Optical fiber splice

US5189717A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company · US

Inventors

• Donald K. Larson · Cedar Park, US
• Richard A. Patterson · Sausalito, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 29, 1991
• Grant date: Feb 23, 1993
• Expiry date: Aug 29, 2011

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/382
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical fiber splice comprising a hinged splice element having two legs, at least one of the legs having a groove therein for holding the fibers to be spliced, and an index matching gel disposed between the legs. In the embodiment wherein the legs remain divergent or slightly open in the clamping state, a vent hole is punched in the center of the splice element to minimize migration of the gel between the inner and outer surfaces of the elements near the fiber interface, which could otherwise increaase insertion loss due to the migration of microbubbles, particularly during temperature cycling. A vent channel may optionally be formed in the splice element to provide fluid communication between the groove and the vent hole. In the embodiment wherein the legs are essentially parallel and in intimate contact in the clamping state, rails may be provided in one leg opposite leg with the groove whereby the rails impinge on either side of the groove and block the flow of the index matching gel.