Method for producing an optical telecommunication element
AssigneeU.S. Philips Corporation
InventorAdrianus J. J. Franken
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An optical communication element comprises an optical fiber bonded in a state of axial compression to a metal tape. The tape may be folded up into a tube and sealed by soldering. Such elements are strong and not sensitive to stress corrosion. Such an optical communication element may be produced by passing a metal tape and an optical fiber in contact around a drum with the optical fiber on the outside. An adhesive, which solidifies or cures during the passage around the drum is applied to the metal tape.
Claims8
A method of producing an optical communication element comprising at least one optical fiber bonded to a metal tape, said method comprising the steps of:
- providing a metal tape having first and second opposite sides;
- applying an uncured adhesive layer to the first side of the metal tape;
- contacting an optical fiber to the adhesive on the first side of the metal tape;
- passing the metal tape around a drum, the second side of the tape contacting the drum;
- and
- curing the adhesive during its passage around the drum;
- characterized in that the drum has a diameter, the metal tape has a thickness, and the optical fiber has a diameter, all of which are chosen so that the metal tape has a path length around the drum which is at least 0.5 parts per thousand shorter than the path length of the optical fiber around the drum, thus providing axial compression in the adhered optical fiber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.