Methods for laser processing arrayed optical fibers along with splicing connectors
First Claim
1. A method for laser processing a plurality of optical fibers comprising the steps of:
- providing a structure having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a plurality of rows;
inserting a protection element between a first row of optical fibers and a second row of optical fibers;
laser processing the first row of optical fibers with laser energy; and
shielding the second row of optical fibers from the laser energy during the laser processing step, wherein the step of shielding comprises;
the protection element being positioned between the first row of optical fibers and the second row of optical fibers during the step of laser processing, andthe laser energy impacting the protection element while the protection element is positioned between the first row of optical fibers and the second row of optical fibers during the step of laser processing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for laser processing arrays of optical fibers and high-fiber count splicing connectors and adapters are disclosed. The method includes the steps of providing a structure having optical fibers arranged in a plurality of rows and placing a protection element adjacent to a first row of optical fibers and a second row of optical fibers. Thereafter, the first row of optical fibers can be processed using the laser. The protection element may also be used to move optical fibers. In one embodiment, the protection element has a first portion and a second portion that have relative movement therebetween. In other variations, an absorption element may be provided adjacent the first row of optical fibers for inhibiting incidental damage to the structure.
29 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A method for laser processing a plurality of optical fibers comprising the steps of:
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providing a structure having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a plurality of rows; inserting a protection element between a first row of optical fibers and a second row of optical fibers; laser processing the first row of optical fibers with laser energy; and shielding the second row of optical fibers from the laser energy during the laser processing step, wherein the step of shielding comprises; the protection element being positioned between the first row of optical fibers and the second row of optical fibers during the step of laser processing, and the laser energy impacting the protection element while the protection element is positioned between the first row of optical fibers and the second row of optical fibers during the step of laser processing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method for laser processing a plurality of optical fibers comprising the steps of:
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providing a structure having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a plurality of rows; presenting a first row of optical fibers for laser processing by a laser and shielding a second row of optical fibers from the laser, wherein; the presenting of the first row of optical fibers and the shielding of the second row of optical fibers are comprised of inserting a protection element between the plurality of optical fibers, the protection element having a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion by a hinge, the inserting of the protection element is comprised of inserting the first row of optical fibers into a space between the first and second portions of the protection element, the presenting of the first row of optical fibers and the shielding of the second row of optical fibers are further comprised of causing relative movement between the first row of optical fibers and the second row of optical fibers, and the causing of the relative movement is comprised of causing relative pivoting between the first and second portions of the protection element, and the pivoting being about the hinge; and laser processing the first row of optical fibers with the laser while the second row of optical fibers is shielded from the laser by the protection element. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for laser processing a plurality of optical fibers comprising the steps of:
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providing a structure having a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a plurality of rows; inserting a protection element between the plurality of optical fibers so that a first row of optical fibers is presented for laser processing by a laser and a second row of optical fibers is shielded from the laser, the protection element having a first portion and a second portion attached to the first portion by a hinge, wherein the first row of optical fibers is inserted into a space between the first and second portions of the protection element when presented for laser processing; laser processing the first row of optical fibers with the laser while the second row of optical fibers is shielded from the laser by the protection element; moving the protection element outward from between the plurality of optical fibers; repositioning the protection element to align the second row of optical fibers with the space between the first and second portions; inserting the protection element between the plurality of optical fibers so that the second row of optical fibers is presented for laser processing by the laser and the first row of optical fibers is shielded from the laser; and laser processing the second row of optical fibers with the laser while the first row of optical fibers is shielded from the laser by the protection element.
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Specification