Glass manufacturing – Processes of manufacturing fibers – filaments – or preforms – With measuring – controlling – sensing – programming – timing,...
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-26
2001-01-09
Vincent, Sean (Department: 1731)
Glass manufacturing
Processes of manufacturing fibers, filaments, or preforms
With measuring, controlling, sensing, programming, timing,...
C065S384000, C065S402000, C065S433000, C065S425000, C264S001270, C451S041000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06170297
ABSTRACT:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY
This application makes reference to, incorporates the same herein, and claims all benefits accruing under 35 U.S.C. § 119 from an application entitled Jig For Manufacturing Long Period Grating Filter And Apparatus And Method For Manufacturing Long Period Grating Filter Using The Same earlier filed in the Korean Industrial Property Office on Aug. 26, 1997, and there duly assigned Ser. No. 41200/1997, a copy of which is annexed hereto.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a jig for manufacturing a long period grating filter, and more particularly to an apparatus and a method for manufacturing a long period grating filter.
2. Related Art
An optical fiber communication system consists of an information source, a transmitter or modulator, a transmission medium, and a receiver or demodulator at a destination point. The information source provides an electrical signal to the transmitter. The transmitter comprises an electrical stage which drives an optical source to give modulation of the light-wave carrier. The optical source which provides the electrical-optical conversion may be a semiconductor laser. The transmission medium consists of an optical fiber cable. The receiver consists of an optical detector which drives a further electrical stage and hence provides demodulation of the optical carrier. Thus there is a requirement for electrical interfacing at either end of the optical link. Fiber optic communications offer major advantages over wire systems because of low attenuation and high bandwidth available.
An optical fiber cable is an optical fiber waveguide having a core of a first refractive index n
1
surrounded by a transparent cladding of slightly lower refractive index n
2
. The cladding supports the waveguide structure while also substantially reducing radiation loss into surrounding air. The optical fiber cable corresponds to a single cylindrical glass fiber having a diameter comparable to the diameter of a human hair. The optical fiber cable acts as an open optical waveguide. Light which is launched into an optical fiber at an angle less than an acceptance angle demonstrates total internal reflection in the core of the optical fiber. Periodic structures may be incorporated into optical fibers to form optical filters.
An optical filter can be used to guide light to the core of an optical fiber causing the light of desirable wavelengths to propagate in the core of that optical fiber. One type of optical filter is a long period grating filter. The long period grating filter is manufactured by periodically changing the refractive index of the core of an optical fiber. I have discovered that the manufacturing process can be inefficient, time-consuming, and expensive.
I have found that there is a need for an improved apparatus and method used in manufacturing long period grating filters.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve the above problems and others, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a method used in manufacturing a long period grating filter, for physically changing the core of an optical fiber and changing the effective refractive index of the optical fiber.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides an apparatus used in manufacturing a long period grating filter, comprising: an upper body including a first plurality of teeth spaced apart by a predetermined distance, each tooth among said first plurality of teeth extending in a first direction, said first plurality of teeth being formed at a lower side of said upper body; a lower body including a second plurality of teeth spaced apart by said predetermined distance, each tooth among said second plurality of teeth extending in said first direction, said lower body defining a first plurality of grooves extending in a second direction perpendicular to said first direction, said first plurality of grooves receiving a plurality of optical fibers, said second plurality of teeth and said first plurality of grooves being formed at an upper side of said lower body; and said upper body engaging said lower body and forming a second plurality of grooves in said plurality of optical fibers by abrading said plurality of optical fibers, said abrading of said plurality of optical fibers being performed when said upper body moves in said first direction.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides an apparatus used in manufacturing a long period grating filter, comprising: an optical fiber having a first end and a second end, and having a core surrounded by a cladding, said cladding defining a plurality of grooves spaced apart by a predetermined distance; a light source emitting a first light into said first end of said optical fiber; a measuring unit receiving a second light emitted from a second end of said optical fiber, measuring characteristics of said second light, and transmitting data corresponding to said characteristics of said second light; a heating unit heating said plurality of grooves; a control unit receiving said data from said measuring unit, controlling said heating in accordance with said data; and said core of said optical fiber deforming in response to said heating of each groove of said plurality of grooves by said heating unit, said deforming occurring while moving said heating unit to each groove of said plurality of grooves.
To achieve these and other objects in accordance with the principles of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention provides a method of manufacturing a long period grating filter, comprising the steps of: forming a plurality of grooves in a cladding of an optical fiber; removing a coating from said optical fiber; and deforming a core of said optical fiber by heating regions at said plurality of grooves causing light propagating in said optical fiber to become coupled to said cladding at a predetermined wavelength.
The present invention is more specifically described in the following paragraphs by reference to the drawings attached only by way of example.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3535018 (1970-10-01), Vasilatos
patent: 3969016 (1976-07-01), Kaiser et al.
patent: 4049413 (1977-09-01), French
patent: 4662710 (1987-05-01), ten Berge
patent: 5411566 (1995-05-01), Poole et al.
patent: 5620495 (1997-04-01), Aspell et al.
patent: 5681417 (1997-10-01), Jacobs
patent: 6050109 (2000-04-01), Kosinski et al.
Jang Joo-nyung
Kwack Kyung-ho
Bushnell , Esq. Robert E.
Samsung Electronics Co,. Ltd.
Vincent Sean
LandOfFree
Jig for manufacturing long period grating filter and... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Jig for manufacturing long period grating filter and..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Jig for manufacturing long period grating filter and... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2542851