US5222172A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Multi-core single mode type optical fiber cable and method therefor
Assignee: Fujikura Ltd
•
Filing: 1991-12-17
•
Granted: 1993-06-22
•
Expires: 2011-12-17
Abstract
Abstract An optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type consists of a series of groups of a plurality of optical fibers having end portions fusion spliced to corresponding end portions of adjacent groups of optical fibers at an optical connection loss of at most 0.5 dB. Each of the end portions prior to fusion splicing has a radius of curvature in meters defined by λ/1.41 (where λ is a wavelength in μm at which said optical fiber cable is used). This structure and method ensures a sufficiently low optical connection loss of the optical fibers which are economically connected in batch and are easily reconnected in case of trouble.
Inventors
- 👤 Naomichi Suzuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 23:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/26; G02B6/264; G02B6/255; G02B6/2551
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 24
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of producing an optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type for carrying signals at 80 μm wavelength, said method comprising: providing a first and a second plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber of said pluralities of optical fibers having an end portion for fusion splicing and each of said end portions having a radius of curvature in meters defined by: at least λ/1.41 where λ is a wavelength, in μm, fusion splicing the end portion of each of said first plurality of optical fibers with a corresponding end portion of one of said second plurality of optical fibers so that the optical connection loss at the fusion spliced connection is at most 0.5 dB.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
117 words
A method of producing an optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type for carrying signals at 80 μm wavelength, said method comprising: providing a first and a second plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber of said pluralities of optical fibers having an end portion for fusion splicing and each of said end portions having a radius of curvature in meters defined by: at least λ/1.41 where λ is a wavelength, in μm, fusion splicing the end portion of each of said first plurality of optical fibers with a corresponding end portion of one of said second plurality of optical fibers so that the optical connection loss at the fusion spliced connection is at most 0.5 dB.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber cable is used at a wavelength of about 1.3 μm and said radius of curvature is at least 0.9 meters.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 2, wherein each of said optical fibers has a core diameter of 8 to 10 μm.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
9 words
A product made by the process of claim 3.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said optical fiber cable is used at a wavelength of about 1.55 μm and said radius of curvature is at least 1.1 meters.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 5, wherein each of said optical fibers has a core diameter of 8 to 10 μm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
9 words
A product made by the process of claim 6.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
9 words
A product made by the process of claim 1.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of providing an optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type, for use at a wavelength of λ μm, comprising a series of groups of a plurality of optical fibers having end portions fusion spliced to corresponding end portions of adjacent groups of optical fibers with a maximum optical connection loss at such fusion splicings of at most 0.5 dB, said method comprising: ensuring that each optical fiber of each group of optical fibers has a radius of curvature in meters of at least about λ/1.41, where λ is a wavelength, in μm, at which the optical fiber cable is to be used, fusion splicing end portions of one group of a plurality of optical fibers with corresponding end portions of a second group of a plurality of optical fibers to produce a series of groups of optical fibers.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of providing an optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type, for use at a wavelength of λ μm, comprising a series of groups of a plurality of optical fibers having end portions fusion spliced to corresponding end portions of adjacent groups of optical fibers with a maximum optical connection loss at such fusion splicings of at most 0.5 dB, said method comprising: ensuring that each optical fiber of each group of optical fibers has a radius of curvature in meters of at least about λ/1.41, where λ is a wavelength, in μm, at which the optical fiber cable is to be used, fusion splicing end portions of one group of a plurality of optical fibers with corresponding end portions of a second group of a plurality of optical fibers to produce a series of groups of optical fibers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said optical fiber cable is used at a wavelength of about 1.3 μm and said radius of curvature is at least 0.9 meters and wherein each of said optical fibers has a core diameter of 8 to 10 μm.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
9 words
A product made by the process of claim 10.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 9, wherein said optical fiber cable is used at a wavelength of about 1.55 μm and said radius of curvature is at least 1.1 meters and wherein each of said optical fibers has a core diameter of 8 to 10 μm.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
9 words
A product made by the process of claim 12.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
9 words
A product made by the process of claim 9.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of providing an optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type, for use at a wavelength of λ μm, comprising a series of groups of a plurality of optical fibers having end portions fusion spliced to corresponding end portions of adjacent groups of optical fibers with a maximum optical connection loss at such fusion splicings of at most 0.5 dB, said method comprising: reviewing the radius of curvature of each optical fiber of a series of groups of optical fibers to determine whether each such optical fiber has a radius of curvature in meters of at least about λ/1.41, where λ is a wavelength, in μm, at which the optical fiber cable is to be used, rejecting any groups of optical fibers for which the radius of curvature in meters is not at least about λ1.41, accepting groups of optical fibers for which the radius of curvature in meters is at least about λ/1.41, fusion splicing end portions of one of said accepted groups of a plurality of optical fibers with corresponding end portions of a plurality of optical fibers of a second accepted group of optical fibers to produce a series of groups of optical fibers with a maximum optical connection loss at such fusion splicings of at most 0.5 dB.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
213 words
A method of providing an optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type, for use at a wavelength of λ μm, comprising a series of groups of a plurality of optical fibers having end portions fusion spliced to corresponding end portions of adjacent groups of optical fibers with a maximum optical connection loss at such fusion splicings of at most 0.5 dB, said method comprising: reviewing the radius of curvature of each optical fiber of a series of groups of optical fibers to determine whether each such optical fiber has a radius of curvature in meters of at least about λ/1.41, where λ is a wavelength, in μm, at which the optical fiber cable is to be used, rejecting any groups of optical fibers for which the radius of curvature in meters is not at least about λ1.41, accepting groups of optical fibers for which the radius of curvature in meters is at least about λ/1.41, fusion splicing end portions of one of said accepted groups of a plurality of optical fibers with corresponding end portions of a plurality of optical fibers of a second accepted group of optical fibers to produce a series of groups of optical fibers with a maximum optical connection loss at such fusion splicings of at most 0.5 dB.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
76 words
An optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type comprising a series of groups of a plurality of optical fibers having end portions fusion spliced to corresponding end portions of adjacent groups of optical fibers at an optical connection loss of at most 0.5 dB, each of said end portions having a radius of curvature in meters defined by: at least λ/1.41 where λ is a wavelength, in μm, at which said optical fiber cable is used.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
76 words
An optical fiber cable of multi-core single-mode type comprising a series of groups of a plurality of optical fibers having end portions fusion spliced to corresponding end portions of adjacent groups of optical fibers at an optical connection loss of at most 0.5 dB, each of said end portions having a radius of curvature in meters defined by: at least λ/1.41 where λ is a wavelength, in μm, at which said optical fiber cable is used.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
The optical fiber cable according to claim 16, wherein said optical fiber cable is used at a wavelength of 1.3 μm and said radius of curvature is at least 0.9 meters.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber cable according to claim 17, wherein each of said optical fibers has a core diameter of 8 to 10 μm.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
30 words
The optical fiber cable according to claim 16, wherein said optical fiber cable is used at wave-length of 1.55 μm and said radius of curvature is at least 1.1 meters.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The optical fiber cable according to claim 19, wherein each of said optical fibers has a core diameter of 8 to 10 μm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3864018A
Cited
US4079927A
Cited
US4557556A
Cited
US4715876A
Cited
US4893892A
Cited
US4978201A
Cited
EP0382511A2
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-06-21 | 1996-12-21 | 1997-06-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-06-21 | 2000-12-21 | 2001-06-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-06-21 | 2004-12-21 | 2005-06-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |