DOE Patents title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for splicing optical fibers. A fluorescing solder glass frit having a melting point lower than the melting point of first and second optical fibers is prepared. The solder glass frit is then attached to the end of the first optical fiber and/or the end of the second optical fiber. The ends of the optical fibers are aligned and placed in close proximity to each other. The solder glass frit is then heated to a temperature which is lower than the melting temperature of the first and second optical fibers, but which is high enough to melt the solder glass frit. A force is applied to the first and second optical fibers pushing the ends of the fibers towards each other. As the solder glass flit becomes molten, the layer of molten solder glass is compressed into a thin layer between the first and second optical fibers. The thin compressed layer of molten solder glass is allowed to cool such that the first and second optical fibers are bonded to each other by the hardened layer of solder glass. 6 figs.

Inventors:
Issue Date:
Research Org.:
Univ. of California (United States)
OSTI Identifier:
378139
Patent Number(s):
5560760
Application Number:
PAN: 8-321,694
Assignee:
Dept. of Energy, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:  
W-7405-ENG-48
Resource Type:
Patent
Resource Relation:
Other Information: PBD: 1 Oct 1996
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; OPTICAL FIBERS; JOINING; ALIGNMENT; MELTING POINTS; EQUIPMENT; DESIGN

Citation Formats

Toeppen, J S. Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers. United States: N. p., 1996. Web.
Toeppen, J S. Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers. United States.
Toeppen, J S. Tue . "Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers". United States.
@article{osti_378139,
title = {Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers},
author = {Toeppen, J S},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus are disclosed for splicing optical fibers. A fluorescing solder glass frit having a melting point lower than the melting point of first and second optical fibers is prepared. The solder glass frit is then attached to the end of the first optical fiber and/or the end of the second optical fiber. The ends of the optical fibers are aligned and placed in close proximity to each other. The solder glass frit is then heated to a temperature which is lower than the melting temperature of the first and second optical fibers, but which is high enough to melt the solder glass frit. A force is applied to the first and second optical fibers pushing the ends of the fibers towards each other. As the solder glass flit becomes molten, the layer of molten solder glass is compressed into a thin layer between the first and second optical fibers. The thin compressed layer of molten solder glass is allowed to cool such that the first and second optical fibers are bonded to each other by the hardened layer of solder glass. 6 figs.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996},
month = {Tue Oct 01 00:00:00 EDT 1996}
}

Patent:
Search for the full text at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Note: You will be redirected to the USPTO site, which may require a pop-up blocker to be deactivated to view the patent. If so, you will need to manually turn off your browser's pop-up blocker, typically found within the browser settings. (See DOE Patents FAQs for more information.)

Save / Share: