US5588087A — Overlapping fusion attenuator

Claim 1

Independent Claim 116 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers at said overlapped portion; and holding said fibers for said fibers to be in general axial alignment following fusion of said overlapped portion.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 116 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers at said overlapped portion; and holding said fibers for said fibers to be in general axial alignment following fusion of said overlapped portion.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 22 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein said placing step includes disposing said fibers in side-by-side abutting relation at said overlapped portion.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 1 wherein said placing step includes placing said fibers in parallel alignment at said overlapped portion.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 17 words

A method according to claim 1 comprising applying said energy to move said cores toward one another.

Claim 6

Independent Claim 112 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers at said overlapped portion to form a fused overlapped portion; and measuring an attenuation through said fused overlapped portion.

Claim 7

Independent Claim 112 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers at said overlapped portion to form a fused overlapped portion; and measuring an attenuation through said fused overlapped portion.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 29 words

A method according to claim 5 further comprising applying an additional application of energy to said overlapped portion after said measuring and measuring said attenuation after said additional application.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 34 words

A method according to claim 6 further comprising performing subsequent additional applications of energy to said overlapped portion followed by subsequent additional measurement of said attenuation until a measured attenuation achieves a desired attenuation.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 5 wherein said placing includes disposing said fibers in side-by-side abutting relation at said overlapped portion.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 155 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; initially applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers at said overlapped portion; and wherein said placing step includes placing a first and second anchor location of said first and second fibers, respectively, in relative positioning with axes of said first and second cores offset at said first and second anchor locations; and urging said first and second cores at said first and second anchor locations toward an axial alignment.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 155 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; initially applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers at said overlapped portion; and wherein said placing step includes placing a first and second anchor location of said first and second fibers, respectively, in relative positioning with axes of said first and second cores offset at said first and second anchor locations; and urging said first and second cores at said first and second anchor locations toward an axial alignment.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 9 wherein said placing includes disposing said fibers in side-by-side abutting relation at said overlapped portion.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 128 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; initially applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers at said overlapped portion; and forming a reduced diameter portion on at least one of said first and second claddings and, in said placing step, positioning said reduced diameter portion at said overlapped portion.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 128 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; initially applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers at said overlapped portion; and forming a reduced diameter portion on at least one of said first and second claddings and, in said placing step, positioning said reduced diameter portion at said overlapped portion.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 11 wherein said placing includes disposing said fibers in side-by-side abutting relation at said overlapped portion.

Claim 17

Independent Claim 99 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; and applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers substantially throughout said overlapped portion.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 99 words

A method for fabricating an optical attenuator from at least a first and a second optical fiber having first and second claddings, respectively, and each of said first and second fibers having longitudinally extending axes extending coaxially with said cores, surrounding first and second cores, respectively, said method comprising the steps of: placing said first and second fibers with said axes of said fibers in closely-spaced overlapping relation to define an overlapped portion of said fibers; and applying thermal energy to said overlapped portion to at least partially fuse said first and second fibers substantially throughout said overlapped portion.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 21 words

A method according to claim 13 wherein said placing includes disposing said fibers in side-by-side abutting relation at said overlapped portion.

Claim 20

Independent Claim 164 words

A method for fabricating a fiber optic attenuator comprising the steps of: providing first and second fiber segments, each segment having a first end and a second end, a portion of each segment including the first end being referred to as a first end portion, the fiber segments being characterized by a fiber diameter and the first end portions having respective radially outer surfaces; bringing the respective first end portions of the fiber segments into a relative position such that the radially outer surfaces of the respective first end portions contact each other and the respective first end portions overlap by an axial distance greater than the fiber diameter; heating the respective first end portions so that they assume a plastic state; adjusting the relative axial positioning of the respective first end portions while the respective first end portions are in the plastic state to achieve a desired degree of attenuation; and cooling the respective first and end portions to form a fused splice.

Claim 21

Independent Claim 164 words

A method for fabricating a fiber optic attenuator comprising the steps of: providing first and second fiber segments, each segment having a first end and a second end, a portion of each segment including the first end being referred to as a first end portion, the fiber segments being characterized by a fiber diameter and the first end portions having respective radially outer surfaces; bringing the respective first end portions of the fiber segments into a relative position such that the radially outer surfaces of the respective first end portions contact each other and the respective first end portions overlap by an axial distance greater than the fiber diameter; heating the respective first end portions so that they assume a plastic state; adjusting the relative axial positioning of the respective first end portions while the respective first end portions are in the plastic state to achieve a desired degree of attenuation; and cooling the respective first and end portions to form a fused splice.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 15 wherein the axial distance is in the range of about 0.5-5.0 mm.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 15 wherein the axial distance is in the range of 1-3 mm.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 15, and further comprising the step of injecting light into the second end of the first fiber segment and monitoring the light that emerges from the second end of the second fiber segment, and wherein said adjusting step is performed in response to the monitored light.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 86 words

A fiber optic attenuator comprising: first and second fiber segments, each having respective first and second ends, a portion of each segment including the first end being referred to as a first end portion, said fiber segments being characterized by a fiber diameter; said respective first end portions being fused to each other and overlapping each other in an overlap region by an axial distance that is greater than said fiber diameter, said respective second ends being located on longitudinally opposite sides of said overlap region.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 86 words

A fiber optic attenuator comprising: first and second fiber segments, each having respective first and second ends, a portion of each segment including the first end being referred to as a first end portion, said fiber segments being characterized by a fiber diameter; said respective first end portions being fused to each other and overlapping each other in an overlap region by an axial distance that is greater than said fiber diameter, said respective second ends being located on longitudinally opposite sides of said overlap region.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 12 words

The attenuator of claim 19 wherein said fiber segments are single-mode fiber.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 18 words

The attenuator of claim 20 wherein the attenuator is characterized by an attenuation greater than about 3 dB.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 12 words

The attenuator of claim 19 wherein said fiber segments are multimode fiber.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 18 words

The attenuator of claim 22 wherein the attenuator is characterized by an attenuation greater than about 10 dB.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 100 words

A fiber optic attenuator comprising: first and second segments, each having respective first and second ends, a portion of each segment including the first end being referred to as a first end portion, said fiber segments being characterized by a fiber diameter and having respective cores having respective ends; said respective first end portions being fused to each other with said ends of said cores completely encapsulated and overlapping each other in an overlap region by an axial distance that is greater than said fiber diameter, said respective second ends being located on longitudinally opposite sides of said overlap region.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 100 words

A fiber optic attenuator comprising: first and second segments, each having respective first and second ends, a portion of each segment including the first end being referred to as a first end portion, said fiber segments being characterized by a fiber diameter and having respective cores having respective ends; said respective first end portions being fused to each other with said ends of said cores completely encapsulated and overlapping each other in an overlap region by an axial distance that is greater than said fiber diameter, said respective second ends being located on longitudinally opposite sides of said overlap region.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 12 words

The attenuator of claim 24 wherein said fiber segments are single-mode fiber.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 18 words

The attenuator of claim 25 wherein the attenuator is characterized by an attenuation greater than about 3 dB.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 12 words

The attenuator of claim 24 wherein said fiber segments are multimode fiber.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 18 words

The attenuator of claim 27 wherein the attenuator is characterized by an attenuation greater than about 10 dB.

Claim 37

Independent Claim 182 words

A method for fabricating a fiber optic attenuator comprising the steps of: providing first and second fiber segments, each segment having a first end and a second end, a portion of each segment including the first end being referred to as a first end portion, the fiber segments being characterized by a fiber diameter and the first end portions having respective radially outer surfaces; bringing the respective first end portions of the fiber segments into a relative position such that the radially outer surfaces of the respective first end portions contact each other and the respective first end portions overlap in an overlap region by an axial distance greater than the fiber diameter with said respective second ends being located on longitudinally opposite sides of said overlap region; heating the respective first end portions so that they assume a plastic state; adjusting the relative axial positioning of the respective first end portions while the respective first end portions are in the plastic state to achieve a desired degree of attenuation; and cooling the respective first end portions to form a fused splice.

Claim 38

Independent Claim 182 words

A method for fabricating a fiber optic attenuator comprising the steps of: providing first and second fiber segments, each segment having a first end and a second end, a portion of each segment including the first end being referred to as a first end portion, the fiber segments being characterized by a fiber diameter and the first end portions having respective radially outer surfaces; bringing the respective first end portions of the fiber segments into a relative position such that the radially outer surfaces of the respective first end portions contact each other and the respective first end portions overlap in an overlap region by an axial distance greater than the fiber diameter with said respective second ends being located on longitudinally opposite sides of said overlap region; heating the respective first end portions so that they assume a plastic state; adjusting the relative axial positioning of the respective first end portions while the respective first end portions are in the plastic state to achieve a desired degree of attenuation; and cooling the respective first end portions to form a fused splice.

Claim 39

Dependent Claim 17 words

The method of claim 29 wherein the axial distance is in the range of about 0.5-5.0 mm.

Claim 40

Dependent Claim 16 words

The method of claim 29 wherein the axial distance is in the range of 1-3 mm.

Claim 41

Dependent Claim 51 words

The method of claim 29, and further comprising the steps of injecting light into the second end of the first fiber segment and monitoring the light that emerges from the second end of the second fiber segment, and wherein said adjusting step is performed in response to the light, so monitored.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1999-12-24	2000-06-24	2000-12-24	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2003-12-24	2004-06-24	2004-12-24	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2007-12-24	2008-06-24	2008-12-24	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Overlapping fusion attenuator

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