GB2068142A - Terminations for clad optical fibres - Google Patents

Terminations for clad optical fibres Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2068142A
GB2068142A GB8102587A GB8102587A GB2068142A GB 2068142 A GB2068142 A GB 2068142A GB 8102587 A GB8102587 A GB 8102587A GB 8102587 A GB8102587 A GB 8102587A GB 2068142 A GB2068142 A GB 2068142A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
optical fibre
sleeve
cladding
silica core
ferrule
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB8102587A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Plessey Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Plessey Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Plessey Co Ltd filed Critical Plessey Co Ltd
Priority to GB8102587A priority Critical patent/GB2068142A/en
Publication of GB2068142A publication Critical patent/GB2068142A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

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
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
    • G02B6/3835—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using discs, bushings or the like
    • 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
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3855—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule
    • 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
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
    • G02B6/3854—Ferrules characterised by materials

Landscapes

  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

In order to reduce or eliminate movement of the silica core relative to a clamping ferrule due to the resilience of the fibre cladding, a length of the cladding is removed from the end of the optical fibre and replaced by a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material of lower refractive index and greater strength and rigidity. The clamping ferrule and the silica core is bonded to this material either by melting it or heat shrinking it in position.

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to methods of making terminations for clad optical fibres This invention relates to methods of making terminations for clad optical fibres. Optical fibres commonly comprise a silica core within a silicone resin cladding and when making terminal connections of such fibres within demountable connectors, for example, the cladding is usually clamped by means of a metal ferrule firmly secured to the connector body. This arrangement in demountable connectors suffers from the disadvantage that the silica core of the optical fibre may still move relative to the clamping ferrule due to the resilience of the fibre cladding and/or poor adhesion between the core and the cladding and such movement may seriously affect the efficiency of the optical connector.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of making a termination for a clad optical fibre in which the above disadvantages are overcome or substantially reduced.
According to the present invention a method of making a terminations for a clad optical fibre comprises the steps of removing a portion of the cladding from the end of the optical fibre, coating the exposed silica core with a layer of a fluroinated hydrocarbon polymer material of lower refractive index and greater strength and rigidity than the cladding and forming a mechanical connection to the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer layer for securing the fibre.
The fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer may comprise polytetrafluoroethylene which has a melting point of 300-400"C or a fluorinated ethylene propylene polymer which has a lower melting point (about 200"C).
The fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material may be melted on to the silica core of the optical fibre or it may be provided in the form of a sleeve of suitable dimensions which may be heat shrunk on to the exposed silica core.
The fluorinated hydrocarbon material, as it is melted on to the core of the optical fibre may also serve to bond the core to a metal ferrule.
The invention also includes an optical fibre having a termination made by the method as set forth above.
By way of example the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which depict in Figures 1 to 3 the steps in attaching a metal ferrule to the silica core of an optical fibre.
Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing an optical fibre comprises a pure silica core 1 surrounded by silicone resin cladding 2 which in turn is contained within an outer plastics sheath 3. The optical fibre is prepared for connection to an optical fibre terminating structure, such as a demountable connector, by stripping back the outer plastics sheath 3 from the end of the optical fibre as shown and then removing the silicone resin cladding 2 to leave the end of the silica core 1 projecting from the end of the fibre. A sleeve 4 of polytetrafluoroethylene or a fluorinated ethylene propylene polymer is then fitted on to the core 1 as shown in Fig. 2 leaving as narrow a gap as possible between the sleeve 4 and the end face of the cladding 2. As will be seen the outer diameter of the sleeve 4 corresponds to that of the cladding 2.
As can be seen from Fig. 3 a metal ferrule 5 is then positioned over the sleeve 4 on the core 1 and the material of sleeve 4 melted in any convenient manner so that the ferrule 5 becomes bonded to the silica core 1. By means of the ferrule 5 the optical fibre may be mechanically secured to the body of a demountable connector for example.
The material of the sleeve 4 is mechanically stronger and significantly more rigid than the silicone resin cladding and consequently an improved mechanical connection is provided between the ferrule and connector body and the silica core 1 of the optical fibre so that movement of the core 1 relative to the ferrule is positively prevented.
Instead of the material of the sleeve 4 being completely melted, the sleeve can be heat shrunk on to the silica core 1.
The ferrule 5 preferably comprises two halves which are urged together by a suitable spring. Thus when it is placed over the sleeve 4 pressure is exerted on the sleeve 4 so that when it is melted, an improved bond is achieved between the ferrule 5 and the material of the sleeve 4 and the silica core 1 and the material. Any pockets of air are also forced out of the molten material. The split ferrule also achieves improved bonds when the sleeve 4 is not completely melted, but heat shrunk on to the silica core 1.
1. A method of making a termination for a clad optical fibre comprising the steps of removing a portion of the cladding from the end of the optical fibre characterised by the steps of coating the exposed silica core (1) of the optical fibre with a layer of a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material (4) of lower refractive index and greater strength and rigidity than the cladding (2) and forming a mechanical connection to the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer layer (4) for securing the optical fibre.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material (4) comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material (4) comprises a fluorinated
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (9)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to methods of making terminations for clad optical fibres This invention relates to methods of making terminations for clad optical fibres. Optical fibres commonly comprise a silica core within a silicone resin cladding and when making terminal connections of such fibres within demountable connectors, for example, the cladding is usually clamped by means of a metal ferrule firmly secured to the connector body. This arrangement in demountable connectors suffers from the disadvantage that the silica core of the optical fibre may still move relative to the clamping ferrule due to the resilience of the fibre cladding and/or poor adhesion between the core and the cladding and such movement may seriously affect the efficiency of the optical connector. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of making a termination for a clad optical fibre in which the above disadvantages are overcome or substantially reduced. According to the present invention a method of making a terminations for a clad optical fibre comprises the steps of removing a portion of the cladding from the end of the optical fibre, coating the exposed silica core with a layer of a fluroinated hydrocarbon polymer material of lower refractive index and greater strength and rigidity than the cladding and forming a mechanical connection to the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer layer for securing the fibre. The fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer may comprise polytetrafluoroethylene which has a melting point of 300-400"C or a fluorinated ethylene propylene polymer which has a lower melting point (about 200"C). The fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material may be melted on to the silica core of the optical fibre or it may be provided in the form of a sleeve of suitable dimensions which may be heat shrunk on to the exposed silica core. The fluorinated hydrocarbon material, as it is melted on to the core of the optical fibre may also serve to bond the core to a metal ferrule. The invention also includes an optical fibre having a termination made by the method as set forth above. By way of example the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which depict in Figures 1 to 3 the steps in attaching a metal ferrule to the silica core of an optical fibre. Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing an optical fibre comprises a pure silica core 1 surrounded by silicone resin cladding 2 which in turn is contained within an outer plastics sheath 3. The optical fibre is prepared for connection to an optical fibre terminating structure, such as a demountable connector, by stripping back the outer plastics sheath 3 from the end of the optical fibre as shown and then removing the silicone resin cladding 2 to leave the end of the silica core 1 projecting from the end of the fibre. A sleeve 4 of polytetrafluoroethylene or a fluorinated ethylene propylene polymer is then fitted on to the core 1 as shown in Fig. 2 leaving as narrow a gap as possible between the sleeve 4 and the end face of the cladding 2. As will be seen the outer diameter of the sleeve 4 corresponds to that of the cladding 2. As can be seen from Fig. 3 a metal ferrule 5 is then positioned over the sleeve 4 on the core 1 and the material of sleeve 4 melted in any convenient manner so that the ferrule 5 becomes bonded to the silica core 1. By means of the ferrule 5 the optical fibre may be mechanically secured to the body of a demountable connector for example. The material of the sleeve 4 is mechanically stronger and significantly more rigid than the silicone resin cladding and consequently an improved mechanical connection is provided between the ferrule and connector body and the silica core 1 of the optical fibre so that movement of the core 1 relative to the ferrule is positively prevented. Instead of the material of the sleeve 4 being completely melted, the sleeve can be heat shrunk on to the silica core 1. The ferrule 5 preferably comprises two halves which are urged together by a suitable spring. Thus when it is placed over the sleeve 4 pressure is exerted on the sleeve 4 so that when it is melted, an improved bond is achieved between the ferrule 5 and the material of the sleeve 4 and the silica core 1 and the material. Any pockets of air are also forced out of the molten material. The split ferrule also achieves improved bonds when the sleeve 4 is not completely melted, but heat shrunk on to the silica core 1. CLAIMS
1. A method of making a termination for a clad optical fibre comprising the steps of removing a portion of the cladding from the end of the optical fibre characterised by the steps of coating the exposed silica core (1) of the optical fibre with a layer of a fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material (4) of lower refractive index and greater strength and rigidity than the cladding (2) and forming a mechanical connection to the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer layer (4) for securing the optical fibre.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material (4) comprises polytetrafluoroethylene.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 characterised in that the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material (4) comprises a fluorinated ethylene propylene polymer.
4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim characterised in that the fluorinated hy drocarbon polymer material (4) is melted on to the silica core (1) of the optical fibre.
5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim in characterised in that the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material comprises a sleeve (4) which is heat shrunk on to the silica core (1) of the optical fibre.
6. A method as claimed in claim 4 in which the fluorinated hydrocarbon polymer material, as it is melted, is bonded on to a metal ferrule (5).
7. An optical fibre having a termination made by the method according to any preceding claim.
8. A method of making a termination for a clad optical fibre substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
9. An optical fibre having a termination constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8102587A 1980-01-29 1981-01-28 Terminations for clad optical fibres Withdrawn GB2068142A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8102587A GB2068142A (en) 1980-01-29 1981-01-28 Terminations for clad optical fibres

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8002912 1980-01-29
GB8102587A GB2068142A (en) 1980-01-29 1981-01-28 Terminations for clad optical fibres

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2068142A true GB2068142A (en) 1981-08-05

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8102587A Withdrawn GB2068142A (en) 1980-01-29 1981-01-28 Terminations for clad optical fibres

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2068142A (en)

Cited By (13)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0131742A2 (en) * 1983-06-08 1985-01-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba A method for coupling the end section of an optical fiber cable to an optical connector
EP0223609A2 (en) * 1985-11-20 1987-05-27 RAYCHEM CORPORATION (a Delaware corporation) Contact for terminating an optical fiber
EP0285784A1 (en) * 1987-03-31 1988-10-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Fibre-optical connection and method of its production
US4865411A (en) * 1987-12-16 1989-09-12 American Telephone And Telegraph Company At&T Technologies, Inc. Recoated spliced lengths of optical fibers
US4976596A (en) * 1987-12-16 1990-12-11 At&T Bell Laboratories Apparatus for recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers
USRE34005E (en) * 1985-11-20 1992-07-21 Raychem Corporation Contact for terminating an optical fiber
EP0574015A2 (en) * 1992-06-12 1993-12-15 The Whitaker Corporation Fiber optic connector having low cost ferrule
US5277730A (en) * 1987-12-16 1994-01-11 At&T Bell Laboratories Methods of recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers
EP0945744A2 (en) * 1998-03-26 1999-09-29 Hughes Electronics Corporation Front end preparation procedure for coupling of light into a multi-mode fiber
US6317555B1 (en) * 1998-05-06 2001-11-13 Cidra Corporation Creep-resistant optical fiber attachment
GB2450116A (en) * 2007-06-13 2008-12-17 Gsi Group Ltd Termination of an optical fibre comprising angled capillary and cladding mode stripper
US7839902B2 (en) 2006-06-23 2010-11-23 Gsi Group Ltd. Fibre laser system
EP2546687A1 (en) * 2011-07-12 2013-01-16 Hosiden Corporation Optical connector and optical fiber coupling structure

Cited By (20)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0131742A3 (en) * 1983-06-08 1986-01-22 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba A method for coupling the end section of an optical fiber cable to an optical connector
EP0131742A2 (en) * 1983-06-08 1985-01-23 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba A method for coupling the end section of an optical fiber cable to an optical connector
USRE34005E (en) * 1985-11-20 1992-07-21 Raychem Corporation Contact for terminating an optical fiber
EP0223609A2 (en) * 1985-11-20 1987-05-27 RAYCHEM CORPORATION (a Delaware corporation) Contact for terminating an optical fiber
EP0223609A3 (en) * 1985-11-20 1988-08-24 Raychem Corporation (A Delaware Corporation) Contact for terminating an optical fiber
US4790622A (en) * 1985-11-20 1988-12-13 Raychem Corp. Contact for terminating an optical fiber
EP0285784A1 (en) * 1987-03-31 1988-10-12 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Fibre-optical connection and method of its production
US5277730A (en) * 1987-12-16 1994-01-11 At&T Bell Laboratories Methods of recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers
US4976596A (en) * 1987-12-16 1990-12-11 At&T Bell Laboratories Apparatus for recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers
US4865411A (en) * 1987-12-16 1989-09-12 American Telephone And Telegraph Company At&T Technologies, Inc. Recoated spliced lengths of optical fibers
EP0574015A2 (en) * 1992-06-12 1993-12-15 The Whitaker Corporation Fiber optic connector having low cost ferrule
EP0574015A3 (en) * 1992-06-12 1994-02-02 Whitaker Corp
EP0945744A2 (en) * 1998-03-26 1999-09-29 Hughes Electronics Corporation Front end preparation procedure for coupling of light into a multi-mode fiber
US6154596A (en) * 1998-03-26 2000-11-28 Hughes Electronics Corporation Front end preparation procedure for efficient coupling and improved power handling of light into a multi-mode fiber
EP0945744A3 (en) * 1998-03-26 2001-04-25 Hughes Electronics Corporation Front end preparation procedure for coupling of light into a multi-mode fiber
US6317555B1 (en) * 1998-05-06 2001-11-13 Cidra Corporation Creep-resistant optical fiber attachment
US7839902B2 (en) 2006-06-23 2010-11-23 Gsi Group Ltd. Fibre laser system
GB2450116A (en) * 2007-06-13 2008-12-17 Gsi Group Ltd Termination of an optical fibre comprising angled capillary and cladding mode stripper
US8213753B2 (en) 2007-06-13 2012-07-03 Gsi Group Ltd. System for delivering the output from an optical fibre
EP2546687A1 (en) * 2011-07-12 2013-01-16 Hosiden Corporation Optical connector and optical fiber coupling structure

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WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)