Testing optical fiber splices
AssigneeFitel USA Corp.
InventorsDavid John DiGiovanni, John Edwin Graebner, Sun-Young John Kwak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The specification describes a technique for evaluating optical fiber splices. The essence of the technique involves detecting thermal power emanating from the fiber splice as the result of absorption of the light carried by the fiber. The technique is particularly suited for cladding pumped lasers wherein the splicing operation may introduce excessive absorption of pump laser radiation and excessive heating at the splice locale.
Claims7
A method for evaluating an optical fiber splice between an optical fiber section and an optical element and wherein the optical fiber section has a core, a first cladding layer around the core, and a second cladding layer around the first cladding layer, and wherein the first cladding layer comprises a high silica glass, comprising the steps of introducing light radiation into the first cladding layer and measuring the power emanating from the optical fiber splice.
A method for evaluating an optical fiber splice between two optical fiber sections comprising the steps of
- a. mounting the splice in a calorimeter,
- b. introducing laser radiation into one of the optical fiber sections,
- c. bringing the optical fiber splice and the calorimeter to thermal equilibrium, and
- d. measuring the thermal power emanating from the optical fiber splice.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.