EP0234326A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Single mode optical fiber coupler and method of manufacture thereof
Assignee: Honeywell International Inc
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Filing: 1987-01-29
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2007-01-29
Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a single mode fiber optic coupler and method of manufacture thereof. The coupler comprises two single mode fibers positioned side by side which are fused in a manner such that they taper down into a substantially circular cross-section coupling region wherein the two cores of the fibers run therethrough. The method of manufacture involves employing a laser source to heat the fibers and a ceramic member. The fiber pair is scanned over the ceramic member to cause the fusion of the two fibers into a single member. Thereafter, while continuing heating and scanning, an axial tension is applied by drawing apart the fibers to form the uniform substantially cylindrical region of coupling which is of reduced cross-section relative to the total cross-sectional area of the two individual fibers.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Corke
- 👤 Billy Michael Kale
- 👤 Michael Robert Keur
- 👤 James Elton Moore
- 👤 Fred Bernard Mcaleer, Jr.
- 👤 Paul Michael Kopera
- 👤 Kerry Lee Shaklee
- 👤 Kevin Lee Sweeney
- 👤 Robert Howe Price
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 19:56
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2821; G02B6/2835; G02B6/2856
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
59 words
In an optical fiber coupler made from at least two single mode fibers fused together into a coupling region, the improvement wherein, beginning at each end thereof, the coupling region comprises a first portion wherein the fibers are fused together and then taper down into a fused portion which is a unitary uniform size coupling zone of predetermined length.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
59 words
In an optical fiber coupler made from at least two single mode fibers fused together into a coupling region, the improvement wherein, beginning at each end thereof, the coupling region comprises a first portion wherein the fibers are fused together and then taper down into a fused portion which is a unitary uniform size coupling zone of predetermined length.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
19 words
A coupler as in claim 1 wherein the outer diameter of said unitary zone is about 40-80 p .
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
A coupler as in claim 1 wherein core separation in said unitary zone is about 15-30 µ.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
A coupler as in claim 1 wherein the diameter of said cores in said unitary zone is about 2-6 p .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A coupler as in claim 1, wherein the diameter of said cores in said unitary zone is about 2-6
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
A coupler as in claim 2, wherein the diameter of said cores in said unitary zone is about 2-6 p .
Claim 8
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of making an optical fiber coupler made from at least two single mode fibers, the method comprising the steps of: positioning predetermined portions of at least two single mode fibers together such that their claddings are in contact; heating said fibers and a ceramic member directly in proximity to said fibers with a laser source to cause both direct and indirect heating of said predetermined portions of said at least two fibers; moving said predetermined portions of said fibers or said laser source in a reciprocal motion across and in proximity to said ceramic member at a rate sufficient to cause said predetermined portions of said fibers to fuse together into a fused region; and applying axial tension to said fused region while continuing said reciprocal motion and heating to cause said fused region to taper down from said individual fibers into a reduced diameter region of predetermined length, wherein the fibers are fused into a unitary region.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
160 words
A method of making an optical fiber coupler made from at least two single mode fibers, the method comprising the steps of: positioning predetermined portions of at least two single mode fibers together such that their claddings are in contact; heating said fibers and a ceramic member directly in proximity to said fibers with a laser source to cause both direct and indirect heating of said predetermined portions of said at least two fibers; moving said predetermined portions of said fibers or said laser source in a reciprocal motion across and in proximity to said ceramic member at a rate sufficient to cause said predetermined portions of said fibers to fuse together into a fused region; and applying axial tension to said fused region while continuing said reciprocal motion and heating to cause said fused region to taper down from said individual fibers into a reduced diameter region of predetermined length, wherein the fibers are fused into a unitary region.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein said ceramic member is a two-part member, one part being of circular cross-section and open at the top, and the other part being flat and located within the one part wherein heating of the fibers occurs in part by heat radiation from substantially all directions around the fibers.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein the axial tension applied to said fused region is sufficient to cause the unitary fiber region to stretch without breaking.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as in claim 7 wherein the power of said laser source is controlled to fall within predetermined values.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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