The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Aug. 08, 2000
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1997
Gordon Wiegand, Austin, TX (US);
William G Allen, Austin, TX (US);
Larry R Cox, Austin, TX (US);
Charles M Mansfield, Austin, TX (US);
3M Innovative Properties Company, St. Paul, MN (US);
Abstract
A tool for preparing an optical fiber end-face includes a station having a base with a fiber bender and a scribe for cleaving a fiber. The base may include a polishing surface and a well that serves as a fiber shard collector. A cleaver door may be attached to the base to be rotatable between an open position and a closed position covering the shard collector and may include a mount for releasably attaching a fiber handling tool or puck. The puck includes a body, a latch attached by a hinge to the body, and a face comprising a plate pivotally attached to an end of the body and having a fiber port extending through the plate. The body of the puck includes a nest for receiving a fiber holder for securing a fiber with an end of the fiber extending through the port of the face. The nest includes a reference stop and a means for urging the fiber holder against the reference stop when the latch is rotated to a closed position covering the body. The face of the puck with a fiber end extending through the port can be inserted into guide tracks in the station adjacent the scribe for cleaving the fiber. After the fiber has been cleaved and polished, an adapter holding a magnifier and a light source can be position on the puck for inspecting the fiber.