US4557556A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of fabricating an optical attenuator by fusion splicing of optical fibers
Assignee: Nokia Bell Labs
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Filing: 1983-10-28
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Granted: 1985-12-10
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Expires: 2003-10-28
Abstract
Abstract An advantageous method for fabricating an optical attenuator between the ends of two optical fibers uses the following steps. The axes of the cores of optical fiber ends are misaligned by an offset distance and then one of them is moved along its center axis until the ends of the fibers abut one another. Abutted ends of the optical fibers are melted. While the fiber ends are molten, surface tension aligns the axes of the cores of the optical fibers. Finally the abutted ends region of the optical fibers is cooled into a lumped optical attenuator.
Inventors
- 👤 George A. Decker, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:30
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/264; G02B6/266; G02B6/255; G02B6/2551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for fabricating an optical attenuator comprising the steps of: offsetting the axes of the cores of a pair of optical fiber ends by an offset distance d in a range of twice the diameter of the core to one-half of the diameter of the cladding of the optical fibers; moving one of the offset optical fiber ends along its center axis until they abut one another; melting the abutted offset ends of the optical fibers into a splice; aligning the axes of the cores of the melted abutted ends of the optical fibers by way of surface tension; and cooling the abutted ends of the optical fibers into a lumped optical attenuator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
114 words
A method for fabricating an optical attenuator comprising the steps of: offsetting the axes of the cores of a pair of optical fiber ends by an offset distance d in a range of twice the diameter of the core to one-half of the diameter of the cladding of the optical fibers; moving one of the offset optical fiber ends along its center axis until they abut one another; melting the abutted offset ends of the optical fibers into a splice; aligning the axes of the cores of the melted abutted ends of the optical fibers by way of surface tension; and cooling the abutted ends of the optical fibers into a lumped optical attenuator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method for fabricating an optical attenuator, in accordance with claim 1, wherein after abutting during the optical fiber end moving step, one fiber end is moved through a stroke length l within a range of 2 μm to 10 μm.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method for fabricating an optical attenuator, in accordance with claim 1, wherein during the axes offsetting step, the axes of the cores are separated by an offset distance d equal to approximately two-fifths of the outside diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber ends.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method for fabricating an optical attenuator, in accordance with claim 2, wherein after abutting during the optical fiber end moving step, one fiber end is moved through a stroke length l of approximately 4 μm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method for fabricating an optical attenuator, in accordance with claim 1, wherein the melting of the abutted ends and the aligning of the cores of the axes occur during a dwell time t in a range of 10 seconds to 30 seconds.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for fabricating an optical attenuator, in accordance with claim 5, wherein after abutting during the optical fiber end moving step, one fiber end is moved through a stroke length l within a range of 2 μm to 10 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The method for fabricating an optical attenuator, in accordance with claim 5 wherein during the axes offsetting step, the axes of the cores are separated by an offset distance d equal to approximately two-fifths of the outside diameter of the cladding of the optical fiber ends; and after abutting during the optical fiber end moving step, one fiber end is moved through a stroke length l of approximately 4 μm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-12-09 | 1989-06-10 | 1989-12-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-12-09 | 1993-06-10 | 1993-12-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-12-09 | 1997-06-10 | 1997-12-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |