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Fusion splicing of multi-layer optical fiber bundles

  • US 4,350,867 A
  • Filed: 05/07/1980
  • Issued: 09/21/1982
  • Est. Priority Date: 05/21/1979
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An optical fiber splicing apparatus for splicing optical fibers in a bundle of optical fibers having first and second optical fiber groups, each composed of a plurality of optical fibers arranged in layers, comprising:

  • alignment mating means for holding the optical fibers of said first and second fiber groups in predetermined positions so that the axes of the corresponding pairs of individual fibers in each layer are parallel and the end faces thereof are butted together in alignment;

    a light source disposed adjacent one side of said bundle for emitting a light beam from said side toward the optical fibers in said bundle to heat them;

    a focusing optical system for focusing said light beam on at least one joint of the butted optical fibers in such a manner that the heating temperature of only the optical fibers on which the light beam is focused exceeds their melting point thereby to splice said optical fibers together; and

    means for moving the focusing optical system and the alignment mating means relative to each other to shift the focal position of the light beam emitted from said one side of said bundle relative to said layers thereby to change the layer of said bundle in which fibers are being spliced.

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