Miniature fiberoptic bend device and method
US5138676A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 15, 1990 |
| Grant date | Aug 11, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/3894
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
Bends in optical fibers can be miniaturized by reducing the diameter of a section of the fiber in the region where bending is desired to a condition in which the optical properties of the fiber have reduced bend-loss sensitivity. In one aspect of the invention, radii of curvature less than 100 microns (.mu.) and very low optical power loss are achieved. A fiber with such specially reduced diameter may also be twisted about its longitudinal axis to a greater degree than a comparable length of larger diameter fiber. Any optical fiber can be processed by redrawing and/or chemical means to allow such bending or twisting. Bend or twist tolerant regions thus formed may be packaged separately or built integrally into a wide range of fiber optic components, networks, or systems with significant space savings, added performance features and mechanical flexibility.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.