Splicing of crystal fiber to silica fiber with reaction bonding
AssigneeThe Government of the United States of America, as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsRajesh Thapa, Rafael R. Gattass, Daniel J. Gibson, Woohong Kim, L. Brandon Shaw, Jasbinder S. Sanghera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods are disclosed for splicing crystal fibers to silica glass fibers. Embodiments of the present disclosure provide mechanically stable bonds with negligible optical transmission loss by splicing fibers through a thermally enhanced reaction bonding process at lower temperatures than the melting point of the crystal. In an embodiment, mixing of the materials at elevated temperatures forms a stable intermediary material which enhances strength and reduces the transmission losses.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- positioning a crystal fiber through a heating area of a heating element such that an end of the crystal fiber is located at a first offset from a center of the heating element;
- and
- positioning a second fiber such that the second fiber is aligned with the crystal fiber and is located at a second offset from an edge of the crystal fiber, wherein the second offset is determined such that, when the heating element is activated, the crystal fiber and the second fiber will chemically react to form an intermediate region, between the crystal fiber and the second fiber, that comprises a graded mixture of elements that transition, along a length of the intermediate region, from elements in the crystal fiber to elements in the second fiber.
A method, comprising:
- positioning a crystal fiber through a heating area of a heating element such that an end of the crystal fiber is located at a first offset from a center of the heating element;
- positioning a second fiber such that the second fiber is aligned with the crystal fiber and is located at a second offset from an edge of the crystal fiber, wherein the second offset is determined such that, when the heating element is activated, the crystal fiber and the second fiber will chemically react to form an intermediate region, between the crystal fiber and the second fiber, that comprises a graded mixture of elements that transition, along a length of the intermediate region, from elements in the crystal fiber to elements in the second fiber;
- and
- activating the heating element.
A method, comprising:
- positioning a crystal fiber through a heating area of a heating element such that an end of the crystal fiber is located at a first offset from a center of the heating element;
- positioning a second fiber such that the second fiber is aligned with the crystal fiber and is located at a second offset from an edge of the crystal fiber, wherein the second offset is determined such that, when the heating element is activated, the crystal fiber and the second fiber will chemically react to form an intermediate region, between the crystal fiber and the second fiber, that comprises a graded mixture of elements that transition, along a length of the intermediate region, from elements in the crystal fiber to elements in the second fiber;
- activating the heating element;
- and
- bringing the crystal fiber into contact with the second fiber, thereby initiating a reactive bond between the crystal fiber and the second fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.