GB2255335A - Optical fibre cleaving - Google Patents
Optical fibre cleaving Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2255335A GB2255335A GB9209344A GB9209344A GB2255335A GB 2255335 A GB2255335 A GB 2255335A GB 9209344 A GB9209344 A GB 9209344A GB 9209344 A GB9209344 A GB 9209344A GB 2255335 A GB2255335 A GB 2255335A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- lengths
- optical fibres
- fibres
- axes
- optical
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
- 239000013307 optical fiber Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 38
- 230000003287 optical effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 84
- 230000001154 acute effect Effects 0.000 claims abstract description 18
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 5
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 8
- 238000000576 coating method Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000005452 bending Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011248 coating agent Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000006073 displacement reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000007526 fusion splicing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000005498 polishing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000001681 protective effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/25—Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
An optical fibre ribbon R is cleaved to provide on the fibres F of the ribbon oblique end faces lying in a common plane which is normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres by clamping exposed lengths of the optical fibres between a pair of two-part clamps 1,1' disposed a predetermined distance apart, applying concurrently to the clamped lengths of optical fibres tensile and torsional forces of predetermined values such that the tensile and torsional forces applied to each length of optical fibre are equal to the tensile and torsional forces applied to each of the other lengths of optical fibre; and scoring the lengths of optical fibres between the two-part clamps at positions P lying in a common line inclined at said acute angle to a line which is normal to the axes of the fibres to cause each length of optical fibre to cleave and form an oblique end face lying in the aforesaid common plane. <IMAGE>
Description
OPTICAL FIBRE CLEAVING
This invention relates to cleaving of a plurality of optical fibres for the purpose of splicing the optical fibres to other optical fibres or optical waveguides.
It is common practice to obtain a low reflectance splice between two optical fibres by cleaving each optical fibre so that it has a substantially flat end face lying in a plane extending radially with respect to the fibre axis and fusion splicing the two fibres. To effect a low reflectance mechanical splice between two optical fibres it has been shown that the end face of each optical fibre should be substantially flat and lie in a plane which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the fibre axis, e.g. at an angle of approximately 100.
Such an obliquely inclined end face on an optical fibre to be mechanically spliced can be produced by polishing the end face of the fibre but a method of cleaving an optical fibre to provide such an obliquely inclined end face has been proposed and can be repeatedly used to provide on a succession of optical fibres obliquely inclined end faces of acceptable standard. In this proposed method, a length of optical fibre is clamped between a pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps disposed a predetermined distance apart, tensile and torsional forces of predetermined values are applied concurrently to the clamped optical fibre, and the stressed optical fibre is scored at a position between said longitudinally spaced two-part clamps to cleave the fibre and provide the required obliquely inclined end face.The torsional force of a predetermined value is applied to the optical fibre by twisting one of the pair of two-part clamps about the axis of the fibre through a predetermined angle.
Whilst the aforesaid proposed method of providing a single optical fibre with an obliquely inclined end face is wholly satisfactory, it cannot be employed to provide concurrently on a plurality of optical fibres extending substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane, e.g. an optical fibre ribbon, substantially identical oblique end faces lying in a common plane which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide an improved method of cleaving a plurality of optical fibres, which extend substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane, to provide on the fibres oblique end faces lying in a common plane which is substantially normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres.
According to the invention, the improved method comprises clamping lengths of said plurality of optical fibres extending substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane between a pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps disposed a predetermined distance apart; applying concurrently to the clamped lengths of optical fibres tensile and torsional forces of predetermined values such that the tensile and torsional forces applied to each length of optical fibre are substantially equal to the tensile and torsional forces applied to each of the other lengths of optical fibre; and scoring the lengths of optical fibres between said longitudinally spaced two-part clamps at positions lying in a common line inclined at an acute angle to a line which is normal to the axes of the fibres to cause each length of optical fibre to cleave in such a way that the plurality of optical fibres has obliquely inclined end faces which lie in a common plane which is substantially normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres at an angle equal or approximating to said acute angle.
The sequence of operations applied to the lengths of optical fibres after they have been clamped between the pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps is not critical but, preferably, scoring of the lengths of optical fibres is effected after the tensile and torsional forces have been applied to the lengths of optical fibres so that no bending of the fibres is necessary to cause the fibres to cleave.
To ensure that the oblique end faces of the plurality of optical fibres are substantially identical to one another, preferably the lengths of optical fibres are scored concurrently so that all the lengths of optical fibres will be caused to cleave at substantially the same moment in time, thereby substantially eliminating any risk that any one of the plurality of optical fibres before it is cleaved will be subjected to tensile and torsional forces differing from those applied to any one or more of the other optical fibres.
Where scoring of the lengths of optical fibres is effected after the tensile and torsional forces have been applied thereto, preferably the tensile and torsional forces are so applied concurrently to the lengths of optical fibres that, even if cleaving of two or more of the lengths of optical fibres were to be effected at moments of time differing from one another, the tensile and torsional forces applied to each length of optical fibre at the moment it is cleaved will be substantially identical to the tensile and torsional forces applied to each of the other lengths of optical fibres at the moment it is cleaved.
The predetermined tensile force preferably is applied concurrently to the lengths of optical fibres by causing one or each of the pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps to move away from the other two-part clamp of the pair a predetermined distance in a direction substantially parallel to the axes of the plurality of optical fibres.
The predetermined torsional force preferably is applied concurrently to the lengths of optical fibres by causing one or each of the two parts of one of said pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps to move relative to the other of the two-parts of said clamp a predetermined distance in a transverse direction substantially normal to the axes of the optical fibres thereby applying to each of the lengths of optical fibre a twist of a predetermined angle, the angle of twist imparted to each optical fibre being substantially equal to the angle of twist imparted to each of the other optical fibres.The surface of each part of said twopart clamp contiguous with the plurality of lengths of optical fibres preferably is of a material having a high coefficent of friction and, preferably also, the same material is employed for the surface of each part of the clamp to reduce risk of any undesired relative transverse movement between the lengths of optical fibres and said parts of the clamp.
Scoring of the lengths of optical fibres preferably is effected using an ultrasonically vibrating blade.
Preferably, for optical fibres each having an overall diameter of 125 micrometers and having a length between said longitudinally spaced two-part clamps lying in the range 10 to 15mm, the tensile force applied to the lengths of optical fibres lies in the range 150 to 250 grams, the angle of twist imparted concurrently to each of the lengths of optical fibres lies in the range 7 to 110 and the positions at which the optical fibres are scored lie in-a common line inclined at an acute angle lying in the range 5 to 100 to a line which is normal to the axes of the fibres to provide on each length of optical fibre an end face obliquely inclined to the axis of the fibre, which end faces lie in a common plane which is substantially normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres at an angle equal or approximating to said acute angle.
In order to enable satisfactory mechanical splices to be obtained between a plurality of optical fibres cleaved by the improved method of the present invention and optical waveguides of an integrated optical chip, the axes of which waveguides extend substantially parallel to one another and lie in a common plane, the exposed end faces of the optical waveguides of the integrated optical chip must lie in a face of the chip lying in a plane which is substantially normal to the plane containing the axes of the optical waveguides and which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the optical waveguides.
The invention also includes improved apparatus for cleaving by the aforesaid improved method a plurality of optical fibres which extend substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane to provide on the fibres oblique end faces lying in a common plane which is substantially normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres.
The invention further includes a plurality of optical fibres, e.g. an optical fibre ribbon, extending substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane and having end faces lying in a common plane which is substantially normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres, which obliquely inclined end faces have been provided on said optical fibres by the improved method hereinbefore described.
The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of a preferred method of cleaving an optical fibre ribbon comprising a plurality of optical fibres extending substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane, to provide on the fibres oblique end faces lying in a common plane which is substantially normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which:
Figure 1 is a plan view of the apparatus employed in the preferred method, and
Figure 2 is an end view of said apparatus drawn on an enlarged scale, looking in the direction of Arrow A in Figure 1.
Referring to the drawing, in the preferred method of cleaving an optical fibre ribbon R, an end part of the optical fibre ribbon is cut back to expose lengths of individual optical fibres F and the coating or coatings of resin or other protective material on each exposed length of optical fibre is or are stripped off so that each exposed length of optical fibre is bare.
The bare exposed lengths of optical fibres F of the ribbon R are clamped between the jaws 2,2' of two twopart clamps 1,1' spaced 10mum apart so that the lengths of optical fibre extend substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane.
Thereafter, the two-part clamp 1' is caused to move a predetermined distance, e.g. 22 micrometres, away from the two-part clamp 1 in a direction parallel to the axes of the fibres to impart a predetermined tensile force, e.g. 200 grams, on each of the optical fibres. Each of the jaws 2' of the two-part clamp 1' is then caused to move a predetermined distance relative to the other jaw of the clamp in a transverse direction normal to the axes of the optical fibres F to twist each fibre about its axis. By way of example, a relative transverse displacement of the jaws 2' of the two-part clamp 1' of about 8 micrometres will impart a twist of 70 to each optical fibre F. The optical fibres F so stressed are then scored concurrently between the longitudinally spaced two-part clamps 1,1' by an ultrasonically vibrating blade at positions P lying in a common line inclined at an acute angle, e.g. 100, to a line which is normal to the axes of the fibres to cause each stressed optical fibre to cleave and form an end face obliquely inclined to the axis of the fibre, which end faces will lie in a common plane which is normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined at said acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres.
Claims (12)
1. A method of cleaving a plurality of optical fibres which extend substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane, which method comprises clamping lengths of said plurality of optical fibres extending substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane between a pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps disposed a predetermined distance apart; applying concurrently to the clamped lengths of optical fibres tensile and torsional forces of predetermined values such that the tensile and torsional forces applied to each length of optical fibre are substantially equal to the tensile and torsional forces applied to each of the other lengths of optical fibre; and scoring the lengths of optical fibres between said longitudinally spaced two-part clamps at positions lying in a common line inclined at an acute angle to a line which is normal to the axes of the fibres to cause each length of optical fibre to cleave in such a way that the plurality of optical fibres has obliquely inclined end faces which lie in a common plane which is substantially normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres at an angle equal or approximating to said acute angle.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein scoring of the lengths of optical fibres is effected after the tensile and torsional forces have been applied to the lengths of optical fibres.
3. A method as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the lengths of optical fibres are scored concurrently.
4. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein scoring of the lengths of optical fibres is effected after the tensile and torsional forces have been applied to the lengths of optical fibres and wherein the tensile and torsional forces are so applied concurrently to the lengths of optical fibres that, if cleaving of two or more of the lengths of optical fibres is effected at moments of time differing from one another, the tensile and torsional forces imparted to each length of optical fibre at the moment it is cleaved will be substantially identical to the tensile and torsional forces applied to each of the other lengths of optical fibres at the moment it is cleaved.
5. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding
Claims, wherein the predetermined tensile force is applied concurrently to the lengths of optical fibres by causing one or each of the pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps to move away from the other two-part clamp of the pair a predetermined distance in a direction substantially parallel to the axes of the plurality of optical fibres.
6. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding
Claims, wherein the predetermined torsional force is applied concurrently to the lengths of optical fibres by causing one or each of the two parts of one of said pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps to move relative to the other of the two-parts of said clamp a predetermined distance in a transverse direction substantially normal to the axes of the optical fibres, thereby applying to each of the lengths of optical fibre a twist of a predetermined angle, the angle of twist imparted to each optical fibre being substantially equal to the angle of twist imparted to each of the other optical fibres.
7. A method as claimed in Claim 6, wherein the surface of each part of said two-part clamp contiguous with the plurality of lengths of optical fibres is of a material having a high coefficent of friction.
8. A method as claimed in Claim 7, wherein the surfaces of the parts of said two-part clamp contiguous with the plurality of lengths of optical fibres are each of the same material having a high coefficient of friction.
9. A method as claimed in any one of the preceding
Claims, wherein scoring of the lengths of optical fibres is effected using an ultrasonically vibrating blade.
10. Apparatus for use in cleaving a plurality of optical fibres which extend substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane, which apparatus comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced two-part clamps disposed a predetermined distance apart for clamping therebetween lengths of a plurality of optical fibres in such a way that the lengths of fibres extend substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane, at least one of said pairs of two-part clamps being constrained to move away from the other two-part clamp of the pair in a direction substantially parallel to the axes of a plurality of optical fibres when clamped therebetween and at least one of the two parts of one of said pair of two-part clamps being constrained to move relative to the other of the two parts of said clamp in a transverse direction substantially normal to the axes of a plurality of optical fibres when clamped between the two-part clamps.
11. A method of cleaving a plurality of optical fibres which extend substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
12. A plurality of optical fibres extending substantially parallel to one another with their axes lying in a common plane and having end faces lying in a common plane which is substantially normal to the common plane containing the axes of the fibres and which is inclined at an acute angle to a plane extending radially with respect to the axes of the fibres, which obliquely inclined end faces have been provided on said optical fibres by the method claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 9 and 11.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9209344A GB2255335B (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1992-04-30 | Optical fibre cleaving |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB919109522A GB9109522D0 (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1991-05-02 | Optical fibre cleaving |
| GB9209344A GB2255335B (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1992-04-30 | Optical fibre cleaving |
Publications (3)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB9209344D0 GB9209344D0 (en) | 1992-06-17 |
| GB2255335A true GB2255335A (en) | 1992-11-04 |
| GB2255335B GB2255335B (en) | 1995-01-25 |
Family
ID=26298825
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB9209344A Expired - Fee Related GB2255335B (en) | 1991-05-02 | 1992-04-30 | Optical fibre cleaving |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2255335B (en) |
Cited By (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH06317711A (en) * | 1993-03-29 | 1994-11-15 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg Co <3M> | Cutting apparatus of optical fiber |
| EP0637763A1 (en) * | 1993-08-04 | 1995-02-08 | AT&T Corp. | Apparatus for angle cleaving optical fibers |
| GB2578520A (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2020-05-13 | Oxford Fiber Ltd | Optical fibre cleaving tool |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2118539A (en) * | 1982-04-21 | 1983-11-02 | Western Electric Co | Precision cleaving of optical fibres |
| GB2147577A (en) * | 1983-10-04 | 1985-05-15 | Bicc Plc | Improved fibre cutting apparatus |
| GB2152495A (en) * | 1983-12-07 | 1985-08-07 | Bicc Plc | Cutting optical fibre ribbon |
| GB2177391A (en) * | 1985-07-10 | 1987-01-21 | Gen Electric Plc | Method of and apparatus for cleaving optical fibres |
| GB2211499A (en) * | 1987-10-23 | 1989-07-05 | Kabelmetal Electro Gmbh | Making connections to glass fibre light wave guides |
Family Cites Families (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FR2661635B1 (en) * | 1990-05-03 | 1994-12-09 | Alcatel Fibres Optiques | DEVICE FOR OBLABLY CUTTING AN OPTICAL FIBER. |
| FR2689805B1 (en) * | 1992-04-14 | 1994-06-03 | Boitel Michel | APPARATUS FOR OBLICALLY CUTTING ONE OR MORE OPTICAL FIBERS. |
-
1992
- 1992-04-30 GB GB9209344A patent/GB2255335B/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2118539A (en) * | 1982-04-21 | 1983-11-02 | Western Electric Co | Precision cleaving of optical fibres |
| GB2147577A (en) * | 1983-10-04 | 1985-05-15 | Bicc Plc | Improved fibre cutting apparatus |
| GB2152495A (en) * | 1983-12-07 | 1985-08-07 | Bicc Plc | Cutting optical fibre ribbon |
| GB2177391A (en) * | 1985-07-10 | 1987-01-21 | Gen Electric Plc | Method of and apparatus for cleaving optical fibres |
| GB2211499A (en) * | 1987-10-23 | 1989-07-05 | Kabelmetal Electro Gmbh | Making connections to glass fibre light wave guides |
Cited By (6)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JPH06317711A (en) * | 1993-03-29 | 1994-11-15 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg Co <3M> | Cutting apparatus of optical fiber |
| US5395025A (en) * | 1993-03-29 | 1995-03-07 | Minnesota Mining And Manufacturing Company | Method and apparatus for angle cleaving ribbon fiber |
| EP0618466A3 (en) * | 1993-03-29 | 1995-10-11 | Minnesota Mining & Mfg | Method and apparatus for angle cleaving ribbon fiber. |
| EP0637763A1 (en) * | 1993-08-04 | 1995-02-08 | AT&T Corp. | Apparatus for angle cleaving optical fibers |
| GB2578520A (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2020-05-13 | Oxford Fiber Ltd | Optical fibre cleaving tool |
| GB2578520B (en) * | 2018-09-21 | 2022-04-20 | Oxford Fiber Ltd | Optical fibre cleaving tool |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB2255335B (en) | 1995-01-25 |
| GB9209344D0 (en) | 1992-06-17 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |
Effective date: 19960430 |