Method and apparatus for splicing optical fibers
AssigneeCorning Glass Works
InventorRoy E. Smith
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus are described for permanently splicing glass optical fibers. The fibers are aligned colinearly, and their endfaces are brought into contact. An electrical arc discharge is generated at the junction between the fibers and is moved along the junction to ensure complete fusing of the fiber endfaces. Best results are obtained by first applying only enough heat to the fiber junction to cause the fibers to adhere to each other without forming a good optical connection, and thereafter, increasing the arc current to a value sufficient to cause complete fusion of the fiber endfaces.
Claims12
A method of splicing glass optical fibers comprising the steps of
- aligning the end portions of said fibers so that the axes thereof are substantially parallel and the endfaces thereof are in contact,
- generating at the junction between said fibers a low energy electric arc having sufficient energy to cause said fibers to adhere to each other but not completely fuse, thereafter,
- generating a high energy electric arc having greater energy than said low energy arc, said high energy arc producing a sufficient amount of heat to melt the endfaces of said fibers, thereby causing said fibers to fuse, and
- moving said low and high energy arcs in a direction perpendicular to the axes of said fibers so that the central portion of said arcs moves along said fiber junction.
A method of splicing glass optical fibers comprising the steps of
- aligning the end portions of said fibers so that the axes thereof are substantially parallel and the endfaces thereof are in contact,
- disposing said fibers between the ends of a pair of spaced, rod-shaped electrodes,
- generating an electric arc between the ends of said electrodes, said arc passing through the junction of said fiber endfaces and producing a sufficient amount of heat to melt the endfaces of said fibers, thereby causing said fibers to fuse, and
- moving said electrodes in a direction perpendicular to the axes of said fibers so that the central portion of said arc moves along said fiber junction.
An apparatus for splicing glass optical fibers comprising
- first and second fiber retaining means for retaining the end portions of said fibers so that the axes thereof are substantially parallel and the endfaces thereof are in contact,
- a pair of electrodes,
- a voltage source connected to said electrodes for causing the generation of an electric arc between the ends thereof, said arc extending across the junction between said fibers and producing a sufficient amount of heat to melt the endfaces of said fibers, thereby causing said fibers to fuse, and
- means for causing relative movement between said electrodes and said fibers so that the central portion of said arc moves along said fiber junction.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.