Fusion splicing system for optical fibers, fusion splicer, model creation device, and method for fusion splicing optical fibers

A fusion splicer comprising:

• an imaging unit configured to image a pair of optical fibers and to generate imaging data;
• a determination unit configured to determine a type of each of the pair of optical fibers by inputting feature amounts obtained from the imaging data provided from the imaging unit to a determination model for determining types of optical fibers to be spliced based on imaging data of the optical fibers to be spliced, the determination model being created through machine learning using sample data indicating a correspondence relationship between feature amounts obtained from imaging data of the optical fibers and types of the optical fibers from which the feature amounts are obtained;
• and
• a splicing unit configured to fusion splice the pair of optical fibers to each other on splicing conditions corresponding to a combination of the types of the pair of optical fibers based on determination results from the determination unit,
• wherein the determination model is created by classifying a plurality of fusion splicers into two or more groups each estimated to have similar tendencies in the imaging data and collecting the sample data for each group, and
• wherein the determination unit determines the type of each of the pair of optical fibers using the determination model corresponding to the group to which the fusion splicer belongs.

A method for fusion splicing optical fibers comprising:

• creating a determination model for determining types of optical fibers to be spliced based on imaging data of the optical fibers to be spliced by performing machine learning using sample data indicating a correspondence relationship between feature amounts obtained from imaging data of optical fibers and types of the optical fibers;
• generating imaging data by imaging a pair of optical fibers;
• determining a type of each of the pair of optical fibers by inputting feature amounts obtained from the imaging data generated in the generating imaging data into the determination model;
• and
• fusion splicing the pair of optical fibers to each other on splicing conditions corresponding to a combination of the types of the pair of optical fibers based on determination results from the determining,
• wherein, in the creating the determination model, the determination model is created for each group by classifying a plurality of fusion splicers performing the generating imaging data, the determining, and the fusion splicing into two or more groups each estimated to have similar tendencies in the imaging data and collecting the sample data from the plurality of the fusion splicers, and
• wherein, in the determining, the type of each of the pair of optical fibers is determined using the determination model corresponding to the group to which a fusion splicer performing the determining belongs.