Methods and apparatus for optical fiber systems
First Claim
1. Apparatus for aligning the ends of first and second optical fibers, comprising:
- (1) first and second fibers each including a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, the buffer having a refractive index greater than the cladding;
(2) first holding means for holding a first fiber near the end thereof;
(3) first bending means for maintaining a bend of radius 1.5 to 15 mm in the first fiber held by the first bending means;
(4) a first optical coupler;
(5) means for directing an optical signal within the first optical coupler such that the signal passes through the first optical coupler and the first fiber buffer at the first fiber bend and towards the end of the first fiber;
(6) second holding means for holding a second fiber near the end thereof in a position in which the end of the second fiber is approximately abutting and axially aligned with the end of the first fiber held by the first holding means;
(7) second bending means for maintaining a bend of radius 1.5 to 15 mm in the second fiber held by the second holding means,(8) a second optical coupler;
(9) means for withdrawing an optical signal from the second fiber at the bent portion of the second fiber, the signal being withdrawn through the buffer of the second fiber and into the second optical coupler; and
means for detecting the intensity of the withdrawn signal;
at least one of the first and second holding means being movable in relation to the other so as to maximize the optical signal detected by the detecting means and thus to obtain precise axial alignment of the cores of the first and second fibers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning, and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof. At least one of the holding means is movable to maximize the withdrawn optical signal and thus to align the fibers. The invention also includes novel splices which can be made in this way and novel splicing aids for use in the method.
83 Citations
31 Claims
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1. Apparatus for aligning the ends of first and second optical fibers, comprising:
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(1) first and second fibers each including a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, the buffer having a refractive index greater than the cladding; (2) first holding means for holding a first fiber near the end thereof; (3) first bending means for maintaining a bend of radius 1.5 to 15 mm in the first fiber held by the first bending means; (4) a first optical coupler; (5) means for directing an optical signal within the first optical coupler such that the signal passes through the first optical coupler and the first fiber buffer at the first fiber bend and towards the end of the first fiber; (6) second holding means for holding a second fiber near the end thereof in a position in which the end of the second fiber is approximately abutting and axially aligned with the end of the first fiber held by the first holding means; (7) second bending means for maintaining a bend of radius 1.5 to 15 mm in the second fiber held by the second holding means, (8) a second optical coupler; (9) means for withdrawing an optical signal from the second fiber at the bent portion of the second fiber, the signal being withdrawn through the buffer of the second fiber and into the second optical coupler; and means for detecting the intensity of the withdrawn signal; at least one of the first and second holding means being movable in relation to the other so as to maximize the optical signal detected by the detecting means and thus to obtain precise axial alignment of the cores of the first and second fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A method of axially aligning the ends of first and second optical fibers, each fiber comprising a core, a cladding surrounding the core, and a buffer surrounding the cladding, the buffer having a refractive index greater than the cladding, which method comprises the steps of:
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holding the first and second fibers so that the ends of the fibers are positioned in approximately abutting and axially aligned relationship; directing an optical signal within a first optical coupler such that the signal passes through a buffer of the first fiber and towards the end of the first fiber to be aligned; forming a bent portion in the second fiber by bending the second fiber near the end to be joined; withdrawing the optical signal from the bent portion of the second fiber through a buffer of the second fiber and into a second optical coupler at a location near the end to be aligned and detecting the intensity of the withdrawn signal; and moving at least one of the fibers to obtain precise axial alignment of the cores of the first and second fibers. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification