Smooth endface of plastic optical fiber producing method, by heating free end of waveguide to reflow of endface and pressing heated end against a polished plate or disc to form a uniform endface

摘要

The free end (5) of the optical waveguide (4) is heated intermittently by laser beam (2), aligned in its axis, up to the melting point. As waveguide is heated, long before melting starts, the endface is pressed against the polished surface of a plate or disc (3), also aligned to laser beam to prevent formation of skin layer on endface of waveguide, which is held against the polished surface until it cools to solidification, forming a smooth uniform endface. After solidification, the endface of the optical waveguide is machined while fixed in a holder (7) and provided with a plug ferrule (6). The polished plate or disc is a polished glass (or silicon wafer) plate or disc, and the laser is carbon dioxide laser (or Neodymium YAG or semiconductor diode) laser. AN Independent claim is made for a device for producing a smooth end of a plastic optical waveguide.