Method of splicing optical fibers with arc imagining and recentering
US7845194B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 9, 2001 |
| Grant date | Dec 7, 2010 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 28, 2026 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG02B6/2551
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
In splicing two optical fibers to each other using an electric arc formed between electrodes images of the regions being heated and thereby fusioned to each other are taken. The images cover a rectangular field (43) having the fibers located centrally, along a center line of the field and parallel to the long sides of the field. The images are evaluated to determine a value of the position of the center of the electric arc in relation to the position of the end surfaces of the fibers. This value can then be used for placing the end surfaces just at the arc center. In the image the image of the optical fibers can be excluded so that only light intensity from the air discharge of the electric arc is recorded in the captured images. The field (41) excluded can be a narrow strip of uniform width located symmetrically around the image of the fibers. Using such a repositioning of the end surfaces of the fibers results in splices which are substantially equal to each other and thus a well repeatable splicing process is obtained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.