Apparatus for integrating steps of a process for interconnecting optical fibers
US6122936A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 26, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 26, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 26, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2551
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus for integrating steps of a process for interconnecting optical fibers. The apparatus contains a planar surface having a plurality of openings. A plurality of optical fiber processing modules are suspended within the plurality of openings, with each of the modules configured to execute a different step of the optical fiber interconnection process. A material transfer mechanism, such as a robot arm, is arranged above the planar surface and is connected to a controller. The apparatus can incorporate an optical fiber precision handling tool, which holds, transports and aligns the fibers to be processed. The robot arm is operative to pick-up and move the optical fiber precision handling tool between the plurality of modules. This allows the optical fibers to be transferred through a series of process steps without having to re-secure or re-orient the fibers between the steps.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.