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:
Dec. 07, 2004
Filed:
May. 24, 2001
David W. Stowe, Milford, MA (US);
Fiber Optic Network Solutions Corporation, Northborough, MA (US);
Abstract
An automated fusion system includes a draw assembly for holding optical fibers and for applying a tension to the fibers. The fibers are held substantially parallel to each other in the draw assembly. The system also includes a removal station that etches or strips buffer material from the fibers after the fibers have been placed in the draw assembly, and a heater or torch assembly for heating the fibers as the draw assembly applies a tension to the fibers in a manner that causes the fibers to fuse together to form a coupler region. In addition, a packaging station is used to secure a substrate to the coupler region of the fibers to form the optical coupler.