the chamber and substantially sealing the environment and the atmosphere of the chamber. The sealable input port receives an optical fiber for insertion therethrough into the chamber. A movable holding stage is included within the chamber, including at least one clamp to be secured to the optical fiber. An energy source is disposed within the chamber, and used to apply energy to the optical fiber. The system also includes a gripping device within the chamber. The gripping device includes a cavity adapted for receiving the optical fiber therethrough and for securing thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Inventor: Cary Bloom
  • Patent number: 5942019
    Abstract: A furnace body for a glass preform elongating apparatus which makes an elongated body by passing the glass preform through the furnace body and elongating the glass preform while heating the glass preform, the furnace body comprising a furnace core tube shaped like a cylinder through which the glass preform passes and having so adequate length in an axial direction that the elongated body may not bend or distort its form, a heating member disposed at an outer peripheral portion of the furnace core tube, a thermal insulator enveloping the furnace core tube and the heating member from outside in circumferential and axial directions thereof, and a furnace body outer shell holding the thermal insulator therein, wherein a through hole is disposed near the heating member downstream thereof in an advancing direction of the glass preform so as to penetrate through the furnace core tube, thermal insulator, and furnace body outer shell in the direction orthogonal to the furnace core tube.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuhiko Saito, Tomomi Moriya
  • Patent number: 5843199
    Abstract: During the fire-polishing of a lengthwise extended glass body (3), for example a preform for drawing optical fibers, the glass body (3) is held by a holding device (5, 7), and is heated by a burner (23) moving at a variable advancing speed parallel to the lengthwise axis (19). The surface temperature of the glass body (3) is determined with a temperature measuring device (25). The mechanical stress condition of the glass body (3) is detected with an optical device (29) and can be controlled by varying the burner temperature and/or the advancing speed of the burner. The invention makes it possible to counteract the occurrence of high mechanical stresses in the glass body (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Alcatel Kabel AG & Co.
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Lysson, Frank Lisse, Robert Fenner
  • Patent number: 5841524
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring a moving filamentary product having a device for monitoring the centering of the filamentary product relative to the coating, and a device for monitoring the quality of the coating. The centering monitoring device includes two light sources positioned at 90.degree. to each other in a plane perpendicular to the filamentary product. The coating quality monitoring device includes an optical receiver disposed between the two light sources in the same plane, and at 45.degree. to each of them, to receive the light beams reflected by the coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 1996
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1998
    Assignee: Alcatel Alsthom Compagnie Generale D'Electricite
    Inventors: Bernard Floch, Didier Rolland
  • Patent number: 5558692
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring preform diameter and runout during manufacture of the preform. A Keyence LB1201 displacement gauge is used to determine distance between a sensing unit and the surface of an optical waveguide preform. It was found that the gauge produced an alternating signal imposed on a constant signal. By dividing the signal into its constant and alternating components, preform diameter and runout can be measured. A water cooled band pass filter and housing are used to protect the sensing unit.The preform surface can be mapped using a pair of sensing units, capable of moving parallel to the preform axis of rotation, located in diametric opposition about the preform.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1996
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: William J. Chervenak, Robert S. Wagner
  • Patent number: 5512078
    Abstract: Method and apparatus for providing a linearly tapered bore in quartz/glass tubing includes a laser and elements for focusing the laser onto the glass tubing. The glass/quartz tubing is rotated in the laser beam and is moved vertically in the laser beam to provide a linear taper in the interior bore. The power of the laser beam is controlled and the laser beam is appropriately focused by a lens to provide a desired width of the beam at the glass/quartz tubing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Inventor: Stephen E. Griffin
  • Patent number: 5417733
    Abstract: Asymmetric stress in the tip of a polarization-maintaining optical fiber is measured using the photoelastic effect to determine the fiber polarization axes of two fibers appointed to be joined. The fibers are rotated to align their respective polarization axes and are joined together. A single polarization-maintaining optical fiber is thereby produced in an accurate, reliable, and time and cost efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 23, 1995
    Inventor: Laurence N. Wesson
  • Patent number: 5401290
    Abstract: An apparatus for producing a glass preform by VAD, includes a rotational drive device for rotating soot material, a detection device for detecting vibrations of the soot material, and a control device for controlling rotational speed of the rotational drive device. The control drive device changes the rotational speed of the rotational drive device on the basis of a detection output of the detection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1995
    Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Nobuya Akaike
  • Patent number: 5346521
    Abstract: An apparatus for fabricating an optical fiber coupler having a well-controlled quality and an improved packaged strength is provided. The apparatus includes a holding device holding thereon a quartz tube sleeving therein an optical fiber strand having a spliced portion to be fused, two pulling stages oppositely pulling the fiber strand, a heating device having two torch blowpipes for heating through the quartz tube the spliced portion, a first driving mechanism for oppositely translating the pulling stages, a second driving mechanism for reciprocatingly translating the blowpipes along the quartz tube, and a programmable controller coupled to and for controlling the heating device, the first and the second driving mechanisms. A method for fabricating the optical fiber coupler is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 13, 1994
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventor: Song-Fure Lin