Use of a laser to fusion-splice optical components of substantially different cross-sectional areas
US6217698A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 29, 1999 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2001 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 29, 2019 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4204
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method is provided for fusion-splicing with a laser beam at least two optical components to a different optical component, the different optical component (e.g., an optical element such as a lens) having a surface that has a comparatively larger cross-sectional area than a surface of the other optical components (e.g., at least two optical fibers). The method comprises: (a) aligning the optical components along an axis; (b) turning on a directional laser heat source to form the laser beam; (c) directing the laser beam to be collinear with those optical components having a smaller cross-sectional area; (d) ensuring that the laser beam strikes the surface of the optical component having the larger cross-sectional area at normal or near normal incidence so that absorption of the laser beam is much more efficient on the surface; (e) adjusting the power level of the laser beam to reach a temperature equal to or higher than the softening temperature of the surface of the optical component having the larger cross-sectional area to form a softening region thereon, thereby achieving the fusion-splicing; and (f) turning off the laser.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.