Back to results
US 4,544,234 AGranted
Low loss optical fiber splicing
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsGeorge F. DeVeau, Jr., Calvin M. Miller
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Loading patent…
Loading patent…
AssigneeAT&T Bell Laboratories
InventorsGeorge F. DeVeau, Jr., Calvin M. Miller
Estimating the term…
Optical fibers are spliced by a technique that yields very low loss and accommodates fibers having different outer diameters or having nonconcentric cores. The technique is especially useful for single mode optical fibers, and splice losses of less than 0.1 db in a wavelength range of about 1.3 to 1.55 micrometers is typically obtained. The splice comprises a slotted tube surrounding abutted fiber ends, with the tube being at least partially filled with cement. An outer cylindrical sleeve is optionally provided for increased strength. In splicing the fibers, the fibers are aligned by means of a scattered light detector comprising a slotted tube surrounding a portion of the fiber, and a detector at one end of the tube. A sensitive null indication is obtained which provides for precise alignment of the fiber cores.
A method of splicing optical fibers characterized by steps comprising obtaining two optical fibers having substantially flat endfaces which are substantially perpendicular to the axis of the fiber, placing the fiber ends in proximity, surrounding said ends with a first slotted glass tube that does not touch said fiber ends, with said slotted tube being at least partially filled with cement, directing radiation through at least one of said fibers, aligning the cores of said fibers by minimizing the amount of radiation scattered from said ends, and curing said cement by directing ultraviolet radiation through said tube, whereby a splice with improved thermal stability results.
An optical fiber comprising a splice between two optical fiber segments,
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.