Splice module for use in fiber optic cable alignment and splicing devices

A fusion splice module for fusing optical fibers resting along a passline thereon, comprising:

• a) a non-conductive v-groove module adapted to receive an electrode module comprising;
• a non-conductive base plate having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center;
• a non-conductive first top plate having a substantially planar bottom surface for mounting on the top surface of said base plate, and a mating edge for mating against a second top plate, a face having an angle Φ adjacent to said mating edge, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center;
• a non-conductive first top plate having a substantially planar bottom surface for mounting on the top surface of said base plate and a mating edge for mating against said first top plate mating edge, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center;
• and
• an adhesive layer located between the top surface of said base plate and the bottom surfaces of said first top plate and said second top plate, thereby adhesively bonding said first and said second top plates to said base plate;
• and
• b) an electrode module comprising;
• a non-conductive substrate;
• at least two portions of conductive material disposed on an outer surface of said non-conductive substrate and adapted for making contact with an operatively associated external current source;
• and
• at least two substantially planar conductive electrodes having electrode tips overlaying a layer of the substrate, said at least two substantially planar conductive electrodes being electrically isolated from each other and each electrode being electrically connected to a one of the at least two outer portions, the electrode tips defining an arc region therebetween.

A fusion splice module for fusing optical fibers resting along a passline thereon, comprising:

• a) a non-conductive v-groove module adapted to receive an electrode module comprising;
• a non-conductive base plate having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center;
• a non-conductive first top plate having a substantially planar bottom surface for mounting on the top surface of said base plate and a mating edge for mating against a second top plate mating edge, a face having an angle Φ adjacent to said mating edge, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center;
• a non-conductive second top plate having a substantially planar bottom surface for mounting on the top surface of said base plate and a mating edge for mating against said first top plate mating edge, a face having an angle Φ adjacent to said mating edge, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center;
• and
• an adhesive layer located between the top surface of said base plate and the bottom surfaces of said first top plate and said second top plate, thereby adhesively bonding said first and second top plates to said base plate;
• b) an electrode module comprising;
• a non-conductive substrate;
• at least two portions of conductive material disposed on an outer surface of said non-conductive substrate and adapted for making contact with an operatively associated external current source;
• and
• at least two substantially planar conductive electrodes having electrode tips overlaying a layer of the substrate, said at least two substantially planar conductive electrodes being electrically isolated from each other, and each electrode being electrically connected to a one of the at least two outer portions, the electrode tips defining an arc region therebetween;
• c) means defining through holes in the non-conductive substrate;
• and
• d) at least two plated conductive members in said through holes, each plated conductive member electrically interconnecting at least one of the electrodes with at least one of the portions of conductive material.

A splice module for aligning and splicing optical fibers resting along a pass line thereon, comprising:

• a) a v-groove module comprising;
• a base plate having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces;
• a first top plate having a substantially planar bottom surface for mounting on the top surface of said base plate and a mating edge for mating against a second top plate, and a face having an angle Φ adjacent to said mating edge;
• a second top plate having a substantially planar bottom surface for mounting on the top surface of said base plate and a mating edge for mating against said first top plate, and a face having an angle Φ adjacent to said mating edge;
• and
• an adhesive layer located between the top surface of said base plate and the bottom surfaces of said first top plate and said second top plate, thereby adhesively bonding said first and second top plates to said base plate, said v-groove module including a groove for aligning and guiding fibers along said passline, whereby a pair of optical fibers may be precisely aligned in said v-groove module, thereby enabling a mechanical splice of the fibers.