Laser welding of optical fibers in perforated elements and associated optical elements

US11573379B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• TRUMPF LASER GMBH · DE

Inventors

• Stefan Fuchs · Niedernberg, DE
• Dominik Bauer · Germering, DE
• Michael Scharun · Schramberg, DE
• Helge Höck · Schramberg, DE
• Stefan Baumbach · Oberwolfach, DE
• Manuel Schindler · Empfingen, DE
• Maike Proßotowicz · Vossenack, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: May 25, 2021
• Grant date: Feb 7, 2023
• Expiry date: May 25, 2041

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/4237
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for welding optical fibers and perforated elements by pulsed laser beam are provided. In one aspect, a method includes focusing a pulsed laser beam onto a region of a joining surface formed by an outer circumference of an optical fiber and an inner circumference of a hole of a perforated element, a beam direction of the pulsed laser beam running in an axial direction of the joining surface, and moving a laser focus of the pulsed laser beam in the region axially in or counter to the beam direction to produce at least one weld seam in the region. The optical fiber and the perforated element are locally melted in the region by the pulsed laser beam focused into a material of the optical fiber and a material of the perforated element and are thereby welded to one another.