US4284449A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for producing an optical power sampling device
Assignee: Verizon Laboratories Inc
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Filing: 1979-12-26
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Granted: 1981-08-18
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Expires: 1999-12-26
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing a device for sampling optical power carried along a transmission medium. Capillary tubing, cut to a fixed length, is machined to uniform outer diameter. Its ends are machined to a smaller diameter to accommodate end caps. The outer cylindrical surface is polished, and a length of optical fiber is inserted thereinto. The space between fiber and capillary is filled with transparent cement. Caps are cemented to the tubing ends. Protective sleeving is slipped over the optical fibers, the sleeving being inserted within orifices in the caps and cemented thereto. Shrink tubing, covering the end caps and protective sleeving, is heated. The tubing, with fiber, is cut at an angle into two sections. Both cut faces are ground and polished. A discontinuity in the refraction index occurs at the cut faces by coating a polished fiber face with material having a refractive index different than the fiber, and aligning and cementing both sections together at their interface; coating the exposed face with a partially transmissive, partially reflective, metallic film, and aligning and cementing both sections together at their interface; or providing an air gap for index discontinuity, and separating the sections by a small spacer and cementing the sections so as to allow a small air gap therebetween. A photodetector receives reflected optical power from a cut face.
Inventors
- 👤 Samuel M. Stone
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 14:50
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/28; G02B6/2804; G02B6/2817; B; B29; B29D; B29D11/00; B29D11/0074; B29D11/0075; G02B6/42; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4214; G02B6/4256; G02B6/4257; G02B6/4259; G02B6/4286; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T156/00; Y10T156/10; Y10T156/1052; Y10T156/1062; Y10T156/1075; Y10T156/1079
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
262 words
A method for providing a device for sampling optical power carried along a transmission medium comprising: a. cutting capillary tubing to a convenient length, consistent with obtaining good alignment in a V-block; b. machining the outside diameter of the cut capillary tubing to a uniform diameter over its length, then machining the ends of said tubing to a smaller diameter to accommodate end caps, maintaining the axis of the generated cylinders essentially coaxial with the axis of the bore; c. polishing a portion of said cylinder; d. inserting a length of optical fiber into said cut capillary tubing; e. cementing said fiber into said cut tubing; f. cementing end caps, each having an orifice for the passage of said optical fiber therethrough, to ends of said cut tubing; g. slipping protective sleeving over said optical fiber so that said sleeving is inserted within said orifices of said end caps; h. cementing said protective sleeving to said end caps; i. applying shrink tubing over said end caps and protective sleeving; k. heating said shrink tubing; l. cutting said capillary tubing with said fiber into two sections at an acute angle with respect to the principal axis of said capillary tubing; m. grinding and polishing both faces resulting from said cutting of said capillary tube with said fiber; n. providing for a discontinuity in the index of refraction at the cut faces of said fiber; o. aligning said sections and cementing said sections in alignment with each other; and p. positioning a photodetector to receive optical power reflected from one of said cut faces.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
262 words
A method for providing a device for sampling optical power carried along a transmission medium comprising: a. cutting capillary tubing to a convenient length, consistent with obtaining good alignment in a V-block; b. machining the outside diameter of the cut capillary tubing to a uniform diameter over its length, then machining the ends of said tubing to a smaller diameter to accommodate end caps, maintaining the axis of the generated cylinders essentially coaxial with the axis of the bore; c. polishing a portion of said cylinder; d. inserting a length of optical fiber into said cut capillary tubing; e. cementing said fiber into said cut tubing; f. cementing end caps, each having an orifice for the passage of said optical fiber therethrough, to ends of said cut tubing; g. slipping protective sleeving over said optical fiber so that said sleeving is inserted within said orifices of said end caps; h. cementing said protective sleeving to said end caps; i. applying shrink tubing over said end caps and protective sleeving; k. heating said shrink tubing; l. cutting said capillary tubing with said fiber into two sections at an acute angle with respect to the principal axis of said capillary tubing; m. grinding and polishing both faces resulting from said cutting of said capillary tube with said fiber; n. providing for a discontinuity in the index of refraction at the cut faces of said fiber; o. aligning said sections and cementing said sections in alignment with each other; and p. positioning a photodetector to receive optical power reflected from one of said cut faces.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said convenient length is in the range of one to two inches.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said uniform diameter is approximately 0.230 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step c comprises polishing the outer cylindrical surface of said cylinder.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step c comprises machining and polishing a flat surface axially along the outer surface of said capillary cylinder while leaving the remainder of said cylinder in the ground condition.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method as recited in claim 5 wherein a normal to the plane of the cut resulting from step l and a normal to said flat surface lies in the same plane or parallel planes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said step c comprises machining two flat surfaces perpendicular to each other axially along the outer surface of said capillary cylinder, polishing at least one surface, while leaving the remainder of said cylinder in the ground condition.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as recited in claim 7 wherein a normal to the plane of the cut resulting from step l and a normal to one of said two flat surfaces lies in the same plane or parallel planes.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said end caps have a diameter which does not exceed the outer diameter of said capillary cylinder.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said acute angle is 45°.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said acute angle is in the range of 46.5° to 81°.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said acute angle is 65°.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said steps n and o comprise: n. coating the exposed face of at least one of said sections with at least one material having a refractive index different than said fiber, thereby providing for at least one discontinuity in the index of refraction at the cut faces of said fiber; and o. placing both of said sections in a V-block and cementing them together at the interface after aligning said sections on their common axis and angle, whereby said sections are aligned and cemented in alignment with each other.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
84 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said steps n and o comprise: n. coating the exposed face of at least one of said sections with a multilayer dielectric coating having alternating high and low indices of refraction, thereby providing a partially reflecting surface; and o. placing both of said sections in a V-block and cementing them together at the interface after aligning said sections on their common axis and angle, whereby said sections are aligned and cemented in alignment with each other.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
92 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said steps n and o comprise: n. coating the exposed face of at least one of said sections with a very thin, partially transmissive, partially reflective, metallic film, thereby providing for a discontinuity in the index of refraction at the cut faces of said fiber; and o. placing both of said sections in a V-block and cementing them together at the interface after aligning said sections on their common axis and angle, whereby said sections are aligned and cemented in alignment with each other.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 15 wherein said metallic film is selected from the group including aluminum, silver, and gold.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said steps n and o comprise: n. providing an air gap for index discontinuity, so that a discontinuity exists in the index of refraction at the cut faces of said fiber; and o. separating said sections by a very thin, apertured spacer and cementing said sections to either said spacer or to a third member after allowing a small air gap between both said sections, whereby said sections are aligned and cemented in alignment with each other.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising a protective member cemented to said device for added strength of the resultant assembly.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said photodetector is positioned in close proximity to the juncture of said sections to receive the optical power reflected from one of said cut faces.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method as recited in claim 1 wherein step p comprises: p. providing a hole in the path of a reflected beam in the appropriate section, cementing within said hole a waveguide, and coupling a photodetector to the non-cemented end of said waveguide.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said waveguide is either an optical fiber or rod.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as recited in claim 20 wherein said waveguide is substantially long so that photodetection occurs at a remote location.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2020447A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-08-17 | 1985-02-16 | 1985-08-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-08-17 | 1989-02-16 | 1989-08-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-08-17 | 1993-02-16 | 1993-08-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |