Optical fiber fusion system
AssigneeFiber Optic Network Solutions Corporation
InventorDavid W. Stowe
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An automated fusion system includes a draw assembly for holding optical fibers and for applying a tension to the fibers. The fibers are held substantially parallel to each other in the draw assembly. The system also includes a removal station that etches or strips buffer material from the fibers after the fibers have been placed in the draw assembly, and a heater or torch assembly for heating the fibers as the draw assembly applies a tension to the fibers in a manner that causes the fibers to fuse together to form a coupler region. In addition, a packaging station is used to secure a substrate to the coupler region of the fibers to form the optical coupler.
Claims47
An apparatus for forming an optical coupler, comprising:
- a draw assembly for holding optical fibers and for applying a tension to the fibers, the fibers being held substantially parallel to each other in the draw assembly;
- a removal station for stripping buffer material from the fibers after the fibers have been placed in the draw assembly;
- a torch assembly for heating the fibers as the draw assembly applies a tension to the fibers in a manner that causes the fibers to fuse together to form a coupler region;
- and
- a packaging station for securing a substrate to the coupler region of the fibers to form the optical coupler.
The apparatus of clam 13, wherein the vacuum chucks are drawn apart at a rate of about between 50 microns/sec to 500 microns/sec.
A method for forming an optical coupler, comprising:
- positioning optical fibers on a draw assembly and loading a substrate in a packaging station;
- placing a portion of the fibers in an acid bath of a rmoval station to strip buffer material from the fibers;
- rinsing the fibers after the acid bath to remove residual acid;
- applying heat to the rinsed region of the fibers to remove remnant liquid acid and water;
- drawing a vacuum through a set of connector ferrules to hold the fibers together;
- applying a tensile force to the fibers with the draw assembly;
- while applying a tensile force to the fibers, applying a flame from a torch to the fibers in a manner so that the combination of the tensile force and the heat from the flame causes the fibers to fuse together to form a coupler;
- and
- attaching a substrate to the fibers to protect the fused region of the fibers to form the optical coupler.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.