Optical waveguides – With splice – Alignment of fiber ends prior to splicing
Reexamination Certificate
2006-01-10
2006-01-10
Palmer, Phan T. H. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With splice
Alignment of fiber ends prior to splicing
C385S096000, C385S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06984077
ABSTRACT:
A splicing system for joining polarization-maintaining, single mode optical fibers produces durable fusion splices that have low transmission loss and maintain mode integrity. The system employs active optical techniques such as profile alignment or local injection and detection to achieve optimized lateral alignment of the fibers prior to fusion. Azimuthal alignment is performed using a transverse, polarized light illumination and detection system. Each fiber is rotated azimuthally to determine a transverse intensity function. The transverse intensity functions of the respective fibers are cross-correlated to determine a relative orientation that matches the polarization axes of the fibers. After the relative position of the fibers is manipulated laterally, axially, and azimuthally, the fibers are fusion spliced using an electric arc discharge. The accurate alignment achievable using the transverse illumination mechanism to drive adaptive fiber positioning affords a method for reliably producing low loss, mode-matched splices. Simplicity of design and operation make the system rugged and enable accurate alignment and low loss fusion of fibers under adverse working conditions.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4274707 (1981-06-01), Pacey et al.
patent: 4548630 (1985-10-01), Biedka
patent: 4696535 (1987-09-01), Saha
patent: 4735481 (1988-04-01), Lukas et al.
patent: 4765704 (1988-08-01), Pers
patent: 4790617 (1988-12-01), Campbell et al.
patent: 4824199 (1989-04-01), Uken
patent: 4832438 (1989-05-01), Engel et al.
patent: 4911524 (1990-03-01), Itoh et al.
patent: 4950046 (1990-08-01), Hughes et al.
patent: 4978201 (1990-12-01), Yamada et al.
patent: 5002357 (1991-03-01), Newell
patent: 5011259 (1991-04-01), Lieber et al.
patent: 5195157 (1993-03-01), Penfold
patent: 5249246 (1993-09-01), Szanto
patent: 5249247 (1993-09-01), Whitesmith
patent: 5257337 (1993-10-01), Grigsby et al.
patent: 5340371 (1994-08-01), Dyott
patent: 5417733 (1995-05-01), Wesson
patent: 5481640 (1996-01-01), Harman et al.
patent: 5533160 (1996-07-01), Watanabe et al.
patent: 5561728 (1996-10-01), Kobayashi et al.
patent: 5570446 (1996-10-01), Zheng et al.
patent: 5677973 (1997-10-01), Yuhara et al.
patent: 5758000 (1998-05-01), Zheng
patent: 5815611 (1998-09-01), Dhadwal
patent: 6034718 (2000-03-01), Hattori
patent: 6088503 (2000-07-01), Chandler et al.
patent: 6190057 (2001-02-01), Osaka et al.
patent: 6203214 (2001-03-01), Wesson
patent: 6206583 (2001-03-01), Hishikawa et al.
patent: 6246819 (2001-06-01), Windebank
patent: 6287020 (2001-09-01), Osaka et al.
patent: 6294760 (2001-09-01), Inoue et al.
patent: 6324319 (2001-11-01), Tselikov et al.
patent: 6341242 (2002-01-01), Mahmood et al.
Bush Simon P.
Cabato Nellie L.
Chau Holam
Gomes Alan D.
Harris S. Dyer
Aurora Instruments, Inc.
Buff Ernest D.
Ernest D. Buff & Associates LLC
Fish Gordon E.
Palmer Phan T. H.
LandOfFree
System for joining polarization-maintaining optical fiber... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with System for joining polarization-maintaining optical fiber..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and System for joining polarization-maintaining optical fiber... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3549052