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. 14, 2007
Filed:
Jun. 29, 2006
Simon P. Bush, Ambler, PA (US);
Nellie L. Cabato, Plymouth Meeting, PA (US);
John A. Crowell, Wilmington, DE (US);
Cheng P. MA, North Wales, PA (US);
Andrew Vellrath, New Castle, DE (US);
Laurence N. Wesson, Blue Bell, PA (US);
Simon P. Bush, Ambler, PA (US);
Nellie L. Cabato, Plymouth Meeting, PA (US);
John A. Crowell, Wilmington, DE (US);
Cheng P. Ma, North Wales, PA (US);
Andrew Vellrath, New Castle, DE (US);
Laurence N. Wesson, Blue Bell, PA (US);
Other;
Abstract
A compact, low profile splicing system for joining optical fibers produces durable, low transmission loss fusion splices. The system employs active optical techniques such as profile alignment or local injection and detection to achieve optimized alignment of the fibers prior to fusion. Light injected into one fiber is propagated across the interface to a second fiber. A detector senses the intensity of the injected light in the second fiber. After the relative position of the fibers is manipulated to maximize the transmitted intensity, the fibers are fusion spliced using an electric arc discharge. The accurate alignment achievable using the local injection and detection system to drive adaptive fiber positioning affords a method for reliably producing low loss splices. The present system is compact and low in profile, making it operable in cramped quarters with limited clearance to adjacent equipment and structures and with only a minimal amount of free fiber slack available. Simplicity of design and operation make the system rugged and enable accurate alignment and low loss fusion of fibers under adverse working conditions.