Method and article for splicing optical fibers coated with metal and reinforced splice formed thereby
US6012856A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 30, 1997 |
| Grant date | Jan 11, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 30, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2551
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and article for splicing metal clad optical fibers and protecting the spliced portion, and a reinforced splice between metal clad optical fibers, is provided. The method comprises the steps of fusing the exposed ends of metal clad optical fibers together, aligning the thus formed splicing area over a metal groove in a lower plate, depositing a metal adhesive on the upper surface of the lower plate, sealing the splicing area by laying a metal groove of an upper plate over that of the lower plate, and uniformly coating and hardening the metal adhesive on the splicing area of the optical fibers by applying high temperature air to the metal grooves. As described above, the splicing area of the optical fibers is protected by a soldering cream adhered thereto so that a high tensile strength is provided. Also, the length of the spliced portion is short so that the spliced optical fiber can be mounted in a small space in a device using optical fibers.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.