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:
Jun. 24, 2003
Filed:
Nov. 25, 2001
David C. Mitchell, Laurel, MD (US);
Nolan Scott Cunningham, Frederick, MD (US);
Thomas R. Boyer, Gambrills, MD (US);
Ciena Corporation, Linthicum, MD (US);
Abstract
A fiber optic cable tensioning and positioning apparatus includes a base, and a vertical support wall integrally connected to the base. A first support connects to a portion of the vertical support wall and supports a first portion of the fiber optic cable. A first clamp attaches to the first support for securing the first portion of the fiber optic cable to the first support. A second support connects to another portion of the vertical support wall and supports a second portion of the fiber optic cable. The second support is pivotally connected to the vertical support wall. A second clamp attaches to the second support for securing the second portion of the fiber optic cable to the second support. A knob also pivotally connects to the vertical support wall, and is connected to a cam. The cam contacts the second support, wherein the second support rotates due to its weight and the weight of the second clamp when the cam is in a predetermined position, thereby uniformly tensioning and positioning the fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable tensioning apparatus is useful for uniformly and repeatably tensioning a fiber optic cable to precisely position the fiber optic cable prior to creation of a refractive-index grating in the glass optical fiber of a portion of the fiber optic cable.