Optical waveguides – With optical coupler – Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
2001-12-02
2004-09-21
Snow, Walter E. (Department: 2862)
Optical waveguides
With optical coupler
Particular coupling structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06795618
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber coupling system, and particularly to a system controlling an optical fiber coupling device.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, it is necessary to distribute a signal stream for use in optical fiber transmission. For example, a signal may be distributed to a number of terminals, or a signal stream with consecutive signals transmitted in an optical fiber may be respectively sent to different terminals. In this case, it is required to apply an optical fiber coupling device for coupling a plurality of optical fibers.
FIG. 1
shows a basic structure of a conventional optical fiber coupling device. The conventional optical fiber coupling device has a guide track
50
and two stretching blocks
10
. Each stretching block
10
has a vacuum pedestal
60
and a power output mechanism
70
for moving the stretching block
10
. Each of the stretching blocks
10
is movably installed onto the guide track
50
. Then the optical fibers
40
(two as illustrated) are fixed in place on the vacuum pedestal
60
, and the stretching blocks
10
move on the guide track
50
by the power output mechanism
70
such as a linear movement driver. The two stretching blocks
10
are relatively linearly movable forming a stretching device so that optical fibers
40
to be coupled are drawn by the vacuum pedestals
60
in a manner of weaving or in parallel contact for stretching. Further, the device
100
has a heating device
20
that movably focuses heat on the weaving node (contact node)
40
a
by conducting inflammable gas, such as hydrogen, so that the optical fibers fuse together by the combined stretching force and heat. Finally, the packaging device
30
packs the contact node
40
a
with a package element, such as a steel tube, to protect the contact node
40
a.
In
FIG. 1
, the optical fiber coupling device is provided with plural devices for driving to control the devices described above. The plural devices include a first, a second and a third auto-control devices
11
,
21
and
31
provided inside, and first and a second activating devices
22
and
32
. The function of these plural devices will be described hereinafter.
When receiving a first driving signal DS
1
, the first auto-control device
11
moves the stretching blocks
10
to a predetermined position according to a first moving parameter MVP
1
, and produces a first state parameter STP
1
corresponding to the moving of the stretching blocks
10
by a position sensor (not shown) of the stretching blocks
10
. The first moving parameter MVP
1
includes a stretching block position parameter, and a stretching block speed parameter, each for defining the desired state, that is, the desired position and moving speed of the stretching blocks
10
.
When receiving a second driving signal DS
2
, the second auto-control device
21
moves the heating device
20
to a predetermined position according to a second moving parameter MVP
2
, and produces a second state parameter STP
2
corresponding to the moving of the heating device
20
by a position sensor (not shown) of the heating device
20
. The second moving parameter MVP
2
includes a heating device position parameter, and a heating device speed parameter, each for defining the desired position and moving speed of the heating device
20
.
When receiving a third driving signal DS
3
, the third auto-control device
31
moves the packaging device
30
to a predetermined position according to a third moving parameter MVP
3
, and produces a third state parameter STP
3
corresponding to the moving of the packaging device
30
by a position sensor (not shown) of the packaging device
30
. The third moving parameter MVP
3
includes a packaging device position parameter, and a packaging device speed parameter, each for defining the desired position and moving speed of the packaging device
30
.
The first activating device
22
drives the heating device
20
to perform the heat focusing operation according to a heating parameter FP when receiving a first activating signal TS
1
. The hydrogen flow rate, for example, can be modulated by the heating parameter FP, so that heat produced varies.
The second activating device
32
drives the packaging device
30
to perform the packaging when receiving a second activating signal TS
2
.
When the optical fiber performs the signal stream distribution, the signal distributed has different intensity distribution conditions according to requirements. The distribution generally represents a coupling ratio, which is a scale of signal intensity of the output end of the optical fiber in proportion. By controlling the stretching force in fusing the contact node, the position and optical characteristics of the coupled optical fibers can be varied. Thus, the stretching process and the heating condition greatly affect the coupling result of the optical fiber.
Generally, the optical fiber coupling device has a transmission checking device
80
for measuring the coupling ratio. In
FIG. 1
, for example, a light input signal S
1
is provided to the input end
41
of the optical fiber, and the corresponding light output signals S
2
, S
3
are received from the output ends
42
,
43
. Thus, a heat energy ratio between the output signals S
2
and S
3
is obtained.
In practical use, if a signal from the input end
41
is to be distributed to the output ends
42
,
43
, the coupling ratio can be modulated to a certain proportion, such as 50%:50%, 60%:40%, or 90%:10%. If two signals Sa and Sb with different wavelength are respectively directed to each of the output ends
42
and
43
, the coupling ratio can be set to such as 0%:100% for Sa, and 100%:0% for Sb.
The transmission checking device
80
provides a light input signal according to a digital light coupling input value CDi to the input end
41
, receives at least two corresponding light output signals (not shown) from the output ends
42
,
43
, and produces at least two digital light coupling output values CDo corresponding to the light output signals.
The optical fiber coupling device as mentioned above requires a manufacturing process controlling device to accurately perform the optical fiber coupling. However, in the conventional optical fiber coupling system, there is a drawback in that no convenient user interface exists. As a result, a user cannot modulate the parameters and check the state of the manufacturing process easily, which reduces the efficiency in reaction to any possible condition occurring in the conventional optical fiber coupling system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of this, the present invention discloses an optical fiber coupling system, comprising at least an optical fiber coupling device for coupling at least two optical fibers so that a contact node forms on the optical fibers, the contact node comprising at least an input end and at least two output end.
The optical fiber coupling device in the present invention comprises: a stretching device having two relatively linearly movable stretching blocks for stretching the optical fibers to be coupled by relative linear movement; a heating device for movably fusing the contact node by a heat focusing operation; a packaging device for movably packaging the contact node; a first auto-control device that, when receiving a first driving signal, moves the stretching blocks to a determined position according to a first moving parameter and producing a first state parameter corresponding to the moving of the stretching blocks; a second auto-control device that, when receiving a second driving signal, moves the heating device to a determined position according to a second moving parameter and producing a second state parameter corresponding to the moving of the heating device; a third auto-control device that, when receiving a third driving signal, moves the packaging device to a determined position according to a third moving parameter and producing a third state parameter corresponding to the moving of the packaging device; a first activating
Chou Shih-Chen
Kuo Chiao-Lin
Lai Bou-Yen
Ting Shing-Lung
Pro-Techtor International
Snow Walter E.
U-Conn Technology Inc.
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