Method and apparatus for operational low-stress optical fiber storage
US7000863B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 29, 2003 |
| Grant date | Feb 21, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 25, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/4457
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A reel for storing optical fiber is disclosed that significantly reduces the torsional force applied to optical fiber as the fiber is being wound onto the reel for storage. The optical fiber reel comprises two spindles that are offset with respect to the rotational center of the reel. Such an arrangement causes the fiber to be wound onto the reel in a substantially linear fashion, thus preventing the torsional force and resulting twisting that cause micro-cracks to develop. The spindles are of a sufficiently large diameter to facilitate operational use of the fiber while stored on the spindle without increasing the attenuation of signals that could result from the use of a smaller diameter spindle.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.