Apparatus and process for the manufacture of optical fiber bragg gratings

• US 20010020375A1
• Filed: 12/21/2000
• Published: 09/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 04/12/1996
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Singh, Harmeet, Cronk, Bryon J., Ball, Gary A., Rabine, Bruce A., Novack, James C., Sanders, Paul E.
• Application Number:
  US09/746,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20010020375A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 65/485
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02123 characterised by the method of manufacture of the grating photolithography G03F7/0005
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/245 Removing protective coverings of light guides before coupling

Abstract

The present invention is a process for manufacturing an optical fiber Bragg grating, which in a preferred embodiment includes the steps of: (a) removing at least a portion of a removable coating on an optical fiber element in at least one section to sufficiently expose the optical fiber in the section for a subsequent treatment by a source of optical radiation; (b) fixing the at least one section with respect to the source of optical radiation; (c) directing optical radiation from the source into the optical fiber to produce at least one Bragg grating in the at least one section; and (d) covering the at least one section. The present invention also extends to an apparatus for carrying out the process steps described above, which includes means for coating removal, means for fiber immobilization, means for writing a Bragg grating, and means for packaging.

Claims

1. An apparatus for manufacturing optical fiber Bragg gratings, which comprises means for removing a removable coating from at least one predetermined section of an optical fiber element, means for immobilizing the section, means for writing at least one Bragg grating in the section, and means for recoating the section.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the means for coating removal comprises at least one of means for mechanically, chemical or thermal removal.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 32, wherein the means for thermal removal is an air knife.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the means for immobilization comprises a first clamp, a second clamp, and means for monitoring the strain applied to the optical fiber between the first clamp and the second clamp.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the means for writing the grating comprises a laser and a phase mask.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 35, wherein the means for immobilization further comprises means for rotationally orienting the predetermined section of the optical fiber element with respect to a propagation direction of optical radiation emitted by the laser.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the means for writing the grating further comprises a grating monitoring system comprising a laser, a photodetector, and at least one rotary optical coupling which couples the fiber to the laser.

8. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, wherein the means for recoating comprises means for applying protective coating to the optical fiber, and means for marking the position.