Coating removal systems for optical fibers
AssigneeCorning Cable Systems LLC
InventorsJeffrey Dean Danley, Robert Bruce Elkins, II, Darrin Max Miller, Zhaoxu Tian, Stephan T Toepper, Kipp David Yeakel
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Abstract
Coating removal systems for optical fibers are disclosed. An optical fiber includes a glass fiber, having a cladding and core, surrounded by a protective coating. By removing the coating at an end portion of the optical fiber, the end portion may be precisely positioned and secured in a connector to enable reliable optical communications. A laser beam may remove the protective coating while the optical fiber is under tension. In this manner, the coating may be efficiently removed while retaining tensile strength of the optical fiber.
Claims30
A method of laser preparing an end portion of an optical fiber, comprising:
- emitting a laser beam from a laser;
- removing at least a portion of a coating from an end portion of an optical fiber by:
- deflecting the laser beam at an angle theta repeatedly across an optical axis of the optical fiber with a control system to form at least two sets of laser scans;
- and
- directing the laser beam with the control system to position respective scans of the at least two sets of laser scans to intersect the optical axis of the optical fiber at a plurality of radial positions, the plurality of radial positions are equally distributed or substantially equally distributed about a circumference of the optical fiber;
- and
- cleaving the end portion of the optical fiber by:
- removing at least a portion of the circumference of the optical fiber by deflecting the laser beam at an angle repeatedly across the optical axis of the optical fiber with the control system to form at least two cleave sets of laser cleave scans;
- and
- directing the laser beam with the control system to position respective laser cleave scans of the at least two cleave sets of laser cleave scans to intersect the optical axis of the optical fiber at the plurality of radial positions.
A method of laser preparing an end portion of an optical fiber, comprising:
- emitting a laser beam from a laser;
- and
- removing at least a portion of a coating from an end portion of an optical fiber by:
- deflecting the laser beam at an angle theta repeatedly across an optical axis of the optical fiber with a control system to form at least two sets of laser scans, wherein the deflecting with the control system the laser scans of each of the at least two sets of laser scans includes separating the laser scans of each of the at least two sets of laser scans by a pitch distance along the optical axis of the optical fiber;
- and
- directing the laser beam with the control system to position respective scans of the at least two sets of laser scans to intersect the optical axis of the optical fiber at a plurality of radial positions, the plurality of radial positions are equally distributed or substantially equally distributed about a circumference of the optical fiber.
A connectorized fiber optic cable assembly, comprising:
- a ferrule;
- and
- an optical fiber coupled to the ferrule and comprising:
- a first lengthwise portion covered by a polymer coating, and
- a second lengthwise portion, wherein the polymer coating is not present on at least ninety-five (95) percent of an exterior surface of the second lengthwise portion of the optical fiber;
- wherein a microstructure of the polymer coating, adjacent to the second lengthwise portion on the first lengthwise portion, tapers at an angle such that a thickness of the polymer coating decreases toward the second lengthwise portion as a function of proximity to the second lengthwise portion;
- and wherein the ratio of tensile strength of glass of the second lengthwise portion to glass of the first lengthwise portion is at least 0.5.
An optical fiber, comprising:
- a first lengthwise portion covered by a polymer coating, and
- a second lengthwise portion, wherein the polymer coating is not present on at least ninety-five (95) percent of an exterior surface of the second lengthwise portion of the optical fiber;
- wherein a microstructure of the polymer coating, adjacent to the second lengthwise portion on the first lengthwise portion, tapers at an angle such that a thickness of the polymer coating decreases toward the second lengthwise portion as a function of proximity to the second lengthwise portion;
- wherein the microstructure of the polymer coating proximate to the second lengthwise portion includes an increased volume of trapped bubbles relative to the polymer coating further from the second lengthwise portion;
- wherein a bulbous portion of the polymer coating is disposed adjacent to the second lengthwise portion;
- and
- wherein the ratio of tensile strength of glass of the second lengthwise portion to glass of the first lengthwise portion is at least 0.5.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.