Coating removal systems for optical fibers

摘要

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.

主权项

1. A method of laser preparing an end portion of an optical fiber, comprising:
emitting a laser beam from a laser; removing at least a portion of a coating from an end portion of an optical fiber by:
deflecting the laser beam at an angle theta repeatedly across an optical axis of the optical fiber with a control system to form at least two sets of laser scans; anddirecting the laser beam with the control system to position respective scans of the at least two sets of laser scans to intersect the optical axis of the optical fiber at a plurality of radial positions; and cleaving the end portion of the optical fiber by:
removing at least a portion of the circumference of the optical fiber by deflecting the laser beam at an angle repeatedly across the optical axis of the optical fiber with the control system; anddirecting the laser beam with the control system to position respective laser cleave scans of the at least two cleave sets of laser cleave scans to intersect the optical axis of the optical fiber at the plurality of radial positions.