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Thermally-shaped optical fiber and a method for forming the optical fiber

a technology of thermally shaped optical fibers and optical fibers, applied in the direction of optical waveguide light guides, optical fibres with graded refractive index cores/claddings, instruments, etc., can solve problems such as insertion loss, achieve the effect of reducing the formation of unwanted optical artifacts, avoiding abrupt changes in the variation of the index of refraction, and avoiding insertion loss of optical fibers

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-01-05
CULBERT JOHN M +1
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The method significantly reduces insertion loss by avoiding abrupt changes in refractive index and self-focusing lenses, enabling more efficient optical coupling and minimizing curvature and surface anomalies, resulting in a smoother end finish and improved alignment of optical fibers.

Problems solved by technology

Both of the aforementioned optical artifacts, abrupt changes in indices of refraction and the self-focusing lens, leads to insertion loss.

Method used

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  • Thermally-shaped optical fiber and a method for forming the optical fiber
  • Thermally-shaped optical fiber and a method for forming the optical fiber
  • Thermally-shaped optical fiber and a method for forming the optical fiber

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Embodiment Construction

[0034] Referring to FIG. 3, an exemplary system 32 that is suitable for shaping optical fibers in accordance with the present invention is shown. The system 32 includes a laser source 34 in optical communication with a platen 36 through a pick-off mirror 38 and beam shaping optics 40. The platen 36 is attached to a stage 42 that is moveably attached to a frame 44. Specifically, stage 42 is moveably attached to the frame 44 to reciprocate along at least one axis 46a. Stage 42 may also be attached to move along an axis orthogonal to axis 46a, shown as 46b. To that end, a servo-mechanism 48, in data communication with a processor 50, is coupled to the stage 42 to facilitate movement along both axes 46a and 46b under control of the processor 50. In this manner, positional control along the axes 46a and 46b was achieved within 4 μm, with the laser source 34 being able to impinge a beam 52 upon any area of the platen 36, desired. In the present example, one or more optical fibers 54 are a...

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Abstract

A thermally-shaped optical fiber and a method for forming the same so as to minimize the presence of optical artifacts in the optical fiber that contributes to insertion loss.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] The present application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10 / 167,071, filed on Jun. 11, 2002, entitled “A Thermally-Shaped Optical Fiber and a Method for Forming the Optical Fiber,” which is incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to optical waveguides. More particularly, the present invention is directed toward forming optical waveguides from optical fibers, which are suitable for use in data communication. [0003] To minimize insertion loss, the loss of optical energy when coupling data links in fiber-optic communication systems, it is important to correctly match the aperture through which optical energy is transmitted with the aperture through which optical energy is detected. As a result, the areas of the apertures must be correctly sized and aligned. [0004] The ideal interconnection of one fiber to another would have two fibers that are optically and physic...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G02B6/028G02B6/255
CPCG02B6/2552G02B6/25
Inventor CULBERT, JOHN M.MAYS, ROBERT JR.
Owner CULBERT JOHN M