Reel to reel manufacturing line
First Claim
1. An apparatus for handling an optical fiber having a first end and a second end, the optical fiber being at least partially wound on a reel, said apparatus comprising:
- an optical device for coupling with the first end of the optical fiber to allow an optical signal to be exchanged between said optical device and the optical fiber;
a de-winding mechanism for unwinding the optical fiber from the reel without rotation of the reel to enable the optical signal to be exchanged between said optical device and the optical fiber; and
a manufacturing apparatus for performing a manufacturing process on a portion of the optical fiber unwound from the reel by said de-winding mechanism.
13 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to a line for processing an optical fiber having first and second ends, the line comprising a support for receiving a reel with the fiber wounded thereon; a de-winder for unwinding the fiber without substantial rotation of the reel; and a processing station for receiving the optical fiber from said de-winder to perform a processing on a portion of the optical fiber. The invention also relates to a method for writing a grating on a fiber having first and second ends, the fiber being wounded on a first reel and being capable of being wounded on a second reel, the method comprising connecting the first end of the fiber to a circulator; connecting said circulator to a source of light and to a first measurement means; de-winding the fiber from the first reel without rotation of the reel; writing a grating on the fiber with a source of radiation; and measuring reflection spectra of the grating with said first measurement means. The method also comprises winding the fiber on the second reel without rotation of the reel.
31 Citations
61 Claims
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1. An apparatus for handling an optical fiber having a first end and a second end, the optical fiber being at least partially wound on a reel, said apparatus comprising:
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an optical device for coupling with the first end of the optical fiber to allow an optical signal to be exchanged between said optical device and the optical fiber; a de-winding mechanism for unwinding the optical fiber from the reel without rotation of the reel to enable the optical signal to be exchanged between said optical device and the optical fiber; and a manufacturing apparatus for performing a manufacturing process on a portion of the optical fiber unwound from the reel by said de-winding mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for handling an optical fiber having a first end and a second end, the optical fiber being at least partially wound on a reel, said method comprising:
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a) coupling the first end to an optical device to allow an optical signal to be exchanged between the optical device and the optical fiber; b) unwinding the optical fiber from the reel without rotation of the reel to enable the optical signal to be exchanged between the optical device and the optical fiber; and c) performing a manufacturing process on a portion of the optical fiber unwound from the reel by said unwinding. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. An apparatus for handling a continuous length of an optical fiber, a first portion of the continuous length being wound on a first reel, a second portion of the continuous length being wound on a second reel, said apparatus comprising:
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a signal source for introducing an optical signal in the optical fiber to allow the optical signal to propagate in the first and second portions of the continuous length; a mechanism for transferring optical fiber from the first reel to the second reel without rotation of the first reel and the second reel to enable the optical signal to propagate in the first and second portions of the continuous length; and a manufacturing apparatus for performing a manufacturing process on a given portion of the optical fiber located between the first reel and the second reel. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. A method for handling a continuous length of an optical fiber, a first portion of the continuous length being wound on a first reel, a second portion of the continuous length being wound on a second reel, said method comprising:
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a) introducing an optical signal in the optical fiber such that the optical signal propagates in the first and second portions of the continuous length; b) transferring optical fiber from the first reel to the second reel without rotation of the first reel and the second reel to enable the optical signal to propagate in the first and second portions of the continuous length; and c) performing a manufacturing process on a given portion of the optical fiber located between the first reel and the second reel. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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40. In combination:
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a) an optical fiber having a first end and a second end, the optical fiber being at least partially wound on a reel; b) an optical device in a condition of non-rotating optical coupling with said first end of the optical fiber to allow an optical signal to be exchanged between said optical device and the optical fiber; c) a de-winding mechanism for unwinding the optical fiber from the reel while said condition of non-rotating optical coupling exists; and d) a manufacturing apparatus for performing a manufacturing process on a portion of the optical fiber unwound from the reel by said de-winding mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. A method for handling an optical fiber having a first end and a second end, the optical fiber being at least partially wound on a reel, the method comprising:
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a) establishing a condition of non-rotating optical coupling between an optical device and the first end of the optical fiber to allow an optical signal to be exchanged between the optical device and the optical fiber; b) unwinding the optical fiber from the reel while the condition of non-rotating optical coupling exists; and c) performing a manufacturing process on a portion of the optical fiber unwound from the reel by said unwinding.
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53. An apparatus for handling an optical fiber having an end, said apparatus comprising:
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a) an optical device for coupling with the end of the optical fiber to allow an optical signal to be exchanged between said optical device and the optical fiber; b) a manufacturing apparatus for performing a manufacturing process on a portion of the optical fiber to be wound on a reel; and c) a winding mechanism for winding the portion of the optical fiber on the reel without rotation of the reel to enable the optical signal to be exchanged between said optical device and the optical fiber. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59)
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60. A method for handling an optical fiber having an end, said method comprising:
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a) coupling the end of the optical fiber to an optical device to allow an optical signal to be exchanged between the optical device and the optical fiber; b) performing a manufacturing process on a portion of the optical fiber to be wound on a reel; and c) winding the portion of the optical fiber on the reel without rotation of the reel to enable the optical signal to be exchanged between the optical device and the optical fiber.
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61. In combination:
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a) an optical fiber having an end; b) an optical device in a condition of non-rotating optical coupling with said end to allow an optical signal to be exchanged between said optical device and the optical fiber; c) a manufacturing apparatus for performing a manufacturing process on a portion of the optical fiber to be wound on a reel; and d) a winding mechanism for winding the portion of the optical fiber on the reel while said condition of non-rotating optical coupling exists.
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Specification