Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers
Abstract
A method and apparatus 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.
- Inventors:
-
- Livermore, CA
- Issue Date:
- Research Org.:
- Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 870617
- Patent Number(s):
- 5560760
- Assignee:
- United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
- Patent Classifications (CPCs):
-
G - PHYSICS G02 - OPTICS G02B - OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS, OR APPARATUS
- DOE Contract Number:
- W-7405-ENG-48
- Resource Type:
- Patent
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- method; optical; mechanically; coupling; fibers; apparatus; splicing; fluorescing; solder; glass; frit; melting; prepared; attached; fiber; aligned; placed; close; proximity; heated; temperature; melt; force; applied; pushing; towards; flit; molten; layer; compressed; allowed; cool; bonded; hardened; molten solder; glass frit; melting temperature; close proximity; optical fibers; optical fiber; mechanically coupling; /65/
Citation Formats
Toeppen, John S. Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers. United States: N. p., 1996.
Web.
Toeppen, John S. Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers. United States.
Toeppen, John S. Mon .
"Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers". United States. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/870617.
@article{osti_870617,
title = {Method for optical and mechanically coupling optical fibers},
author = {Toeppen, John S},
abstractNote = {A method and apparatus 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.},
doi = {},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996},
month = {Mon Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1996}
}
Works referenced in this record:
Method of successive approximations for calculating the eigenvalues of optical thin-film waveguides
journal, January 1981
- Li, Yajun
- Applied Optics, Vol. 20, Issue 15
Optical fiber splicing using low-melting-point glass solder
journal, January 1979
- Eickhoff, W.; Guttmann, J.; Krumpholz, O.
- Fiber and Integrated Optics, Vol. 2, Issue 1