Corning Optical Communications LLC

Corning Cable Systems

Kipp David Yeakel

Darrin Max Miller

Robert Bruce Elkins, Ii

Jeffrey Dean Danley

Zhaoxu Tian

Stephan T Toepper

Dennis Craig Morrison

Robert Bruce Elkins Ii

A method of terminating an optical fiber involves providing a ferrule having a front end, a rear end, a ferrule bore extending between the front and rear ends, and a bonding agent disposed in at least a portion of the ferrule bore. The method also involves applying energy to heat the bonding agent. An end section of an optical fiber is inserted into the ferrule bore and through the bonding agent when the bonding agent is heated. The end section of the optical fiber includes a primary coating prior to insertion into the ferrule bore. During insertion of the end section of the optical fiber through the bonding agent, the heated bonding agent thermally removes at least a portion of the primary coating during so that the optical fiber can be secured in the ferrule bore with the bonding agent.

Methods of terminating one or more optical fibers

An optical fiber includes a glass fiber, having a cladding and core, surrounded by a polymer coating. Some of the coating is removed by a laser beam so that the optical fiber comprises a first lengthwise portion covered by the coating and a second lengthwise portion where the coating is not present on at least ninety-five (95) percent of an exterior surface of the second lengthwise portion. A microstructure of the polymer coating, adjacent to the second lengthwise portion on the first lengthwise portion, tapers at an angle such that a thickness of the polymer coating decreases toward the second lengthwise portion as a function of proximity to the second lengthwise portion. The optical fiber may also be optionally cleaved with the laser beam.

Optical fibers having coatings removed therefrom and related methods

Thermal removal of optical fiber coatings by insertion through heated ferrules to form ferrule assemblies for fiber optic connectors, and related assemblies are disclosed. An optical fiber includes a glass fiber, having a cladding and core, surrounded by a protective coating. By removing the coating at an end portion of the optical fiber, the end portion may be precisely positioned and secured within a ferrule to enable reliable optical communications. The coating may be thermally removed, or substantially thermally removed, by inserting the optical fiber through a rear opening of the ferrule which has been heated above a temperature sufficient to change the coating to a non-solid state. In this manner, the coating may be efficiently removed from the end portion of the optical fiber while being inserted into the ferrule bore of the ferrule to enable efficient forming of a ferrule assembly for a fiber optic connector.

Thermal removal of optical fiber coatings by insertion through heated ferrules to form ferrule assemblies for fiber optic connectors, and related assemblies

Coating removal systems for optical fibers are disclosed. Related methods and optical fibers processed with these methods and coating removal systems are also disclosed. An optical fiber includes a glass fiber, having a cladding and core, surrounded by a protective coating which does not contribute to the optical performance of the optical fiber. By removing the coating at an end portion of the optical fiber, the end portion may be precisely positioned and secured to enable reliable optical communications. A laser beam may be directed at the protective coating to remove the protective coating by one or more ablating, melting, vaporizing, and/or thermal decomposing processes. The optical fiber may also be optionally cleaved. In this manner, the coating may be efficiently removed while retaining at least fifty percent of the tensile strength of the optical fiber.

Coating removal systems for optical fibers

Coating removal systems for optical fibers are disclosed. An optical fiber includes a glass fiber, having a cladding and core, surrounded by a protective coating. By removing the coating at an end portion of the optical fiber, the end portion may be precisely positioned and secured in a connector to enable reliable optical communications. A laser beam may remove the protective coating while the optical fiber is under tension. In this manner, the coating may be efficiently removed while retaining tensile strength of the optical fiber.

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Waverly, NY, United States of America

Kipp David Yeakel