US5277730A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Methods of recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers
Assignee: Furukawa Electric North America Inc
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Filing: 1992-04-07
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Granted: 1994-01-11
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Expires: 2012-04-07
Abstract
Abstract Spliced end portions (30--30) of two optical fibers are recoated in a manner which results in the cross section of the spliced length of fiber transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof being substantially constant. This is accomplished without compromising the adhesion of a curable recoating material (51) to an adjacent original coating material (38). In order to provide such a recoated portion, original coating material which is removed to permit splicing is removed in such a manner as to leave a tapered portion (52) remaining on the end portion of each optical fiber. As a result, the interface between the recoating material and the original coating material is increased sufficiently to avoid having to overlap some of the recoating material with original coating material on adjacent portions of the fibers being spliced. Further, the spliced, recoated end portions are positioned at the focal point of a parabolic reflective surface (75) so that a portion of the radiation which is emitted toward the spliced end portions to cure the recoating material is reflected to engage non-exposed peripheral portions of the recoating material to insure uniformity of cure.
Inventors
- 👤 Ralph J. Darsey
- 👤 William J. Hurd
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 17:11
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2558; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3801
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of splicing and recoating end portions of optical fibers each of which optical fibers is provided with a coating material, said method including the steps of: removing coating material from an end portion of each of two lengths of optical fiber to be spliced each of which optical fibers is provided with a coating material, said step of removing being accomplished to cause a conically shaped portion of the coating material to remain on a portion of each said end portion: joining the end of one length of optical fiber to the end of another length of optical fiber; covering the end portions of the optical fibers with a recoating material which contact an outer surface of the conically shaped portion of the coating material on each end portion, the covering being accomplished to cause the cross section of the recoated end portion of the optical fiber transverse to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber to be substantially equal to the transverse cross section of each of the lengths of optical fibers each having the layer of coating material thereon; and curing the recoating material with radiation from a source of energy by positioning the end portions at the focal point of a curved reflective surface so that emitted radiation to cure the recoating material which passes the end portions is reflected into engagement with peripheral portions of the recoating material which are not directly exposed to the source of energy.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
244 words
A method of splicing and recoating end portions of optical fibers each of which optical fibers is provided with a coating material, said method including the steps of: removing coating material from an end portion of each of two lengths of optical fiber to be spliced each of which optical fibers is provided with a coating material, said step of removing being accomplished to cause a conically shaped portion of the coating material to remain on a portion of each said end portion: joining the end of one length of optical fiber to the end of another length of optical fiber; covering the end portions of the optical fibers with a recoating material which contact an outer surface of the conically shaped portion of the coating material on each end portion, the covering being accomplished to cause the cross section of the recoated end portion of the optical fiber transverse to the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber to be substantially equal to the transverse cross section of each of the lengths of optical fibers each having the layer of coating material thereon; and curing the recoating material with radiation from a source of energy by positioning the end portions at the focal point of a curved reflective surface so that emitted radiation to cure the recoating material which passes the end portions is reflected into engagement with peripheral portions of the recoating material which are not directly exposed to the source of energy.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
60 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of removing coating material from an end portion is accomplished to cause a portion of the end portion contiguous to the end thereof to be bared of the coating material thereon and the conically shaped portion to extend from the bared portion to the coated optical fiber adjacent to the end portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the optical fiber having a layer of coating material thereon has an outer diameter of about 250 microns and the length of the conically shaped portion of the coating material as measured along the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber does not exceed a value of about 0.25 inch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the step of removing includes the step of moving each end portion in at least one cycle into and out of a bath of a fluidic stripping material.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
113 words
The method of claim 4, wherein a portion of the end portion of the optical fiber which is contiguous to the end of the end portion is immersed in a liquid stripping material for a predetermined time to remove completely the coating material from the portion of the end portion whereafter the remainder of the end portion which is adjacent to that portion from which the coating material has been removed completely is caused by the turning of a cam to be moved into and out of the stripping material in one or more cycles to cause coating material remaining on the remainder of the end portion to have a conically shaped configuration.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
52 words
The method of claim 5, wherein the dimensions of the conically shaped portion of the remaining coating material are a function of the temperature of the bath into which the end portion of the optical fiber is moved to remove coating material therefrom, the cycle time and the configuration of the cam.
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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) | 1997-01-10 | 1997-07-12 | 1998-01-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-01-10 | 2001-07-12 | 2002-01-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-01-10 | 2005-07-12 | 2006-01-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |