Back to results
US 2003/0199226 A1Published application
Roll format polishing process for optical devices
AssigneeiPhotonics, Inc.
InventorsPhillip R. Sommer, Alexander Brudny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Embodiments of the invention provide methods and apparatuses to process optical subsystems. In one aspect, the optical subsystems are polished using an orbital polishing apparatus adapted to polish and clean an optical subsystem interconnect surface. The orbital polishing apparatus is adapted to incrementally advance a movable web of polishing material to provide polishing uniformity and consistent polishing performance device to device.
Claims44
An apparatus for processing optical components, comprising:
- a polishing apparatus comprising a polishing table and a polishing material supply apparatus adapted to supply a web of polishing material proximate the polishing table wherein the polishing material supply apparatus is coupled to a polishing material receiver having a web of polishing material and comprises a drag apparatus adapted to provide drag and tension to the web of polishing material;
- an orbital actuator rotatably coupled to the polishing apparatus and adapted to rotate the polishing apparatus in an orbital motion;
- and
- a component support adapted to position a surface of an optical component in contact with polishing material adjacent the polishing table.
1 more element
An apparatus for processing optical components, comprising:
- an orbital actuator flexibly coupled to a polishing apparatus comprising a polishing table;
- and
- a polishing material supply apparatus and a polishing material receiver wherein the polishing material receiver is adapted to receive a web of polishing material from the polishing material supply apparatus to define a renewable polishing surface adjacent the polishing table and wherein the polishing material supply apparatus comprises a drag apparatus adapted to provide drag and tension to the web of polishing material.
A method of processing optical components, comprising:
- rotating a polishing apparatus comprising a polishing table thereon and a polishing material supply apparatus in an orbital direction, wherein a web of polishing material is supported in the polishing material supply apparatus in a manner to provide drag and tension to the web of polishing material;
- providing from the polishing material apparatus a renewable web of polishing material positioned adjacent the polishing table;
- maintaining a polishing pressure of a surface of an optical component against the web of polishing material and against the polishing table;
- and
- polishing the surface.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.