EP0623831A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for fusion splicing optical fibers
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1994-04-20
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-04-20
Abstract
Abstract We have discovered that the strength of arc fusion splices in optical fiber can be adversely affected by particles (e.g., SiO₂ particles) from the electrodes. Disclosed is a method of arc fusion splicing that can substantially increase the probability that a given fiber splice will meet a given strength requirement. The method comprises initiating the arc in a "cleaning" position selected such that the probability of incidence on the fibers of particles from the electrodes is relatively low, followed by changing the relative position between the electrodes with the arc therebetween and the fibers to the conventional "heating" position and forming the splice.
Inventors
- 👤 Guenther Wilhelm Kammlott
- 👤 John Thorvald Krause
- 👤 Sandra Greenberg Kosinski
- 👤 Richard Steven Riggs
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 06:51
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2558; G02B6/2551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A method of end-to-end fusion splicing two lengths of optical fiber comprising the steps of: a) positioning an end of each of said two lengths of optical fiber such that said fiber ends are substantially aligned in a linear opposing fashion; and b) fusing said fiber ends by a process that comprises heating the fiber ends by means of an electric arc between electrodes, with the electrodes in a first ("heating") position relative to said fiber ends; Characterized In That the method further comprises c) starting said arc, prior to b), with the electrodes in a second ("cleaning") position relative to said fiber ends, and maintaining said electrodes with the arc therebetween in the cleaning position for at least a time t c , followed by placing the fiber ends and the electrodes with the arc therebetween in said heating position; wherein associated with the electrodes with the arc therebetween is a rate of particle emission, including an initial rate of particle emission at the time the arc is started, and t c is the time at which the rate of particle emission is 50% of the initial rate of particle emission, and the cleaning position is selected such that the probability that a particle from the electrodes is incident on the fiber is reduced by at least 50%.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said cleaning position is selected such that substantially no particles emitted from said electrodes with the arc therebetween are deposited on said fiber ends.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said electrodes with the arc therebetween are moved relative to the fibers from the cleaning position into the heating position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said fiber ends are moved relative to said electrodes with the arc therebetween from the cleaning position to the heating position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein c) comprises placing shielding means between the electrodes and the aligned fiber ends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said optical fibers comprises a core, and a) comprises aligning said cores.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
141 words
An optical fiber splicing apparatus comprising: a) first means for holding an end portion of each of two lengths of optical fibers; b) second means for aligning the ends of the fibers in a linear opposing fashion; c) two or more electrodes, and third means for maintaining an electric arc between said electrodes; and d) fourth means that facilitate placing said aligned fiber ends and said electrodes into a first relative position ("heating" position) and into a second relative position ("cleaning" position), with the cleaning position selected such that substantially no particles emitted from the electrodes with the arc therebetween reach the fiber ends, and the heating position selected such that the fiber ends are heated by the arc, wherein said fourth means comprise means for moving said electrodes with the arc therebetween from the cleaning position to the heating position.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
GB2180369A
Cited
US4958905A
Cited
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