Hughes Aircraft Company

Raytheon Company

Michael R Vince

Joseph A Wysocki

Stephen W McCahon

John T Kenna

Gregory L Tangonan

Joseph L Pikulski

John Steven Szalay

George H Hulderman

Vincent L Jones

Wilbur M Bailey

Arlie G Standlee

Fred W Hill

Laurie Keiko Taira-Griffin

George R Blair

Alan M Nakamura

Teresa M Silberberg

Theodore Carmely

The end face (32) of the optical fiber (24) of a fiber optical terminal (10) is finished by installing the fiber in a terminal ferrule (18), cleaving an end of the fiber close to the end face (54) of the ferrule, and heating the cleaved fiber end face so as to soften its end face and cause it to assume a smooth, rounded configuration. The heating is accomplished, for a glass fiber, by application of the beam of a carbon dioxide laser (60) to the optical fiber end face. The heat softened end face assumes a smooth, rounded configuration that minimizes back reflection. A system including a laser (105), shutter (102), beam expander (108) and parabolic mirror (110) heats the fiber end face that is positioned at the parabola faces by a three axis manipulator (156,158) and holder (152). Orthogonal viewing systems (126, 142) enable visual monitoring of the process.

Heat formed optical fiber end face

An optical fiber fusion splicer apparatus (20) comprises a laser power source that produces a laser beam (32) having a laser beam axis (26). The laser power source includes a laser (22), a shutter (28) that controllably blocks and passes the laser beam, and an optical system (30) that expands the diameter of the laser beam. A parabolic mirror (34) has its axis coincident with the laser beam axis (26) and a bore (48) therethrough coincident with the laser beam axis (26). Optical fiber clamps (42, 46) hold the two optical fibers (40, 44) with their axes coincident with the laser beam axis (26) and their ends (62, 64) at the focal point (38) of the parabolic mirror (34). A sensor (82) measures the power reaching the optical fiber ends (62, 64) at the focal point (38) of the parabolic mirror (34), and a controller (72) controls the power level of the laser (22) responsive to the power measured by the sensor. The alignment of the optical fibers (40, 44) is sensed, preferably by a reflective device (74) that measures their internal reflectance or a video camera (68) that images their peripheries, and the optical fiber ends (62, 64) are aligned responsively.

Optical fiber laser fusion splicer

Flaws in an optical fiber are automatically classified as to type by obtaining separate camera images of the fiber illuminated at different angles, and analyzing the images to detect the presence of optical patterns that are characteristic of each different type of flaw. Nominal and actual fiber boundaries are preferably first determined, preferably using noncoherent light, and an initial classification made according to the nature of the differential between the two. An analysis under a side light beam can then be performed to distinguish flaws such as splices, hard versus soft external debris, bubbles, internal debris and uncured buffer. The system reverts to a boundary light analysis to characterize a splice once it has been detected. The boundary analysis is preferably performed with a combination of diffused backlighting transmitted through the fiber, and reflected frontlighting at an angle of about 15.degree.-30.degree. to the fiber axis. The focused beam analysis is preferably performed with a laser beam at an angle of about 15.degree.-45.degree. to the fiber axis.

Automated method of classifying optical fiber flaws

A fiber optic buffer defect detection system including a laser, for illuminating the fiber buffer with a collimated beam of light energy, and detectors for detecting any scattering of the beam, from a defect in the fiber buffer. The detectors are mounted to collect scattering out of a radial plane defined by the angular rotation of the beam about the fiber at the point of intersection of the beam with the fiber buffer.

Optic fiber buffer defect detection system

Disclosed is a method for making large, essentially crack-free crystals in a container coated with inert particulate silica. The particulate coating covers the interior wall of the container and prevents adhesion of the crystal to the wall and acts like a cushion to avoid cracking of the crystal or the container. It also serves as a barrier to prevent migration of impurities from the container wall into the crystal structure. The coating is formed by heating a silica-forming gaseous mixture flowing through the container, with components of this mixture either reacting to form the coating.

Method for making high-purity, essentially crack-free crystals

There is disclosed a metallic clad glass fiber optical waveguide suitable for use as a high-strength optical transmission line, e.g., for high capacity communications systems and for sensors operating at high temperature. At least two metallic claddings or coatings are formed on the glass waveguide structure, which comprises a core and glass cladding, by coating the glass fiber with at least one of the metallic coatings as it emerges from the furnace with a metal or alloy. The first metal or alloy employed is one that is substantially chemically inert with respect to the material comprising the glass fiber at the deposition temperature during coating of the metal or alloy onto the glass fiber. The second metallic coating may be of the same composition as the first, in order to repair pinholes or to increase the thickness. Alternatively, the second metallic coating may be of a different composition than the first in order to provide the waveguide with mechanical properties that are different than either layer alone could provide. Specific electrical and magnetic properties may also be provided. The metallic coatings prevent chemical or mechanical damage to the glass surface. A plastic coating is optionally provided for additional protection of the metallic surface.

Multiply coated metallic clad fiber optical waveguide

Growing community of inventors

Thousand Oaks, CA, United States of America

Michael R Vince