Method of connecting optical fibers and connection bench

Claim 1

An optical fiber connection bench for connecting two bundles each of n optical fibers in n capillary tubes each of which has a bore whose diameter, at least over a central portion of the bore length, is very slightly greater than each diameter of the two fibers to be accommodated therein for connection, wherein the fibers are guided into the tube until their faces are in contact with each other in the central portion of the tube and transverse vibrations of small amplitude are applied to the fibers while they are being guided into the tube, comprising a beam mounted on a support, a vibrator in mechanical contact with the beam for applying transverse vibrations to the beam, two fiber support parts supported by said beam, one of said parts for each bundle of optical fibers, each fiber support part being slideably mounted on the beam and including a plurality of fiber retaining passages alined with the beam, a capillary tube support part also supported by said beam and being disposed in between the fiber support parts and including a plurality of capillary tubes retaining passages alined with the beam, the disposition of the fiber and the tube retaining passages being identical so that, in operation, fibers from the two bundles may be clamped in respective ones of the fiber retaining passages with an appropriate length of bared fiber end projecting towards the tube support part, the tube support part fitted with capillary tubes, and the fiber support parts moved towards each other and the tube support part with the vibrator in operation until the ends of the corresponding fibers are properly spaced in their respective tubes.

Claim 5

A method of connecting optical fibers comprising the steps of choosing two fibers of the same optical properties and melting point, choosing a capillary tube having a melting point lower than that of the fibers and having a bore whose diameter, at least over a central portion of the bore length, is very slightly greater (e.g., 10 μm) than the diameter of the fibers to be accommodated therein for connection, wetting the end face of at least one of the fibers with a liquid whose refractive index is close to that of the fibers' cores, guiding the fibers into the tube until their end faces are in contact with each other in the central portion of the tube and the wetting liquid is joins both end faces of the fibers, while applying transverse vibrations of small amplitude to the tube/fibers while they are being guided into the tube, and then heating said tube at its ends to its softening point and then cooling to cause said tube to grip the fibers.

Claim 6

A method of connecting optical fibers comprising the steps of choosing two fibers of the same optical properties and melting point, choosing a capillary tube having a melting point lower than that of the fibers and having a bore whose diameter, at least over a central portion of the bore length, is very slightly greater (e.g., 10 μm) than the diameter of the fibers to be accommodated therein for connection, wetting the end face of at least one of the fibers with a liquid whose refractive index is close to that of the fibers' cores, guiding the fibers into the tube until their end faces are in contact with each other in the central portion of the tube and the wetting liquid is joins both end faces of the fibers, while applying transverse vibrations of small amplitude to the tube/fibers while they are being guided into the tube, and then heating said tube at its ends to its softening point and then cooling to cause said tube to grip the fibers.