US5184433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic polisher
Assignee: Alcoa Fujikura Ltd
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Filing: 1990-03-16
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Granted: 1993-02-09
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Expires: 2010-03-16
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus of polishing the end of an optical fiber that produces relative lateral movement between the end of the fiber and an abrasive surface while changing the angle of attack of the relative movement at a rate greater than about 10,000 arc degrees per second.
Inventors
- 👤 David R. Maack
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 18:11
CPC Classifications
B; B24; B24B; B24B19/00; B24B19/22; B24B19/226; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3818; G02B6/3821; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3863
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of polishing the end of an optical fiber comprising producing relative lateral movement between the end of the fiber and an abrasive surface disposed in a generally perpendicular relationship to the axis of the fiber, said relative lateral movement being produced in a continuous, curved pattern in the manner that the direction of said relative movement between the end of the optical fiber and the abrasive surface continuously changes at a rate greater than about 10,000 arc degrees per second.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
82 words
A method of polishing the end of an optical fiber comprising producing relative lateral movement between the end of the fiber and an abrasive surface disposed in a generally perpendicular relationship to the axis of the fiber, said relative lateral movement being produced in a continuous, curved pattern in the manner that the direction of said relative movement between the end of the optical fiber and the abrasive surface continuously changes at a rate greater than about 10,000 arc degrees per second.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 in which said rate of change of said direction of relative movement is substantially constant.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 in which said direction of relative movement is progressively, repeatedly changed through all angles of a circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 3 in which the relative movement is orbital.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 3 in which the movement is in the pattern of a figure 8.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said abrasive surface is defined by abrasive particles having a grit size in the range of about 0.1 to 30 microns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said rate of change is greater than about 20,000 arc degrees per second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said rate of change is between about 40,000 to 150,000 arc degrees per second.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the average relative speed between the end of said fiber and said abrasive surface is greater than about 250 mm/sec.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the average relative speed between the end of said fiber and said abrasive surface is greater than about 500 mm/sec.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the average relative speed between the end of said fiber and said abrasive surface is between about 500 mm/sec and 3000 mm/sec.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
44 words
The method of claim 1 in which said relative movement produces relative excursions of said abrasive surface relative to said fiber being polished of less than about 5 mm but at least ten times larger than the diameter of the core of said fiber.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1 wherein said relative lateral movement is produced by providing, between said fiber and said abrasive surface, a first relative motion that provides said continuous high rate of change of said direction and a second relative motion that changes the general location of said end of said fiber on said abrasive surface as said polishing proceeds.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 13 including producing said first motion by moving said abrasive surface relative to a reference point fixed in space and producing said second motion by moving said end of said fiber relative to said reference point.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said first and second motions are produced by superimposed motions of said abrasive surface relative to a reference point fixed in space, said fiber being fixed in space.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 in which said abrasive surface is continuously driven in both X and Y directions by respective linear actuators.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 16 wherein the peak to peak excursions of movement of said abrasive surface in each of the X and Y directions relative to a reference point fixed in space are between about 0.5 and 4 mm.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
25 words
The method of any one of claims 13, 14 or 16 in which said abrasive surface is driven in an orbital motion of limited diameter.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 18 in which said orbital motion is of diameter in the range between about 0.5 and 4 mm.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
26 words
The method of any one of claims 13, 14 or 16 in which said abrasive surface is driven in a figure 8 pattern of limited size.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
48 words
The method of claim 13 or 14 wherein said abrasive surface is of rectangular form and said fiber is moved relative to said abrasive surface in said second, slow velocity in a pattern of rectilinear form over said abrasive surface to efficiently use the area of said surface.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 13 wherein said abrasive surface is defined by a sheet-form abrasive member resiliently supported by an elastomeric member, and pressing the end of said fiber end-wise against said surface sufficiently to indent said sheet-form member and said elastomeric member, to form a substantially convex end on the fiber.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
20 words
An optical fiber having a polished end produced by the method of any of the claims 1, 2 or 3.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The optical fiber of claim 23 wherein said optical fiber is a glass single mode fiber having a diameter of 5 to 10 microns.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber of claim 23 wherein said optical fiber is a multimode fiber having a core diameter up to about 200 mm.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
20 words
The fiber of claim 23 wherein said fiber is a power delivery fiber having a diameter up to 1 mm.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
12 words
The fiber of claim 23 wherein said fiber is formed of plastic.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
11 words
The fiber of claim 23 wherein said fiber is a composite.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of polishing the end of a glass optical fiber comprising producing relative lateral movement between the end of the fiber and an abrasive surface disposed in a generally perpendicular relationship to the axis of the fiber, said relative lateral movement being produced in a continuous, curved pattern in the manner that the direction of said relative movement between the end of the optical fiber and the abrasive surface continuously changes at a rate greater than about 10,000 arc degrees per second, wherein said fiber is a single mode telecommunication fiber having a core diameter of about 5 to 10 microns, in which said rate of change of the direction of relative movement is substantially constant, the average relative speed between the end of said fiber and said abrasive surface is greater than about 250 mm/sec., said lateral movement is produced by providing, between said fiber and said abrasive surface, a first relative motion that provides said high rate of change of said direction of relative movement and a second relative motion at a slow velocity in relation to said first motion that changes the general location of said end of said fiber on said abrasive surface as said polishing proceeds.
Claim 31
Independent Claim
202 words
A method of polishing the end of a glass optical fiber comprising producing relative lateral movement between the end of the fiber and an abrasive surface disposed in a generally perpendicular relationship to the axis of the fiber, said relative lateral movement being produced in a continuous, curved pattern in the manner that the direction of said relative movement between the end of the optical fiber and the abrasive surface continuously changes at a rate greater than about 10,000 arc degrees per second, wherein said fiber is a single mode telecommunication fiber having a core diameter of about 5 to 10 microns, in which said rate of change of the direction of relative movement is substantially constant, the average relative speed between the end of said fiber and said abrasive surface is greater than about 250 mm/sec., said lateral movement is produced by providing, between said fiber and said abrasive surface, a first relative motion that provides said high rate of change of said direction of relative movement and a second relative motion at a slow velocity in relation to said first motion that changes the general location of said end of said fiber on said abrasive surface as said polishing proceeds.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 29 wherein said abrasive surface is defined by a sheet-form abrasive member resiliently supported by an elastomeric member, and further comprising pressing the end of said fiber end-wise against said surface sufficiently to indent said sheet-form member and said elastomeric member, to form a substantially convex end on the fiber.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 29 wherein a series of abrasive surfaces with decreasing grit size is used, a first grit size being of the order of 30 microns, the final grit size being of the order of 0.1 micron.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
21 words
A telecommunications single mode fiber having a polished end produced by one of the methods of claims 29, 30 or 31.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-02-09 | 1996-08-10 | 1997-02-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-02-09 | 2000-08-10 | 2001-02-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-02-09 | 2004-08-10 | 2005-02-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |