Patent ID: 6273990
Filing Date: 2001-08-14
Classification: B82Y,G02B,Y10T

Abstract:
A method for removing a protective coating from a glass optical fiber at ambient temperature and without exposure to a chemical softening agent, the glass optical fiber and the protective coating each having a hardness which are different from one another, the method comprising the steps of:providing a tool having a blade, at least a portion of the blade having a hardness sufficiently lower than that of the glass optical fiber to prevent damage to the glass optical fiber in the event of contact with the portion of the blade, and sufficiently higher than that of the protective coating such that the blade portion can penetrate the protective coating upon contact without undue deformation of the portion of the blade;engaging a portion of the protective coating surrounding the glass optical fiber with the portion of the blade; andapplying sufficient pressure on the blade to force the blade into the protective coating, and in turn force the protective coating off a portion of the glass optical fiber;wherein the portion of the blade is fabricated from a material that is either not susceptible to oxidation or is treated to resist oxidation, and is selected from a group consisting of commercially pure aluminum, a low-melting-point solder, or a commercially pure lead.