Patent · US Expired

Fused biconical taper fiber optic coupler station and fabrication techniques

US5216731A · kind A · utility

5Cited by
11References
10Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 15, 1991
Grant dateJun 1, 1993
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 15, 2011

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/2856
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

Optic fiber coupler fabrication stations allow one-step packaging and reduce fabrication time. The optic fiber coupler fabrication stations produce a single piece construction of the coupler package with improved uniformity. Two linear translation stages are driven in opposing directions using left and right hand threaded rods connected to a common drive shaft driven by a small electric motor. Fibers to be coupled are clamped into the station to provide the necessary tension during the tapering process. The fibers are tied together using cotton thread, and an oxy-propane torch is used to fuse the fibers together while the two translation stages pull the fibers to form a biconical tapered region in the fibers.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.