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:
Jul. 21, 2015
Filed:
May. 20, 2014
Corning Optical Communications Llc, Hickory, NC (US);
Jeffrey Dean Danley, Hickory, NC (US);
Robert Bruce Elkins, II, Hickory, NC (US);
Darrin Max Miller, Hickory, NC (US);
Zhaoxu Tian, Hickory, NC (US);
Stephan T Toepper, Hickory, NC (US);
Kipp David Yeakel, Waverly, NY (US);
Corning Optical Communications LLC, Hickory, NC (US);
Abstract
Coating removal systems for optical fibers are disclosed. Related methods and optical fibers processed with these methods and coating removal systems are also disclosed. An optical fiber includes a glass fiber, having a cladding and core, surrounded by a protective coating which does not contribute to the optical performance of the optical fiber. By removing the coating at an end portion of the optical fiber, the end portion may be precisely positioned and secured to enable reliable optical communications. A laser beam may be directed at the protective coating to remove the protective coating by one or more ablating, melting, vaporizing, and/or thermal decomposing processes. The optical fiber may also be optionally cleaved. In this manner, the coating may be efficiently removed while retaining at least fifty percent of the tensile strength of the optical fiber.