Electric heating – Metal heating – By arc
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-14
2001-06-12
Heinrich, Samuel M. (Department: 1725)
Electric heating
Metal heating
By arc
C219S121850, C065S392000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06246026
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a process for cutting at least one optical fiber at a predetermined angle, wherein the fiber is introduced into a holding and positioning device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical fibers made of glass are often used in optical transmission systems and other optical systems. The machining of the end face of these fibers plays a crucial role during the use of these monomode or multimode fibers. It is important that the end faces have a particularly uniform surface so that the transition from one fiber end to another or to an active element can be carried out with damping values which are as low as possible. It is also important that the end faces of the fibers can be produced at predetermined angles and that these angles are reliable and reproducible.
Various mechanical processes are currently known for severing optical fibers. With all processes, the fiber is essentially fixed in a holding device consisting of two holders which are then mutually offset, for example, so that the correct angle is ensured during the cutting operation. Diamond cutters, for example, are used. It is also known to twist the fiber or begin to cut and then break the fibers which are to be cut. All these processes are expensive. In addition, they are also applicable to the parallel fibers of a ribbon cable only under certain conditions.
It is known from EP 531 225 that in order to sever an optical fiber, the optical fiber may be fixed between two carriers of a holding and positioning device, then one of the carriers is offset perpendicularly to the optical axis of the fibers and a cutting blade is used to cut the fibers at a desired angle. This process can also be used for the number of fibers in a ribbon cable which are arranged parallel to one another.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to provide a process for cutting at least one optical fiber with a high degree of accuracy relative the cutting angle that is produced.
The object is achieved by a process for cutting at least one optical glass fiber at a predetermined angle which comprises the steps of: (a) introducing the glass fiber into a holding and positioning device; (b) actuating a laser device to deliver a pulsing beam having sufficient energy to ablate glass; and (c) effecting the relative movement of the beam across the fiber at the predetermined angle to ablate the glass and produce an end face.
With the process according to the invention for the cutting of at least one optical fiber at a predetermined angle, the fiber is introduced into a holding and positioning device and the fiber is then cut by means of a laser which delivers short, high-power pulses. As a result, a fiber end face can be produced at a predetermined angle with a high reliability with respect to the angle desired, while the fiber end face that results is very uniform such that additional machining of the fiber end face is unnecessary.
It is also particularly advantageous that only a minimal quantity of glass is melted during the cutting of the fiber. The holding and positioning device is designed so that the fiber is fastened therein, the device is adjustable at predetermined angles relative the laser beam, and the fiber can be moved through the laser beam when the laser beam is activated. A CO
2
laser, for example, can be used. CO
2
lasers have proven particularly advantageous owing to the high speed at which they can operate and the resultant cost effectiveness. The fiber material is removed by ablation by the CO
2
laser during the cutting process. The glass is not melted in the process, but sublimated. It is also possible to use excimer lasers.
The CO
2
laser is operated in a pulsed mode for cutting the fiber. The pulse energy is very high. The pulses are very short and have very steep edges, in other words the maximum pulse energy is achieved very rapidly. The peak power of the pulse is between 0.1 and 1000 watts, the pulse length being >50 fs. Very good results are achieved with a CO
2
laser (wavelength 10.6 &mgr;m) having a pulse length of 35 &mgr;s and a peak power of 600 watts. Other lasers with wavelengths between 0.1 and 1.5 &mgr;m and 8.5 &mgr;m to 10 &mgr;m can basically also be used.
Whereas former mechanical systems have typical angle tolerances of +/−0.5 &mgr;, angle tolerances of less than 0.2&mgr; can be achieved with the process according to the invention. With the present process it is possible to cut not only individual fibers at an angle, but also fibers of a ribbon cable.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4158555 (1979-06-01), Kellenborn
patent: 5226101 (1993-07-01), Szentesi et al.
patent: 5983676 (1999-11-01), Brown
patent: 0 387 583-A2 (1990-09-01), None
patent: 442 202-A2 (1991-08-01), None
patent: 0 531 225-B1 (1996-01-01), None
patent: 2 538 916 (1984-07-01), None
patent: 21 10 358 (1983-06-01), None
patent: 54-030590 (1979-03-01), None
patent: 55-154337 (1980-12-01), None
patent: 56-122691 (1981-09-01), None
patent: 58-70767 (1983-04-01), None
patent: 58-070767 (1983-04-01), None
patent: 58-145387 (1983-08-01), None
patent: 63-188485 (1988-08-01), None
European Search Report.
Heinrich Samuel M.
Synnestvedt & Lechner LLP
The Whitaker Corporation
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