Self-learning fiber processing system and method
Assignee3SAE Technologies, Inc.
InventorsRobert G. Wiley, John Lower, Brett Clark
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Abstract
Provided is a system for and a method of processing an optical fiber, such as tapering an optical fiber. The method includes receiving fiber parameters defining characteristics of an optical fiber, modeling an idealized fiber based on the fiber parameters to establish modeled data, and establishing processing parameters. A processing operation is performed on the optical fiber according to the processing parameters to produce a resultant fiber. Aspects of the resultant fiber are measured to establish measured data. The measured data and the modeled data are normalized to a common axis and a difference between the two is determined. The processing parameters are adjusted based on the differences.
Claims20
A self-learning optical fiber tapering method performed by a fiber tapering machine having at least one processor, a memory, a heat source, at least one fiber holder, and or more sensors, the method comprising:
- a fiber tapering machine accessing stored processing parameters useful to control operation of the fiber tapering machine to taper an optical fiber according to physical taper characteristics of an idealized optical fiber taper;
- the fiber tapering machine performing a tapering operation on the optical fiber according to the processing parameters to produce a resultant fiber taper;
- and
- the fiber tapering machine automatically measuring physical dimensions of the resultant fiber taper including using the one or more sensors to collect fiber diameter data over length as the resultant fiber taper is created, determining differences between the resultant fiber taper and the idealized fiber taper, and determining if the differences between the resultant fiber taper and the idealized fiber taper exceed a threshold in real time.
A self-learning optical fiber tapering machine, comprising:
- at least one processor, memory, at least one heat source, at least one fiber holder, and one or more sensors;
- and
- fiber tapering program code executable by the at least one processor to:
- access stored processing parameters useful to control operation of the fiber tapering machine to taper an optical fiber according to physical taper characteristics of an idealized optical fiber taper;
- perform a tapering operation on the optical fiber according to the processing parameters to produce a resultant fiber taper;
- and
- automatically measure physical dimensions of the resultant fiber taper using the one or more sensors to collect fiber diameter data over length as the resultant fiber taper is created, determine differences between the resultant fiber taper and the idealized fiber taper, and determine if the differences between the resultant fiber taper and the idealized fiber taper exceed a threshold in real time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.