Patent EP0151008A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0151008A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Light launch detection and splicing devices for loose tube buffered optical fiber
Assignee: Raychem Corp
•
Filing: 1985-01-25
•
Granted: —
•
Expires: 2005-01-25
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus for splicing first and second ends of first and second optical fibers loosely contained within tubes utilizes first and second cylindrical mandrels around which the first and second tubes are tightly wrapped. By tightly wrapping the first and second optical fibers in this manner, a spring action of the first and second fibers within the first and second respective tubes causes an air gap between an outer portion of a buffer of the fibers and an inner portion of the tubes to be eliminated which allows an optical signal to be injected into the first fiber and withdrawn from the second fiber. The intensity of the withdrawn signal is detected, and first and second fiber holders which respectively hold the first and second fibers are moved relative to one another to maximize the detected signal after which ends of the first and second fibers are connected to obtain a minimum splice signal loss.
Inventors
- 👤 Nelson Mu-Chin Shen
- 👤 Vernon Alvin Fentress
- 👤 Abdul Tayeb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 14:15
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3801; G02B6/3803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
246 words
An apparatus for aligning ends of first and second optical fibers, each fiber comprising -a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, each fiber being loosely contained within a tube, comprising: first holding means for holding a first fiber near an end thereof; first wrapping means for tightly wrapping a first portion of said first fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer of said first fiber is substantially in contact with an inner surface of said tube containing said first fiber; means for generating an optical signal in a vicinity of said first portion of said first fiber so that a part of said signal passes through said tube, buffer, cladding, and into said core of said first fiber; second holding means for holding a second fiber near an end thereof in a position in which said end of said second fiber is approximately abutting and axially aligned with said end of said first fiber held by said first holding means; means for withdrawing an optical signal propogating in said core of said second fiber through said cladding, buffer, and tube of said second fiber; means for detecting an intensity of said withdrawn signal; means for moving at least one of said first and second holding means in relation to the other so as to maximize said withdrawn optical signal detected by said detecting means to obtain precise axial alignment of said cores of said first and second fibers.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
246 words
An apparatus for aligning ends of first and second optical fibers, each fiber comprising -a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, each fiber being loosely contained within a tube, comprising: first holding means for holding a first fiber near an end thereof; first wrapping means for tightly wrapping a first portion of said first fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer of said first fiber is substantially in contact with an inner surface of said tube containing said first fiber; means for generating an optical signal in a vicinity of said first portion of said first fiber so that a part of said signal passes through said tube, buffer, cladding, and into said core of said first fiber; second holding means for holding a second fiber near an end thereof in a position in which said end of said second fiber is approximately abutting and axially aligned with said end of said first fiber held by said first holding means; means for withdrawing an optical signal propogating in said core of said second fiber through said cladding, buffer, and tube of said second fiber; means for detecting an intensity of said withdrawn signal; means for moving at least one of said first and second holding means in relation to the other so as to maximize said withdrawn optical signal detected by said detecting means to obtain precise axial alignment of said cores of said first and second fibers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
68 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, said withdrawing means comprising means for tightly wrapping a second portion of said second fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer of said second fiber is substantially in contact with an inner surface of said tube containing said second fiber so that a part of said withdrawn signal passes through said cladding, buffer, and tube off said second fiber.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for collecting and focussing said withdrawn optical signal prior to detecting said intensity of said withdrawn optical signal.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
52 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 3, said collecting and focussing means comprising an ellipsoidal reflector, said second part of said second fiber being located in a vicinity of a first focus point of said reflector, said detecting means being placed in a vicinity of a second focussing point of said detector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4, said first wrapping means comprising a first cylindrical mandrel.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5; said mandrel having a flange thereon limiting movement of said first portion of said first fiber along a longitudinal axis of said mandrel.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 5, said second wrapping means comprising a second cylindrical mandrel.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one loose tube which surrounds at least one of said first and second fiber portions to facilitate straightening out said at least one of said first and second fiber portions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, said first and second fibers being respectively wrapped around said first and second mandrels a plurality of turns.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for aligning ends of first and second optical fibers, each fiber comprising a core, a cladding J urrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, each fiber being loosely contained within a tube, comprising the steps of: holding said first fiber near an end thereof; tightly wrapping a first portion of said first fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer of said first fiber is substantially in contact with an inner V surface of said tube containing said first fiber; generating an optical signal in a vicinity of said first portion of said first fiber so that a part of said signal passes through said tube, buffer, cladding, and into said core of said first fiber; holding a second fiber near an end thereof in a position in which said end of said second fiber is approximately abutting and axially aligned with said end of said first fiber; withdrawing an optical signal propagating in said second core of said second fiber through said cladding, buffer, and tube of said second fiber; detecting an intensity of said withdrawn optical signal; moving at least one of said first and second holding means in relation to the other so as to maximize said withdrawn optical signal and to obtain precise axial alignment of said cores of said first and second fibers.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
223 words
A method for aligning ends of first and second optical fibers, each fiber comprising a core, a cladding J urrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, each fiber being loosely contained within a tube, comprising the steps of: holding said first fiber near an end thereof; tightly wrapping a first portion of said first fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer of said first fiber is substantially in contact with an inner V surface of said tube containing said first fiber; generating an optical signal in a vicinity of said first portion of said first fiber so that a part of said signal passes through said tube, buffer, cladding, and into said core of said first fiber; holding a second fiber near an end thereof in a position in which said end of said second fiber is approximately abutting and axially aligned with said end of said first fiber; withdrawing an optical signal propagating in said second core of said second fiber through said cladding, buffer, and tube of said second fiber; detecting an intensity of said withdrawn optical signal; moving at least one of said first and second holding means in relation to the other so as to maximize said withdrawn optical signal and to obtain precise axial alignment of said cores of said first and second fibers.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of tightly wrapping a second portion of said second fiber to facilitate said withdrawal of said optical signal propagating in said second fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of collecting and focussing said withdrawn optical signal prior to detecting said intensity of said withdrawn optical signal.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of locating said second portion of said second fiber in a vicinity of a first focus point of an ellipsoidal reflector; and placing a detector in a vicinity of a second focus point of said ellipsoidal reflector.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for detecting an optical signal in an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding surrounding the core and a buffer surrounding the cladding, said optical fiber being loosely contained within a tube, comprising: means for tightly wrapping a portion of said fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer is substantially in contact with an inner surface of said tube so as to withdraw at least part of said optical signal from said core through said cladding, buffer, and tube; and means for detecting said withdrawn signal.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
90 words
An apparatus for detecting an optical signal in an optical fiber comprising a core, a cladding surrounding the core and a buffer surrounding the cladding, said optical fiber being loosely contained within a tube, comprising: means for tightly wrapping a portion of said fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer is substantially in contact with an inner surface of said tube so as to withdraw at least part of said optical signal from said core through said cladding, buffer, and tube; and means for detecting said withdrawn signal.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, further comprising means for collecting and focussing said withdrawn signal on a detecting means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 15, said wrapping means comprising a cylindrical mandrel, said fiber being wrapped around said mandrel a plurality of turns.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 16, said mandrel including a stop for limiting movement of said fiber turns along a longitudinal axis of said mandrel.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for injecting an optical signal into a core of an optical fiber, said fiber comprising a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, said fiber being loosely contained within a tube, comprising: means for tightly wrapping a portion of said fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer is substantially in contact with an inner surface of said tube; and means for generating an optical signal in a vicinity of said fiber portion so that a portion of said signal passes through said tube, buffer, cladding, and into said core of said fiber.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
101 words
An apparatus for injecting an optical signal into a core of an optical fiber, said fiber comprising a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, said fiber being loosely contained within a tube, comprising: means for tightly wrapping a portion of said fiber so that an outer surface of said buffer is substantially in contact with an inner surface of said tube; and means for generating an optical signal in a vicinity of said fiber portion so that a portion of said signal passes through said tube, buffer, cladding, and into said core of said fiber.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
26 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 18, said wrapping means comprising a cylindrical mandrel, said fiber being wrapped around said cylindrical mandrel a plurality of turns.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 19, said cylindrical mandrel including a stop for eliminating movement of said fiber turns along a longitudinal axis of said mandrel.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
Maintenance schedule is calculated for granted US utility patents.