Method and apparatus for reshaping and polishing an end face of an optical fiber
AssigneeAllied Corporation
InventorJohn P. Nijman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The end face of an optical fiber is urged against the highly polished surface of a disk as a laser beam is directed toward the disk to heat the end face above its softening temperature and cause it to conform to the contour and finish of the highly polished surface. A termination ferrule may be simultaneously mounted on the fiber optic cable with a heat bonding agent, using as a heat source either the laser beam or an auxiliary heat source. A hand-held, gun-type unit with a built-in disk and triggered laser can be used to polish and terminate optical fibers in the field.
Claims17
A method of polishing the end face of an optical fiber comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold having a rounded polished surface adapted for contacting the optical fiber end face;
- urging the end face and polished surface into contact;
- and
- directing radiation from a laser onto the mold in order to heat the end face to a temperature above the softening temperature of the fiber and, thereby, to cause the end face to conform to the polished surface.
A method of terminating a fiber optic cable containing an optical fiber with an end face at one end of the cable, comprising the steps of:
- providing a tubular member having an inner surface that is in close proximity to and surrounds the fiber optic cable and a heat bonding agent that is between the inner surface and the cable;
- providing a mold having a rounded polished surface adapted for contacting the end face;
- urging the end face and polished surface into contact;
- directing radiation from a laser onto the mold in order to heat the end face to a temperature above the softening temperature of the fiber and, thereby, to cause the end face to conform to the polished surface;
- and
- heating the heat bonding agent to bond the tubular member to the cable.
An apparatus for polishing the end face of an optical fiber comprising:
- a mold having a rounded polished surface on at least one side;
- means for holding the optical fiber and mold so that the end face and polished surface are urged into contact;
- and
- laser means for heating the end face to a temperature above the softening temperature of the fiber to cause the end face to conform to the polished surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.