Patent ID: 6244323
Filing Date: 2001-06-12
Classification: G02B,G02F,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for removing a predetermined length of a protective coating material from an optical fiber, the optical fiber being a glass optical fiber having a surface surrounded by the protective coating material, the apparatus comprising:a gas source;a filter connected to said gas source, wherein said filter receives gas from said gas source and discharges filtered gas;a heater connected to said filter, wherein said heater receives the filtered gas; anda nozzle connected to said heater, wherein said nozzle receives the heated filtered gas from said heater, wherein said nozzle directs the heated filtered gas onto the protective coating of the optical fiber;wherein the temperature and composition of the filtered gas are controlled such that the heated filtered gas does not react with the protective coating material to create a combustion residue on the surface of glass optical fiber when the heated gas is directed onto the protective coating material surrounding the glass optical fiber;wherein the heater and nozzle are configured so that the temperature of the heated filtered gas is sufficient to soften the protective coating material without melting the protective coating material; andwherein the velocity of the stream of heated filtered gas exiting said nozzle is sufficient to remove the protective coating material from the optical fiber.