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. 03, 2014
Filed:
Jun. 28, 2011
Michael K. Barnoski, Pacific Palisades, CA (US);
Suresh T. Gulati, Elmira, NY (US);
King-fu Hii, Camarillo, CA (US);
Donald Keck, Big Flats, NY (US);
William R. Powell, Horseheads, NY (US);
R. Ryan Vallance, Newbury Park, CA (US);
Michael K. Barnoski, Pacific Palisades, CA (US);
Suresh T. Gulati, Elmira, NY (US);
King-Fu Hii, Camarillo, CA (US);
Donald Keck, Big Flats, NY (US);
William R. Powell, Horseheads, NY (US);
R. Ryan Vallance, Newbury Park, CA (US);
Nanoprecision Products, Inc., El Segundo, CA (US);
Abstract
Axial tension is applied to an optical fiber that had been scored at the intended cleave location, wherein the axial tension is applied in a time-varying manner to maintain the stress intensity factor for crack on the fiber within an acceptable level to produce a stable crack growth at a reasonable rate to cleave the fiber without requiring polishing of the end surface. Careful control of the applied tension force with time acts to control the velocity of the propagating crack by maintaining substantially constant stress intensity factor. The applied axial tension force is reduced with time and/or crack growth (as crack propagates). As a result, the strain energy in the fiber material is released by formation of a single plane with an optical quality surface without requiring polishing. A substantially flat optical surface of enhanced optical quality is formed at the cleaved end of the optical fiber.