CN1199865A

CN1199865A - Optical fibre protection

Info

Publication number: CN1199865A
Application number: CN 98115037
Authority: CN
Inventors: 洪美英; 李都炯
Original assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Current assignee: Samsung Electronics Co Ltd
Priority date: 1997-04-25
Filing date: 1998-04-25
Publication date: 1998-11-25
Also published as: GB2324622A; FR2762686A1; JPH10300969A; DE19818453A1; GB9808704D0; KR19980078178A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and devices for protecting a spliced portion of an optical fibre. A capillary tube 30 includes a hole large enough to accommodate an optical fibre fusion spliced portion 8. The tube 30 may be filled with curing solution 34 to fix the spliced portion 8 in the tube.

Description

Optical fibre protection

The present invention relates to the method and apparatus of a kind of light transmitting fiber and the fibre-optic shank of protection.

Light transmitting fiber is widely used in communication technique field now, because it has many advantages than metallic cable.For example, it has the bandwidth of broad and lower loss.Little and the safety of its size.

In optical-fibre communications, be by one group of optical device being connected with optical fiber and information is sent to second optical device from first optical device along light transmitting fiber method being carried out communication work.In general equipment, two types light transmitting fiber is arranged.A kind of light transmitting fiber strides across the major part distance between fiber plant, and they play a part the communication transmission medium.Also have a kind of light transmitting fiber, they directly link to each other with optical device.Usually, the light transmitting fiber of drawing from optical device will engage with the communication light transmitting fiber.Owing to the splice loss of bonding part causes problem.

Many joint methods are to reduce to minimum to splice loss.Fusion bond is for example arranged, methods such as mechanical engagement and connector joint.Wherein, fusion bond is used the most generally, because it has less splice loss.

In fusion process, light transmitting fiber is to be melted joint each other.Then, weld is inserted in the heat-shrinkable pipe.The purposes of hot collapsible tube is to protect weld.

Figure 1A and 1B represent the skeleton view and the sectional view of light transmitting fiber weld respectively, and this weld has been inserted in the hot collapsible tube.Fig. 2 A and 2B represent to heat the later light transmitting fiber weld and the skeleton view and the sectional view of hot collapsible tube respectively.

As shown in Figure 1A and 2B, a hot collapsible tube 10 comprises 4 and outer tubes 2 of pipe in.The shank of two optical fiber is inserted in the inner tube 4, and a steel reinforcing member 6 is inserted into and removes to protect joint 8 in the exterior tube 2.After joint 8 and steel reinforcing member were inserted hot collapsible tube 10, hot collapsible tube 10 was heated.Heating is shunk hot collapsible tube 10, has limited the space between outer tube 2 and the optical fiber, has also limited the space between interior pipe 4 and the firm reinforcing member 6.This can be clear that from Figure 1B and 2B.Heating work has realized the protection to optical fiber junction part 8.

But there is a problem to cause by hot collapsible tube.Hot collapsible tube is large-sized.Therefore, it be used to protect Transmission Fibers and the optical fiber of drawing from optical device between shank just increased the size of photonic device significantly, this optical device comprises a plurality of optical devices.

The objective of the invention is to overcome above-mentioned shortcoming.

The invention provides a kind of method of protecting fiber splices, it is that a fibre-optical splice is inserted in the tubule, then it is fixed in this tubule.The advantage of this method is simple to operate.Therefore, use tubule just to reduce the size of the optical fiber protected widely.

The present invention also provides a kind of engagement device of optical fiber, and it comprises a fibre-optical splice and a tubule that is used to protect this fibre-optical splice, and wherein fibre-optical splice is fixed in the tubule.

The present invention can be used to protect the joint of optical fiber, and described joint is by the fused fiber splice of drawing in a communication optical fiber and the slave unit is formed together.

Preferably fixing like this, be filled in the tubule with curable solution, then this solution is cured, thereby fibre-optical splice is fixed in the pipe.

Curable solution can be the solution of ultraviolet-curing, and it can be cured by ultraviolet irradiation.

Preferably, tubule comprises the hole of an amplification, goes so that fibre-optical splice is inserted in the tubule.

The opening that amplifies is a taper shape preferably.

In order to strengthen protection, tubule is preferably made by glass.

Present invention is described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1A is the skeleton view of an optical fibre welded parts, and it is inserted in the traditional hot collapsible tube.

Figure 1B is the cross sectional view of the part of a fused fiber splice, and it is inserted in the traditional hot collapsible tube;

Fig. 2 A is skeleton view and traditional hot collapsible tube of an optical fibre welded parts, and it is that hot collapsible tube shrinks later situation;

Fig. 2 B is sectional view and traditional hot collapsible tube of an optical fibre welded parts, and it is that hot collapsible tube shrinks later situation;

Fig. 3 is one embodiment of the present of invention, is a cross-sectional perspective view that has been inserted into the molten part of the optical fiber in the glass tubule;

Fig. 4 A and 4B are one embodiment of the present of invention, are the sectional views of glass tubule of the weld of protection optical fiber.

Fig. 3 is one embodiment of the present of invention, and the cross-sectional perspective view of the optical fibre welded parts in the glass tubule is inserted in its expression.As shown in Figure 3, a tubule 30 comprises an abundant big hole, in order to block weld 8.Particularly, it should be enough big, so that staple joint part 8, it remained between optical fiber that slave unit draws and the optical fiber that plays the transmission medium effect.In most preferred embodiment, the opening of a taper can be simplified the insertion of optical fiber.Therefore, in most preferred embodiment, tubule 30 is formed by glass, so that strengthen the protection of 6 pairs of welds 8.

In the present invention, after fibre-optical splice tubular stinger 30, pipe 30 just is filled curable liquation 34.Then, liquation 34 is cured, and weld 8 is fixed among the tubule 30.In most preferred embodiment, solidify liquation and comprise a VV one curable liquation, this solution just can be cured by the VV rayed.

It is to be used to protect the front end of glass tubule 30 of optical fibre welded parts and the cross sectional view of side that Fig. 4 A and 4B divide.As shown in the figure, the diameter in endoporus in the tubule 30 and outer hole preferably is respectively 0.26-0.005mm and 1.8mm.The horizontal length of tubule 30 is respectively 15mm.The horizontal length of bellmouth is 3.0-1mm preferably.Certainly, tubule also has other size.

The protection of joint of the present invention is described now.At first, the optical fiber of stretching from fiber plant 31 is inserted among the tubule 30, and this realizes by the taper perforate, and then with as the fused fiber splice of communication media together.Then, the centrally aligned of the center of tubule and bonding part 8.Secondly, the hole of tubule 30 be filled UV one curable solution (that is, and the curing solution that can solidify by UV light, then, this solution is to be subjected to the irradiation of outside UV light and to be cured, and therefrom optical fibre welded parts 8 is fixed among the tubule 30.

Therefore, the invention provides a kind of fiber optic protection device, it is simple in structure and size is little. It has reduced light Learn the size of instrument, this instrument may comprise a large amount of Optical devices, from the viewpoint of making and designing, it Advantageous.

Claims

1, a kind of method of protecting fibre-optical splice, it comprises fibre-optical splice is inserted among the tubule, then it is fixed on step among the tubule.

2, according to the process of claim 1 wherein that the formation of fibre-optical splice is that the fused fiber splice to of drawing communication optical fiber with from optical device piece forms.

3, according to the method for claim 1 or 2, wherein fixation procedure comprises, fills tubule with curable solution, thereby solidify this solution then optical fiber is solidificated in the pipe.

4, according to the method for claim 3, wherein curable solution is a kind of solution of ultraviolet-curing, makes its curing by the ultraviolet ray irradiation.

5, according to the method for claim 1-4, wherein tubule comprises the perforate of an amplification, so that go among fibre-optical splice is inserted into tubule.

6, according to the method for claim 5, wherein the opening of Fang Daing is a complete taper.

7, according to the method for claim 1-6, wherein tubule is a glass.

8, a kind of method of protecting fibre-optical splice, as above with reference to Fig. 3,4A and 4B are described basically.

9, a kind of fiber splice device, it comprises a kind of fibre-optical splice one outer tubule that is used to protect this fibre-optical splice, wherein fibre-optical splice is fixed among the tubule.

10, a kind of device as claimed in claim 9, wherein fibre-optical splice be formed on communication optical fiber and with optical fibers that photonic device is connected between.

11, a kind of claim 9 or 10 device, wherein to be fixed in the pipe be by filling solvable solution in this pipe to fibre-optical splice, solidifies then that the method for this solution realizes.

12, a kind of device of claim 11, wherein curing solution is a kind of solution of ultraviolet-curing.

13, according to any one the described device among the claim 9-12, wherein tubule comprises the opening of an amplification.

14, according to the described a kind of device of claim 13, wherein the opening of Fang Daing is taper basically.

15, according to any one described device of claim 9-14, wherein said tubule is a glass.