# US 10,310,184 B2 · Methods for splicing optical fibers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,310,184 B2 - Document ID: US10310184B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/908,117 - Filed: 2018-02-28 - Published: 2018-09-13 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2017-03-07 - Assignees: AFL Telecommunications LLC - Applicants: AFL Telecommunications LLC - Inventors: Wenxin Zheng; Robin Carbonnier - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10310184B2 ## CPC - G02B 6/2551: {using thermal methods, e.g. fusion welding by arc discharge, laser beam, plasma torch} - G02B 6/245: Removing protective coverings of light guides before coupling - G02B 6/2552: {reshaping or reforming of light guides for coupling using thermal heating, e.g. tapering, forming of a lens on light guide ends} - G02B 2006/12192: {Splicing} - G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS ## Abstract A method for splicing optical fibers includes aligning the cores of a first optical fiber and second optical fiber to be spliced together such that the cores are both generally concentric along a longitudinal axis. The method further includes heating the end portions of the first and second optical fibers, and moving at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber along the longitudinal axis such that the end portion of the second optical fiber protrudes into the end portion of the first optical fiber. The method further includes discontinuing heating of the end portions of the first and second optical fibers, and continuing moving the at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber after discontinuing heating. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for splicing optical fibers, the method comprising: aligning the cores of a first optical fiber and second optical fiber to be spliced together such that the cores are both generally concentric along a longitudinal axis, wherein a maximum outer diameter of an end portion of the second optical fiber is less than a maximum outer diameter of an end portion of the first optical fiber, and wherein the first optical fiber is a fluoride optical fiber and the second optical fiber is a silica optical fiber; heating the end portions of the first and second optical fibers; moving, during the heating step, at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber along the longitudinal axis such that the end portion of the second optical fiber protrudes into the end portion of the first optical fiber; discontinuing heating of the end portions of the first and second optical fibers; and continuing moving the at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber after discontinuing heating. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the fluoride optical fiber is a Zblan optical fiber. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the entire second optical fiber is less than an outer diameter of the entire first optical fiber. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising tapering the second optical fiber to have the end portion with a maximum outer diameter that is less than the maximum outer diameter of the end portion of the first optical fiber. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising cleaving the end portion of the second optical fiber after tapering the second optical fiber. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, after the aligning step and before the moving step, a gap is defined along the longitudinal axis between the end portions of the first end second optical fibers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method of claim 6, wherein the gap is between 5 microns and 30 microns. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heating step begins between 50 and 200 milliseconds prior to the moving step. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the end portions of the first and second optical fibers are heated to the melting point of the first optical fiber. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the end portions of the first and second optical fibers are heated to between 175 and 325 degrees Celsius. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first or second optical fiber is moved at between 0.05 and 0.25 millimeters per second. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, during the moving step, a maximum length of between 5 and 30 microns of the end portion of the second optical fiber is protruded into the end portion of the first optical fiber. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, during the continuing moving step, a maximum additional length of between 2 and 10 microns of the end portion of the second optical fiber is protruded into the end portion of the first optical fiber. ### Claim 14 A method for splicing optical fibers, the method comprising: aligning the cores of a first optical fiber and second optical fiber to be spliced together such that the cores are both generally concentric along a longitudinal axis, wherein a maximum outer diameter of an end portion of the second optical fiber is less than a maximum outer diameter of an end portion of the first optical fiber, and wherein the first optical fiber is a fluoride optical fiber and the second optical fiber is a silica optical fiber, and wherein after aligning the cores a gap is defined along the longitudinal axis between the end portions of the first end second optical fibers; heating the end portions of the first and second optical fibers to between 175 and 325 degrees Celsius; moving, during the heating step, at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber along the longitudinal axis such that the end portion of the second optical fiber protrudes into the end portion of the first optical fiber; discontinuing heating of the end portions of the first and second optical fibers; and continuing moving the at least one of the first or second optical fiber towards the other of the first or second optical fiber after discontinuing heating. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein an outer diameter of the entire second optical fiber is less than an outer diameter of the entire first optical fiber. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising tapering the second optical fiber to have the end portion with a maximum outer diameter that is less than the maximum outer diameter of the end portion of the first optical fiber. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the heating step begins between 50 and 200milliseconds prior to the moving step. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the first or second optical fiber is moved at between 0.05 and 0.25 millimeters per second. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein, during the moving step, a maximum length of between 5 and 30 microns of the end portion of the second optical fiber is protruded into the end portion of the first optical fiber. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, during the continuing moving step, a maximum additional length of between 2 and 10 microns of the end portion of the second optical fiber is protruded into the end portion of the first optical fiber.