GB2046466A - Joining optical fibres using magnifier - Google Patents

Joining optical fibres using magnifier Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2046466A
GB2046466A GB8002397A GB8002397A GB2046466A GB 2046466 A GB2046466 A GB 2046466A GB 8002397 A GB8002397 A GB 8002397A GB 8002397 A GB8002397 A GB 8002397A GB 2046466 A GB2046466 A GB 2046466A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
optical fibres
flat surface
groove
joint
metal
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB8002397A
Other versions
GB2046466B (en
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Balfour Beatty PLC
Original Assignee
BICC PLC
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by BICC PLC filed Critical BICC PLC
Priority to GB8002397A priority Critical patent/GB2046466B/en
Publication of GB2046466A publication Critical patent/GB2046466A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2046466B publication Critical patent/GB2046466B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3801—Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3801—Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means
    • G02B6/3803—Adjustment or alignment devices for alignment prior to splicing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G02—OPTICS
    • G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
    • G02B6/3632—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/3636—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means the mechanical coupling means being grooves

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Optics & Photonics (AREA)
  • Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)

Abstract

In a known method of effecting a joint between two optical fibres in which the fibres are aligned in a groove 5 formed by pressing a gauge into the flat surface 9 of a metal body 1 that has been so treated that it is soft and non-resilient and are clamped in the groove by securing a second body 8 with a flat surface 9 to the metal body (see G.B. 1,443,084A), the second body is made wholly or in part of transparent material and is of such a form that the groove and optical fibres disposed in the groove are magnified to such an extent that final positioning of the optical fibres so that their neighbouring ends abut is facilitated. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to optical fibre joints This invention relates to a method of effecting a joint between two optical fibres, one or each of which may be an element of an optical cable.
By the expression "optical fibre" is meant a fibre of glass or other transparent material that is suitable for the transmission ofthe ultra-violet, visible and infra-red regions of the electro-magnetic spectrum, which regions, for convenience, will hereinafter all be included in the generic term "light".
The invention is particularly concerned with the method of effecting a joint between two optical fibres which is described and claimed in the Complete Specification of our Patent No. 1443084 and which comprises laying on a substantially flat surface of a body of metal or metal alloy that has been so treated that it is soft and substantially nonresilient an elongate gauge having a cross-sectional shape and size corresponding to that of each of the optical fibres to be jointed; pressing the gauge into said surface to form in, and between two edges of, the surface a groove of a substantially complementary cross-sectional size; removing the gauge and aligning the two optical fibres in the groove so formed in such a way that neighbouring ends of the optical fibres substantially abut; applying to said grooved surface a second body having a flat surface in such a way that the flat surface of said second body is in inter facial contact with the grooved surface; and securing the two bodies together.
By virtue of the fact that the metal or metal alloy is substantially non-resilient a groove formed in the flat surface of the body when the elongate gauge is pressed into the surface will not, in the course of time, so lose its shape that the groove is no longer suitable for reception of the optical fibres for which it is formed.
In accordance with the present invention, in effecting the method of the aforesaid patent to joint two optical fibres, alignment of the two optical fibres in the groove in such a way that neighbouring ends of the optical fibres substantially abut is facilitated by employing, as the second body, a body which is made wholly or in part of transparent material and which is of such a form that, when the second body is in inter facial contact with or adjacent to the grooved surface, the groove and optical fibres aligned therein are substantially magnified.
Preferably, the second body is made wholly of transparent plastics material or of glass but, in some circumstances, it may be of composite form, with at least one intermediate part of the body which overlies the groove being of transparent material throughout the thickness of the second body and with the remaining parts of the body being of other material.
The invention also includes, for use in effecting a joint between two optical fibres, apparatus comprising a body of metal or metal alloy which has a substantially flat surface and which has been so treated that it is soft and substantially non-resilient; a second body which has a substantially flat surface and which is made wholly or in part of transparent material and is of such a form that, when the flat surface of the second body is in interfacial contact with or adjacent to the flat surface of the metal body, the flat surface of the metal body is substantially magnified; and, associated with said two bodies, means for securing said bodies together.
The body in which a groove is to be formed may be of copper or a copper-based alloy that has been annealed to such an extent that it is soft and substantially non-resilient; it is preferred to employ a body of copper that has been substantially fully annealed so that it has a Vickers hardness of approximately 50 Kgf/sq.mm. In some circumstances the body may be of aluminium or an aluminium-based alloy that has been hardened to such an extent that it is substantially non-resilient but is still sufficiently soft for a groove to be formed in it. The body may be of any other suitably soft, non-resilient metal or metal alloy, silver being one possibility. The body is preferably in the form of a flat plate.
Preferably, before the optical fibres are placed in the groove or after the optical fibres have been placed in the groove but before their neighbouring ends are caused to abut, an index matching liquid or resin is applied to the groove at least in the region where the ends of the optical fibres are to be caused to abut, thereby to improve the light-coupling efficiency between the two fibres.
Where the optical fibres to be jointed are of substantially the same cross-sectional shape and size the elongate gauge employed to form the groove may comprise a length of optical fibre of substantially the same cross-sectional shape and size as the fibres to be jointed. Where one of the fibres to be jointed has a cross-sectional shape and/or size different from the cross-sectional shape and/or size of the other fibre, an elongate gauge is employed whose outer surface is stepped part way along its length, the shape and cross-sectional size of one part of the gauge corresponding to those of one of the fibres to be jointed and the cross-sectional shape and size of the other part of the gauge corresponding to those of the other fibre to be jointed.In the latter case preferably the second body is of a deformable material so that, when compressed, it will assist in retaining the optical fibre of smaller cross-sectional size in the groove.
The step of pressing the elongate gauge into the flat face of the body of soft, substantially nonresilient metal or metal alloy is preferably effected by placing the body with the gauge laid on its flat surface in a vice whose jaws have complementary flat surfaces and tightening the vice to press the gauge into the flat surface of the body, but any other convenient method may be employed.
It will be appreciated that more than one optical fibre joint may be effected in the same flat surface of the body at any one time or at different times.
The method of the invention is applicable both to optical fibres of a single transparent material, the refractive index of which may gradually decrease in a direction towards the outer surface of the fibre over at least a part of the distance between the central axis of the fibre and its outer surface, and to optical fibres of composite form comprising a core of transparent material clad throughout its length with another transparent material of lower refractive index which, by total internal reflection of light being transmitted along the fibre, confines at least a major porportion of the light within the core.
The invention is further illustrated by a description, by way of example, of the preferred method of effecting a joint between two optical fibres with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure lisa diagrammatic perspective view of the step of forming a groove in a flat surface of a body of copper; Figure 2 is an end view of the joint between two optical fibres made by the method; Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a fragmental sectional view taken on the line IV-1V in Figure 3, drawn on an enlarged scale.
Referring to Figure 1, a body 1 of fully annealed copper having a Vickers hardness of approximately 50 Kgf/sq.mm. is placed between the flat faced jaws 3 of a vice and a length 4 of optical fibre of substantially the same cross-sectional shape and size as the optical fibres to be jointed is laid on a flat surface 2 of the body 1 so that it protrudes beyond opposite end edges of the surface. The length 4 of optical fibre is pressed into the surface 2 by tightening the jaws 3 of the vice together thereby to form a groove 5 (Figure 4) of a substantially complementary cross-sectional size. The body 1 is now removed from between the jaws 3 of the vice and the length 4 of optical fibre is removed from the groove 5.
Referring to Figures 2 to 4, a drop 10 of liquid paraffin or other index matching liquid is applied to the groove 5 in the region of its mid point and the optical fibres 6 and 7 to be jointed are fitted into the groove so that their neighbouring ends, which have been so cut that their end faces each lies in a plane normal to the fibre axis, are adjacent one another at approximately the mid point of the groove, the index matching liquid thereby serving to improve the light-coupling efficiency between the two fibres. A second body 8 of transparent acrylic resin having a flat surface 9 and a convex surface 11 is now applied to the body 1 so that the flat surfaces 2 and 9 are in interfacial contact. The convex surface 11 is of such a shapl that the second body 8 effectively acts as a magnifying glass so that the groove 5 and optical fibres 6 and 7 are magnified and final positioning of the optical fibres so that their end faces abut is facilitated. The two bodies 1 and 8 are then clamped together by clamps (not shown).

Claims (7)

1. A method of effecting a joint between two optical fibres which comprises laying on a substantially flat surface of a body of metal or metal alloy that has been so treated that it is soft and substantially non-resilient an elongate gauge having a cross-sectional shape and size corresponding to that of each of the optical fibres to be jointed; pressing the gauge into said surface to form in, and between two edges of, the surface a groove of a substantially complementary cross-sectional size; removing the gauge and aligning the two optical fibres in the groove so formed in such a way that neighbouring ends of the optical fibres are adjacent one another; applying to said grooved surface a second body which is made wholly or in part of transparent material, which has a substantially flat surface and which is of such a form that, when the flat surface is in interfacial contact with or adjacent to the grooved surface, the groove and optical fibres disposed therein are substantially magnified; finally positioning the magnified optical fibres in the groove so that their neighbouring ends abut; and securing the two bodies together.
2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the second body is of composite form, at least one intermediate part of the body which overlies the groove and neighbouring ends of the optical fibres being of transparent material throughout the thickness of the body and the remaining parts of the body being of other material.
3. For use in effecting a joint between two optical fibres, apparatus comprising a body of metal or metal alloy which has a substantially flat surface and which has been so treated that it is soft and substantially non-resilient; a second body which has a substantially flat surface and which is made wholly or in part of transparent material and is of such a form that, when the flat surface of the second body is in interfacial contact with or adjacent the flat surface of the metal body, the flat surface of the metal body is substantially magnified; and, associated with said two bodies, means for securing said bodies together.
4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the means for securing said bodies together is of such a form that the bodies can be detached if required.
5. A method of effecting a joint between two optical fibres substantially as hereinbefore described with reference the accompanying drawing.
6. For use in effecting a joint between two optical fibres, apparatus as substantially hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawing.
7. A joint between two optical fibres made by the method claimed in any one of Claims 1,2 and 5.
GB8002397A 1979-01-24 1980-01-24 Joining optical fibres using magnifier Expired GB2046466B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8002397A GB2046466B (en) 1979-01-24 1980-01-24 Joining optical fibres using magnifier

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7902495 1979-01-24
GB8002397A GB2046466B (en) 1979-01-24 1980-01-24 Joining optical fibres using magnifier

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2046466A true GB2046466A (en) 1980-11-12
GB2046466B GB2046466B (en) 1983-02-16

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
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Cited By (12)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0111996A1 (en) * 1982-10-08 1984-06-27 British Telecommunications Improvements in and relating to the connection of optical fibres by fusion splicing
FR2542458A1 (en) * 1983-03-11 1984-09-14 Alliance Tech Ind Method and device for connecting optical fibres
EP0122169A2 (en) * 1983-03-11 1984-10-17 Alliance Technique Industrielle Method and apparatus for joining optical fibres
FR2544876A2 (en) * 1983-04-20 1984-10-26 Alliance Tech Ind Improved devices for connecting optical fibres
EP0136201A2 (en) * 1983-08-08 1985-04-03 Alliance Technique Industrielle Process for joining optical fibres, and optical splice obtained
WO1988001395A1 (en) * 1986-08-19 1988-02-25 University Of Leicester Joining optical fibres
US4778242A (en) * 1986-08-05 1988-10-18 Ngk Insulators, Ltd. Reinforcement for optical-fiber joint
EP0290253A2 (en) * 1987-05-05 1988-11-09 Tektronix, Inc. Method of and apparatus for securing elongate members of generally cylindrical form in end-to-end relationship
EP0396313A2 (en) * 1989-05-04 1990-11-07 Corning Incorporated Optical fiber connector and method
US5166992A (en) * 1988-06-09 1992-11-24 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler
US5231682A (en) * 1988-06-09 1993-07-27 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Method of mounting an optical fibre
WO2015031551A1 (en) * 2013-08-28 2015-03-05 Corning Incorporated Lighting units having light-diffusing optical fiber

Cited By (18)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0111996A1 (en) * 1982-10-08 1984-06-27 British Telecommunications Improvements in and relating to the connection of optical fibres by fusion splicing
US4565593A (en) * 1982-10-08 1986-01-21 British Telecommunications Connection and inspection of optical fibres by fusion splicing
FR2542458A1 (en) * 1983-03-11 1984-09-14 Alliance Tech Ind Method and device for connecting optical fibres
EP0122169A2 (en) * 1983-03-11 1984-10-17 Alliance Technique Industrielle Method and apparatus for joining optical fibres
EP0122169A3 (en) * 1983-03-11 1987-08-19 Alliance Technique Industrielle Method and apparatus for joining optical fibres
FR2544876A2 (en) * 1983-04-20 1984-10-26 Alliance Tech Ind Improved devices for connecting optical fibres
EP0136201A2 (en) * 1983-08-08 1985-04-03 Alliance Technique Industrielle Process for joining optical fibres, and optical splice obtained
EP0136201B1 (en) * 1983-08-08 1989-01-18 Alliance Technique Industrielle Process for joining optical fibres, and optical splice obtained
US4778242A (en) * 1986-08-05 1988-10-18 Ngk Insulators, Ltd. Reinforcement for optical-fiber joint
WO1988001395A1 (en) * 1986-08-19 1988-02-25 University Of Leicester Joining optical fibres
EP0290253A2 (en) * 1987-05-05 1988-11-09 Tektronix, Inc. Method of and apparatus for securing elongate members of generally cylindrical form in end-to-end relationship
EP0290253A3 (en) * 1987-05-05 1990-05-16 Tektronix, Inc. Method of and apparatus for securing elongate members of generally cylindrical form in end-to-end relationship
US5166992A (en) * 1988-06-09 1992-11-24 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Wavelength selective optical waveguide coupler
US5231682A (en) * 1988-06-09 1993-07-27 British Telecommunications Public Limited Company Method of mounting an optical fibre
EP0396313A2 (en) * 1989-05-04 1990-11-07 Corning Incorporated Optical fiber connector and method
EP0396313A3 (en) * 1989-05-04 1991-12-04 Corning Incorporated Optical fiber connector and method
WO2015031551A1 (en) * 2013-08-28 2015-03-05 Corning Incorporated Lighting units having light-diffusing optical fiber
US8998471B2 (en) 2013-08-28 2015-04-07 Corning Incorporated Lighting units having light-diffusing optical fiber

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Publication number Publication date
GB2046466B (en) 1983-02-16

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee