Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of fabricating a single-mode evanescent coupling of light between two single-mode fibers each provided with a cladding having an outer diameter of approximately one-hundred microns and enclosing a core, comprising: etching away a substantial portion of the cladding about the core of each single-mode fiber along a predetermined length, wherein the step of etching includes exposing the fibers in a hydrofluoric acid solution a sufficient period of time to etch away a sufficient amount of the claddings to assure the evanescent coupling of light, the step of etching includes the inserting of each of the fibers through an opening and the exposing of the inserted portions of the fibers to the etching solution and the etching includes the wax-masking of the fibers where they are inserted into being exposed to the etching solution to present a continuous smooth transition into the etching solution; placing the etched lengths in a side-by-side relationship; twisting the etched lengths longitudinally about each other to assume a closely abutting helical disposition; securing the ends of the etched longitudinally twisted fibers to maintain their closely abutting helical relationship; and fusing the longitudinally twisted etched lengths together in the closely abutting helical shape to assure the evanescent coupling.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
203 words
A method of fabricating a single-mode evanescent coupling of light between two single-mode fibers each provided with a cladding having an outer diameter of approximately one-hundred microns and enclosing a core, comprising: etching away a substantial portion of the cladding about the core of each single-mode fiber along a predetermined length, wherein the step of etching includes exposing the fibers in a hydrofluoric acid solution a sufficient period of time to etch away a sufficient amount of the claddings to assure the evanescent coupling of light, the step of etching includes the inserting of each of the fibers through an opening and the exposing of the inserted portions of the fibers to the etching solution and the etching includes the wax-masking of the fibers where they are inserted into being exposed to the etching solution to present a continuous smooth transition into the etching solution; placing the etched lengths in a side-by-side relationship; twisting the etched lengths longitudinally about each other to assume a closely abutting helical disposition; securing the ends of the etched longitudinally twisted fibers to maintain their closely abutting helical relationship; and fusing the longitudinally twisted etched lengths together in the closely abutting helical shape to assure the evanescent coupling.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method according to claim 1 in which the wax-masking is done by melting beeswax causing it to flow through the opening through which each of the fibers is inserted and around each of the fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 2 in which the melting causes the wax to flow along the fibers and harden in a smooth transition line so as not to create scores and cracks during the etching process.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 3 further including: encasing the etched, longitudinally twisted and fused fibers in a protective sheath and filling the protective sheath with a fluid having a refractive index that substantially matches the claddings' index of refraction.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method according to claim 4 in which the step of placing and longitudinally twisting involves etched fibers of approximately two centimeters in length.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 5 in which the step of twisting is the helical interleaving of the fibers of between three to ten turns along the two centimeter length.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 6 in which the step of fusing includes locating the etched longitudinally twisted fibers between a pair of electrodes and initialing an arc between them.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 7 in which the step of fusing includes separating a pair of tungsten electrodes a distance of nearly two millimeters and initialing an arc between them.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
A method according to claim 8 in which the step of fusing further includes longitudinally displacing the arcing tungsten electrodes along the etched longitudinally twisted fibers at a predetermined rate to assure fusing of the claddings and the evanescent coupling.