Methods, apparatus and articles for optical fiber systems
US4679907A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 19, 1984 |
| Grant date | Jul 14, 1987 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 19, 2004 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC —)General
Abstract
Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning, and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof. At least one of the holding means is movable to maximize the withdrawn optical signal and thus to align the fibers. The invention also includes novel splices which can be made in this way and novel splicing aids for use in the method…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.