Optical star coupler and method for manufacturing the same

A method of making an optical star coupler, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a plurality of optical fibers into a protection tube so as to be suspended therein;
• twisting said optical fibers;
• fusing substantially the central portion of said optical fibers by heating said optical fibers through said protection tube;
• pulling said optical fibers while heating said optical fibers through said protection tube;
• fusing both sides of said substantially the central portion of said optical fibers by heating said optical fibers through said protection tube;
• and
• fixing said optical fibers on both ends of said protection tube.

An optical star coupler comprising:

• first and second protection tubes;
• first and second pluralities of optical fibers suspended in respective ones of said first and second protection tubes, each of said plurality of optical fibers having a twisting, fusing and pulling portion at substantially a central portion of said optical fibers and twisting and fusing portions on both sides of said twisting, fusing and pulling portion, respectively;
• and
• means for fixing said first and second plurality of optical fibers on both ends of said respective protection tubes, wherein one of said first plurality of optical fibers exits said first protection tube and enters said second protection tube as one of said second plurality of optical fibers.

A method of making an optical star coupler, comprising the steps of:

• inserting a first plurality of optical fibers into a first protection tube so as to be suspended therein;
• inserting a second plurality of optical fibers including one of said first plurality of optical fibers into a second protection tube so as to be suspended therein;
• twisting said first plurality of optical fibers;
• twisting said second plurality of optical fibers;
• fusing substantially the central portion of said first plurality of optical fibers by heating said first plurality of optical fibers through said first protection tube;
• fusing substantially the central portion of said second plurality of optical fibers by heating said second plurality of optical fibers through said second protection tube;
• pulling said first plurality of optical fibers while heating said first plurality of optical fibers through said first protection tube;
• pulling said second plurality of optical fibers while heating said second plurality of optical fibers through said second protection tube;
• fusing both sides of said substantially the central portion of said first plurality of optical fibers by heating said first plurality of optical fibers through said first protection tube;
• fusing both sides of said substantially the central portion of said second plurality of optical fibers by heating said second plurality of optical fibers through said second protection tube;
• fixing said first plurality of optical fibers at both ends of said first protection tube;
• and
• fixing said second plurality of optical fibers at both ends of said second protection tube.