EP0321947A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method of testing spliced portion of optical fibers
Assignee: Fujikura Ltd
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Filing: 1988-12-21
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-12-21
Abstract
Abstract In a method of testing a spliced portion of exposed fiber portions (10₁) and (10₂) of optical fibers, the optical fibers are arranged with each other in line so that ends of the exposed fiber portions are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance. The ends of the exposed fiber portions are heated and melted by discharge heating. The optical fibers are then moved in the abutment or closing directions by a predetermined distance, so that the ends of the exposed fiber portions abut against each other to form a spliced portion. The minimum outer diameter value d of the spliced portion is measured. Ratio d/D of minimum value d to value D of the outer diameter of exposed fiber portion is calculated. Spliced portions having splicing defects can be detected by detecting of spliced portions having ratio d/D of less than 1 (d/D < 1). That is, spliced portions having ratio d/D of less than 1 (d/D < 1) are regarded as splicing defects.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeshi Yamada
- 👤 Tsutomu Onodera
- 👤 Hiroyuki Taya
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 03:16
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01M; G01M11/00; G01M11/30; G01M11/37; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, characterized by comprising the steps of: aligning in line a pair of optical fibers with a predetermined distance therebetween so that ends of exposed fiber portions (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) of the optical fibers are opposite to each other; heating and melting said ends of the exposed fiber portions; pushing said optical fibers toward each other by a predetermined distance so that the melted ends of the exposed fiber portions abut against each other to form a spliced portion (14); measuring a minimum value of an outer diameter of said spliced portion; and calculating a ratio of the measured minimum value to an outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion of the optical fiber.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
124 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, characterized by comprising the steps of: aligning in line a pair of optical fibers with a predetermined distance therebetween so that ends of exposed fiber portions (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) of the optical fibers are opposite to each other; heating and melting said ends of the exposed fiber portions; pushing said optical fibers toward each other by a predetermined distance so that the melted ends of the exposed fiber portions abut against each other to form a spliced portion (14); measuring a minimum value of an outer diameter of said spliced portion; and calculating a ratio of the measured minimum value to an outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion of the optical fiber.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 1, characterized in that said calculating step is carried out to determine whether d/D ≧ 1 or d/D < 1.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 1, characterized in that said outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) is measured before said heating step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 1, characterized in that said outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) is measured during said heating step.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 1, characterized in that said outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) is measured after said heating step.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 1, characterized in that said optical fiber is a single optical fiber.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 1, characterized in that said optical fiber is a ribbon optical fiber.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, characterized by comprising steps of: aligning in line a pair of optical fibers with a predetermined distance therebetween so that ends of exposed fiber portions (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) of the optical fibers are opposite to each other; heating and melting the ends of the exposed fiber portions; pushing the optical fibers toward each other by a predetermined distance so that the melted ends of the exposed fiber portions abut against each other to form a spliced portion (14); measuring a minimum value of an outer diameter of the spliced portion; and calculating a ratio of the measured minimum value to an outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion of the optical fiber.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, characterized by comprising steps of: aligning in line a pair of optical fibers with a predetermined distance therebetween so that ends of exposed fiber portions (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) of the optical fibers are opposite to each other; heating and melting the ends of the exposed fiber portions; pushing the optical fibers toward each other by a predetermined distance so that the melted ends of the exposed fiber portions abut against each other to form a spliced portion (14); measuring a minimum value of an outer diameter of the spliced portion; and calculating a ratio of the measured minimum value to an outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion of the optical fiber.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 8, characterized in that said calculating step is carried out to determine whether d/D ≧ 1 or d/D < 1.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 8, characterized in that said outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) is measured before said heating step.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 8, characterized in that said outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) is measured during said heating step.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 8, characterized in that said outer diameter of the exposed fiber portion (10₁, 10₂; 112₁₁-112₁₄, 112₂₁-112₂₄) is measured after said heating step.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 8, characterized in that said optical fiber is a single optical fiber.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method of testing a spliced portion of optical fibers, according to claim 8, characterized in that said optical fiber is a ribbon optical fiber.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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