Arrangement for automated fabrication of fiber optic devices
First Claim
1. A method of automating fabrication of a fiber optic device, comprising:
- securing an end of a first optical fiber into a stationary gripping device;
transferring the end of the first optical fiber to one of a plurality of movable gripping devices;
moving the end of the first optical fiber along a prescribed path using at least the one movable gripping device, the prescribed path coinciding with positions of at least one device to be threaded by the first optical fiber and primary clamps mounted on first and second stages, respectively;
securing the first optical fiber to the two primary clamps;
applying incident heat on the first optical fiber between the two primary clamps with a heat source;
selectively moving the stages along an optical fiber axis to pull the heated first optical fiber at a pulling velocity;
detecting at the end of the first optical fiber an optical characteristic of the first optical fiber;
controlling the incident heat and the pulling velocity on the first optical fiber, based on a change in the detected optical characteristic, to form the fiber optic device;
hermetically sealing the fiber optic device while maintaining a prescribed position of the end of the fiber optic device;
securing the fiber optic device to a transport device relative to the end of the first optical fiber and a cut end of the first optical fiber; and
moving the fiber optic device from the primary clamps and the movable gripping devices while maintaining a prescribed position of the end and the cut end of the fiber optic device relative to the transport device.
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Abstract
Fiber optic devices are manufactured in an automated environment using a combination of clamps to secure the optical fibers and movable gripping devices that transport the optical fiber during the fabrication process while maintaining control of the ends of the optical fibers. An optical fiber from a spool is removed by a despooling arm having a gripping device, and moveable grippers thread the optical fiber into a set of clamps and place the end of the optical fiber in a clamp designed to splice the fiber optic end to a lead of a testing device. The fiber optic device is formed by dynamically controlling the heating and pulling process based on detected coupling ratios, and hermetically sealed while secured within the clamps. The sealed fiber optic device is moved for testing or packaging using a transport arm having a series of clamps to maintain the position of the fiber optic device and the ends of the leads of the fiber optic device.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of automating fabrication of a fiber optic device, comprising:
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securing an end of a first optical fiber into a stationary gripping device; transferring the end of the first optical fiber to one of a plurality of movable gripping devices; moving the end of the first optical fiber along a prescribed path using at least the one movable gripping device, the prescribed path coinciding with positions of at least one device to be threaded by the first optical fiber and primary clamps mounted on first and second stages, respectively; securing the first optical fiber to the two primary clamps; applying incident heat on the first optical fiber between the two primary clamps with a heat source; selectively moving the stages along an optical fiber axis to pull the heated first optical fiber at a pulling velocity; detecting at the end of the first optical fiber an optical characteristic of the first optical fiber; controlling the incident heat and the pulling velocity on the first optical fiber, based on a change in the detected optical characteristic, to form the fiber optic device; hermetically sealing the fiber optic device while maintaining a prescribed position of the end of the fiber optic device; securing the fiber optic device to a transport device relative to the end of the first optical fiber and a cut end of the first optical fiber; and moving the fiber optic device from the primary clamps and the movable gripping devices while maintaining a prescribed position of the end and the cut end of the fiber optic device relative to the transport device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification