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US4383844A
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Optical fiber fusion splicing method
Assignee: NTT Inc
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Filing: 1981-08-03
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Granted: 1983-05-17
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Expires: 2001-08-03
Abstract
Abstract A method for fusion-splicing aligned optical fibers using heat generated by gas discharge produced between electrodes which are energized by an AC voltage. At first, a high trigger voltage is applied across the electrodes to generate the discharge, after which an AC voltage lower than the trigger voltage is applied across the electrodes to produce steady-state discharge. The AC voltage is selected to satisfy the relation, 10t O ≧(t f +t d +t r ), where t O is the time necessary for ions created by the discharge to flow from one of the electrodes to the other and t f , t d and t r are the fall time, the quiescent time and the rise time of the AC voltage. Alternatively, a sine-wave AC voltage is used having a frequency higher than 500 Hz.
Inventors
- 👤 Norio Kashima
- 👤 Fumihiro Nihei
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 16:01
CPC Classifications
B; B23; B23K; B23K10/00; B23K10/006; G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/255; G02B6/2551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
165 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising the steps of aligning optical fibers end-to-end, and fusing said aligned fibers to one another by heating the junction of said fibers by use of heat generated by a gas discharge between electrodes that are disposed adjacent the junction of said fibers and energized by an AC voltage, said electrodes being energized by the steps of: applying across the electrodes a trigger voltage high enough to start the discharge; and applying across the electrodes an AC voltage lower than the high trigger voltage to produce steady-state discharge after occurrence of the discharge by the high trigger voltage, the AC voltage satisfying the relation 10t 0 ≧(t f +t d +t r ) where t 0 is the time for ions created by the discharge to flow from one of the electrodes to the other and t f , t d and t r are the fall time, the quiescent time and the rise time of the AC voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
165 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising the steps of aligning optical fibers end-to-end, and fusing said aligned fibers to one another by heating the junction of said fibers by use of heat generated by a gas discharge between electrodes that are disposed adjacent the junction of said fibers and energized by an AC voltage, said electrodes being energized by the steps of: applying across the electrodes a trigger voltage high enough to start the discharge; and applying across the electrodes an AC voltage lower than the high trigger voltage to produce steady-state discharge after occurrence of the discharge by the high trigger voltage, the AC voltage satisfying the relation 10t 0 ≧(t f +t d +t r ) where t 0 is the time for ions created by the discharge to flow from one of the electrodes to the other and t f , t d and t r are the fall time, the quiescent time and the rise time of the AC voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
165 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising the steps of aligning optical fibers end-to-end, and fusing said aligned fibers to one another by heating the junction of said fibers by use of heat generated by a gas discharge between electrodes that are disposed adjacent the junction of said fibers and energized by an AC voltage, said electrodes being energized by the steps of: applying across the electrodes a trigger voltage high enough to start the discharge; and applying across the electrodes an AC voltage lower than the high trigger voltage to produce steady-state discharge after occurrence of the discharge by the high trigger voltage, the AC voltage satisfying the relation 2t 0 ≧(t f +t d +t r ) where t 0 is the time for ions created by the discharge to flow from one of the electrodes to the other and t f , t d and t r are the fall time, the quiescent time and the rise time of the AC voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
165 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising the steps of aligning optical fibers end-to-end, and fusing said aligned fibers to one another by heating the junction of said fibers by use of heat generated by a gas discharge between electrodes that are disposed adjacent the junction of said fibers and energized by an AC voltage, said electrodes being energized by the steps of: applying across the electrodes a trigger voltage high enough to start the discharge; and applying across the electrodes an AC voltage lower than the high trigger voltage to produce steady-state discharge after occurrence of the discharge by the high trigger voltage, the AC voltage satisfying the relation 2t 0 ≧(t f +t d +t r ) where t 0 is the time for ions created by the discharge to flow from one of the electrodes to the other and t f , t d and t r are the fall time, the quiescent time and the rise time of the AC voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
165 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising the steps of aligning optical fibers end-to-end, and fusing said aligned fibers to one another by heating the junction of said fibers by use of heat generated by a gas discharge between electrodes that are disposed adjacent the junction of said fibers and energized by an AC voltage, said electrodes being energized by the steps of: applying across the electrodes a trigger voltage high enough to start the discharge; and applying across the electrodes an AC voltage lower than the high trigger voltage to produce steady-state discharge after occurrence of the discharge by the high trigger voltage, the AC voltage satisfying the relation t 0 ≧(t f +t d +t r ) where t 0 is the time for ions created by the discharge to flow from one of the electrodes to the other and t f , t d and t r are the fall time, the quiescent time and the rise time of the AC voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
165 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising the steps of aligning optical fibers end-to-end, and fusing said aligned fibers to one another by heating the junction of said fibers by use of heat generated by a gas discharge between electrodes that are disposed adjacent the junction of said fibers and energized by an AC voltage, said electrodes being energized by the steps of: applying across the electrodes a trigger voltage high enough to start the discharge; and applying across the electrodes an AC voltage lower than the high trigger voltage to produce steady-state discharge after occurrence of the discharge by the high trigger voltage, the AC voltage satisfying the relation t 0 ≧(t f +t d +t r ) where t 0 is the time for ions created by the discharge to flow from one of the electrodes to the other and t f , t d and t r are the fall time, the quiescent time and the rise time of the AC voltage.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the frequency of the AC voltage is selected to be higher than 1 KHz.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the frequency of the AC voltage is selected to be higher than 15 KHz.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising the steps of aligning optical fibers end-to-end, and fusing said fibers to one another by heating the junction of said fibers by use of heat generated by a gas discharge between electrodes that are disposed adjacent the junction of said fibers and energized by an AC voltage, said electrodes being energized by the steps of: applying across the electrodes a trigger voltage high enough to start the discharge; and applying across the electrodes a sine-wave AC voltage having a frequency higher than 500 Hz and lower than the high trigger voltage to produce steady-state discharge after occurrence of the discharge by the high trigger voltage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
112 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method comprising the steps of aligning optical fibers end-to-end, and fusing said fibers to one another by heating the junction of said fibers by use of heat generated by a gas discharge between electrodes that are disposed adjacent the junction of said fibers and energized by an AC voltage, said electrodes being energized by the steps of: applying across the electrodes a trigger voltage high enough to start the discharge; and applying across the electrodes a sine-wave AC voltage having a frequency higher than 500 Hz and lower than the high trigger voltage to produce steady-state discharge after occurrence of the discharge by the high trigger voltage.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method according to claim 6 wherein the frequency of the AC voltage is selected to be higher than 5 KHz.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
An optical fiber fusion splicing method according to claim 6 wherein the frequency of the AC voltage is selected to be higher than 15 KHz.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3960531A
Cited
JPS55121416A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-05-16 | 1986-11-15 | 1987-05-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-05-16 | 1990-11-15 | 1991-05-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-05-16 | 1994-11-15 | 1995-05-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |