US 11,899,248 B2
Systems and methods for optical fiber cleaning and interface particle reduction
Matthew D. Rohr Daniel, San Francisco, CA (US); Troy K. Adebar, Mountain View, CA (US); David W. Bailey, Portola Valley, CA (US); Stephen J. Blumenkranz, Los Altos, CA (US); Edward P. Donlon, San Jose, CA (US); Mark Froggatt, Blacksburg, VA (US); Christopher M. Major, Santa Clara, CA (US); and Randall L. Schlesinger, San Mateo, CA (US)
Assigned to Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed by Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA (US)
Filed on Mar. 5, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/193,166.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/990,732, filed on Mar. 17, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/986,369, filed on Mar. 6, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/986,430, filed on Mar. 6, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0278604 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 6/38 (2006.01); B08B 1/00 (2006.01); B08B 1/04 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3866 (2013.01) [B08B 1/008 (2013.01); B08B 1/04 (2013.01); B08B 2240/02 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An optical fiber cleaning assembly, comprising:
a cleaning tape;
a first spool having the cleaning tape wound thereon;
a second spool onto which the cleaning tape is drawn;
a drive mechanism configured to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool;
one or more first connectors configured to mate with one or more connectors of a system so as to detachably attach the optical fiber cleaning assembly to the system, the system including a first optical fiber; and
one or more second connectors configured to mate with one or more optical fiber connectors of a device while the optical fiber cleaning assembly is attached to the system by the one or more first connectors so as to detachably attach the optical fiber cleaning assembly to the device, the device including a second optical fiber,
wherein when a face of the first or second optical fiber is placed in contact with a surface of the cleaning tape, the drive mechanism is configured to move the cleaning tape from the first spool to the second spool to wipe the face of the first or second optical fiber.