JP4629994B2 - Fusion splicer, splice loss estimation program, splice loss estimation method - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fusion splicer, a connection loss estimation program, and a connection loss estimation method that can estimate a connection loss after fusion splicing when clamping an optical fiber.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, an optical fiber fusion splicer measures the amount of axial misalignment between optical fibers to be fused arranged on the left and right sides in order to keep the connection loss small. In this conventional fusion splicer, light is irradiated from two different directions perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber to measure the amount of spatial axial displacement. The amount of spatial misalignment is measured by so-called biaxial observation. Then, the conventional fusion splicer estimates the connection loss after the fusion splicing based on the amount of this axial deviation, and displays and outputs the estimation result.

JP-A-9-127358

  By the way, with the spread of FTTH (Fiber To The Home) in recent years, cases where optical fibers are laid in each home are increasing. On the other hand, the standard of connection loss is considerably relaxed for laying optical fibers in this home. For this reason, there is a demand for the emergence of a simple fusion splicer that is smaller, lighter, and less expensive than high precision and high function.

  In this case, to recognize the axis shift amount of the optical fiber by eye, thereby had to perform and reclamping of the optical fiber, the relationship between the connection loss is only obtained by the experience, the useless optical fiber In addition to performing re-clamping, connection loss was measured based on test results using an OTDR (Optical Time Delay Reflectometer) after fusion splicing, which required a lot of labor and time for the work associated with optical fiber connection. There was a problem.

  The present invention was made in view of the above, a simple construction, fusion splicer the fusion splicing of the optical fibers can be performed easily and quickly, the connection loss estimation program and the connection loss estimation method The purpose is to provide.

  To solve the above problems and achieve the object, fusion splicer according to claim 1, when the fusion splicing one perpendicular fixed to the longitudinal direction of the arranged V-groove clamp optical fiber light is irradiated to the optical fiber from the direction estimates a shaft displacement detecting means for detecting the axial displacement of the optical fiber, the connection loss after fusion splicing based on the axial displacement detected is the axis displacement detecting means And an estimation means.

  Further, fusion splicer according to claim 2, in the above invention, the shaft displacement detection means detects the axial deviation amount toward the groove bottom portion of the V groove, the estimating means, the axis deviation It converts into the amount of axial displacement along the taper surface of the V-groove, and the connection loss after the fusion splicing is estimated based on the converted amount of axial displacement.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fusion splicer according to the present invention, the estimated connection loss after the fusion splicing is predetermined based on the correlation between the connection loss estimated by the estimating means and the actual connection loss. A determination means for determining whether or not the actual connection loss is equal to or less than the actual connection loss; and an output means for displaying a determination result of the determination means and / or outputting a sound.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fusion splicer according to the first aspect of the invention, when the determination result of the determination unit exceeds a predetermined connection loss, the output unit and the V groove of the optical fiber together with the determination result. An instruction to prompt re-installation or cleaning of the V-groove is displayed and / or sound is output.

  The fusion splicer according to claim 5 is characterized in that, in the above invention, the fixing direction of the optical fiber is substantially parallel to a midline of an angle formed by two surfaces forming the V-groove. To do.

  In the fusion splicer according to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the above invention, the axial displacement detection means includes observation means for observing the optical fiber, and an observation direction by the observation means forms the V-groove. The direction is substantially parallel to the slope.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided the fusion splicer according to the above invention, wherein the observation means is a single imaging device.

  Further, splice loss estimation program according to claim 8, when fusion splicing is disposed in the V-groove was irradiated with light in the optical fiber from a fixed direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber clamped And an axial deviation detection procedure for detecting an axial deviation of the optical fiber, and an estimation procedure for estimating a connection loss after fusion splicing based on the axial deviation detected by the axial deviation detection procedure. To do.

  Further, splice loss estimation program according to claim 9, in the above invention, the axis misalignment detection procedure detects the axial deviation amount toward the groove bottom portion of the V groove, the estimation procedure is the axis deviation It converts into the amount of axial displacement along the taper surface of the V-groove, and the connection loss after the fusion splicing is estimated based on the converted amount of axial displacement.

  The splice loss estimation method according to claim 10 irradiates the optical fiber with light from one fixed direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber disposed and clamped in the V groove at the time of fusion splicing. and characterized in that it comprises a shaft displacement detecting step of detecting the axial displacement of the optical fiber, an estimation step of the shaft displacement detection step estimates the splice loss after fusion splicing based on the axial displacement detected, the To do.

  In the connection loss estimation method according to claim 11, in the above invention, the shaft misalignment detecting step detects an amount of shaft misalignment toward the groove bottom portion of the V groove, and the estimating step determines the amount of shaft misalignment. It converts into the amount of axial displacement along the taper surface of the V-groove, and the connection loss after the fusion splicing is estimated based on the converted amount of axial displacement.

  According to the invention, the axial displacement detecting means, when the fusion splicing is disposed in the V-groove was irradiated with light from the perpendicular to the longitudinal direction one fixed direction of the clamped optical fiber to the optical fiber, optical detecting the axial displacement of the fiber, estimating means, since the shaft displacement detection means is adapted to estimate the connection loss after fusion splicing based on the axial displacement detected with a simple configuration of an optical fiber There exists an effect that a fusion splicing can be performed easily and rapidly.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of a fusion splicer, a connection loss estimation program, and a connection loss estimation method according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1)
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration relating to connection loss estimation at the time of fusion splicing in the fusion splicer according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In FIG. 1, this fusion splicer places an optical fiber 1 to be fusion spliced in a V-groove 2, and the optical fiber 1 is clamped by a clamp 3 in this arranged state. The pair of optical fibers 1 clamped in the V-grooves 2 are fusion-spliced by moving the V-grooves 2 in the Z-axis direction and discharging the optical fibers 1 with their tips abutted at predetermined positions. The In this case, axial displacement in the XY plane occurs in each optical fiber 1 due to dust 4 or the like existing in the V-groove 2, and connection loss increases depending on the magnitude of this axial displacement.

  A light source 5 is disposed on one side of the clamped optical fiber 1 in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and a light receiving system 6 is disposed on the other side. That is, a so-called uniaxial observation configuration is adopted. The light receiving system 6 is an optical system having an image sensor 7 such as a CCD. The image sensor 7 images the optical fiber 1 projected by the light output from the light source 5. The light source 5 and the image sensor 7 are connected to the control unit C and are driven by the control of the control unit C. The control unit C includes an image processing unit 8 and a loss estimation unit 9, and the image processing unit 8 performs image processing on the optical fiber image captured by the image sensor 7, thereby causing an axial shift amount Lo in the X-axis direction. Measure. Moreover, the loss estimation part 9 estimates a connection loss based on the correlation between this axial shift amount Lo and the actual connection loss. This estimation result is displayed and output on the input / output unit 10 connected to the control unit C.

  Here, the loss estimation processing procedure by the control unit C will be described with reference to the flowchart shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, the control unit C first irradiates light from the light source 5 with the optical fiber 1 clamped, and performs imaging with the image sensor 7 (step S <b> 101). Thereafter, the image processing unit 8 is caused to perform image processing based on the imaging result, and the axis shift amount Lo is calculated (step S102). Thereafter, the connection loss is estimated based on the correlation between the calculated shaft misalignment amount Lo and the actual connection loss (step S103).

  Thereafter, it is determined whether or not the estimated connection loss (estimated loss) is equal to or less than a predetermined value (step S104). This predetermined value is a connection loss indicated by the standard, and when this connection loss is exceeded, it means that normal fusion splicing is not performed. Thereafter, when the estimated loss is equal to or less than the predetermined value (step S104, YES), it is determined that the loss is within the specified value (step S105), and when the estimated loss is not equal to or less than the predetermined value (step S104, NO). Is determined to be a loss outside the specified value (step S106). Thereafter, each determination result is displayed and output by the input / output unit 10 (step S107), and this process is terminated. The display output content determination result, in addition to displaying a whether a connection loss in the specified value effect, or perform display for requesting the re-clamping of the optical fiber, to proceed in this state fusion splicing You may make it display that a good thing etc. are combined. Further, not only display output but also sound output may be performed.

  In the first embodiment, the connection loss is estimated based on the amount of axial misalignment in the X direction with a simple configuration of uniaxial observation, and the splice connection loss is within a specified value based on the result. Therefore, it is possible to drastically reduce the number of spliced connections where the splice loss due to the splicing of the optical fiber does not fall within the specified value. Can be greatly reduced. In particular, waste of time due to reconnection after connection loss measurement such as OTDR can be suppressed as much as possible, and optical fiber connection can be performed quickly. Further, since it is simple and small and light, it is possible to easily perform fusion splicing of optical fibers in or near a home where FTTH or the like is introduced.

(Embodiment 2)
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. In the first embodiment described above, the connection loss is estimated based on the axial displacement amount Lo in the X direction. However, in the second embodiment, the connection is performed based on the axial displacement amount Lr in the XY plane. The loss is estimated.

  FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a configuration relating to connection loss estimation at the time of fusion splicing in the fusion splicer according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. In FIG. 3, the loss estimation unit 19 corresponding to the loss estimation unit 9 converts the axis deviation amount Lo calculated by the image processing unit 8 into an axis deviation amount Lr along the taper surface of the V groove 2, and this converted axis The connection loss is estimated based on the shift amount Lr. In this case, the axial shift amount Lr is substantially the same as the spatial actual axial shift amount in the XY plane. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment, and the same reference numerals are given to the same components.

  The flowchart shown in FIG. 4 shows a loss estimation processing procedure by the control unit C2 corresponding to the control unit C. What is different from the processing procedure shown in FIG. 2 is the processing in step S202 corresponding to step S201. That is, in step S202, the axis deviation amount Lr is calculated instead of the axis deviation amount Lo. Other processes are the same as those in the first embodiment.

Here, the relationship between the shaft displacement amount Lo and the shaft displacement amount Lr will be described. The axial deviation amount Lr can be expressed by the following equation using the axial deviation amount Lo and the angle θ of the tapered surface of the V groove 2. That is,
Lr = Lo / (sin (θ / 2))
It is. By performing this conversion, the actual axis shift amount Lr in the XY plane can be obtained.

Since this axial displacement amount Lr is an actual spatial axial displacement amount, a loss equation corresponding to the axial displacement amount when the optical fiber is connected can be used. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining parameters for obtaining the loss equation. When the optical fibers 11 and 12 are connected, and the axial displacement amount d, the mode field diameter of the optical fiber 11 is Ra, and the mode field diameter of the optical fiber 12 is Rb, the loss L (dB) is It is shown by the formula. That is,
L = ₁₀ log ₁₀ ((2 · Ra · Rb / (Ra ² + Rb ² )) ² EXP (−2d ² / (Ra ² + Rb ² )))
It is. Since the mode field diameters Ra and Rb are known, the loss L is a function of only the axis deviation amount d, that is, the axis deviation amount Lr. When the axis deviation amount Lr is obtained, the connection loss is uniquely obtained. Note that the connection loss estimation method is not limited to this.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the results of measuring the relationship between the actual connection loss in each case using the estimated loss due to the shaft misalignment amount Lo and the estimated loss due to the shaft misalignment amount Lr. FIGS. 6A and 6B show 100 fusion splicing results. FIG. 6A shows an estimated loss obtained based on the relationship between the axis shift amount Lo and the actual connection loss, and corresponds to the first embodiment. In this case, unlike the shaft misalignment amount Lr, the relationship between the shaft misalignment amount Lo and the estimated loss is not linear. Therefore, the correlation between the estimated loss and the actual connection loss is slightly low and slightly varied.

  On the other hand, in the second embodiment, since the relationship between the axis shift amount Lr and the estimated loss is linear, it is possible to calculate a highly accurate estimated loss. As a result, the correlation between the estimated loss and the actual connection loss is high. It is considered that the variation in this case is largely caused by a variation in connection processing due to discharge or the like at the time of fusion splicing.

  Here, when it is determined that the actual connection loss is outside the specified value LBht when it is determined that the connection loss estimated by the estimated losses LAth and LA′th is within the specified value, the axis deviation amount Lo is used. in this case, there are 12 putative failure, in the case of using the axial displacement amount Lr, there are six putative failure estimated at high accuracy better in estimating with axial shift amount Lr It can be seen that can be done.

  In the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, it is possible to drastically reduce the number of fusion splicing in which the connection loss due to the fusion splicing of the optical fiber does not fall within the specified value. Can be greatly reduced. In particular, waste of time due to reconnection after connection loss measurement such as OTDR can be suppressed as much as possible, and optical fiber connection can be performed quickly. Moreover, since it is simple and small and light, it is possible to easily perform fusion splicing of optical fibers in or near a home where FTTH or the like is introduced. In particular, in the second embodiment, since the correlation between the estimated loss and the axis shift amount Lr is linear, there is little estimation variation, and loss estimation failure can be reduced.

  In the first and second embodiments, the single-core optical fiber has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the present invention can also be applied to the multi-core optical fiber 21 as shown in FIG. In this case, as shown in FIG. 8, V-grooves corresponding to the number of multi-cores are formed. Images for the optical fibers 21 a to 21 d corresponding to the respective V-grooves are captured at a time, and four images are obtained from the imaging results. The amount of axial misalignment of the optical fibers 21a to 21d is obtained, and if any estimated loss exceeds the specified value, a display or sound output prompting to reset, reconnect, or clean the optical fibers 21a to 21d is displayed. You should do it.

  9 is a perspective view showing a specific appearance of the fusion splicer 30. FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the holder that holds the optical fiber 45 by opening the windshield cover 36 of the fusion splicer 30. It is a figure which shows the state installed in the stand. 9 and 10, the fusion splicer 30 includes the minimum functions required for fusion splicing optical fibers, a hand portion 30a and the fusion splicing portion 30b is arranged in a T-shape, hand unit The display unit 32 and the input / output unit 31 are provided in 30a. The display unit 32 can display characters such as a connection loss set value, an estimated loss, and a warning. In this case, the optical fiber type may be selected. Further, the display unit 32 may be a touch panel type so that various operations can be performed from the screen.

  The input / output unit 31 includes lamps 32 a and 32 b and a sound output unit 33. The lamps 32a and 32b are LEDs that display the estimated loss results. The lamp 32a lights green when the estimated loss is less than or equal to a predetermined value, and the lamp 32b lights red when the estimated loss is not less than or equal to the predetermined value. Or blink. The sound output unit 33 outputs a buzzer sound and warns when the estimated loss is not less than a predetermined value. The input / output unit 31 also includes a power key Kp for turning on / off the power, a cursor key Kcu for starting the cursor movement and connection operation on the display unit 32, and a cursor key Kcd for quickly moving the cursor. In addition to various operation keys such as a reset key Kr, a selection determination key Ke, and an operation key Kop for inputting an operation start or position stop, a monitor lamp Lm for displaying an on / off state of the power source is provided.

  The fusion splicing part 30 b has a pair of holder bases 34, a discharge electrode 35, and a windshield cover 36. Here, the pair of holder bases 34 and the discharge electrodes 35 are installed on an internal support substrate 43, and the support substrate 43 is formed of a magnetic metal. The holder bases 34 are made of magnetic metal that holds the optical fiber 45 and are arranged so that the holders 46 are opposed to each other. The holder bases 34 are arranged on both sides of the support member 37 disposed in the center of the fusion splicing portion 30b. . The discharge electrode 35 is opposed to the optical fiber 45 so as to be orthogonal to each other, and the ends of the opposed optical fibers 45 are fusion-bonded by discharge.

  In the first and second embodiments described above, the light source 5, the light receiving system 6, and the image sensor 7 are disposed substantially parallel to the midline of the angle formed by the two surfaces forming the V groove 2. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, the light receiving system 16 and the image sensor 17 as observation means are substantially parallel to the slope of the V groove 2 or from a direction substantially perpendicular to the slope of the V groove 2. It may be possible to observe. As a result, the axis deviation amount Lr can be directly observed.

  Furthermore, the position of the observation means for observing the slope angle of the V groove or / and the slope of the V groove or the optical fiber may be arbitrary. At this time, for example, the axial displacement amount Lr and the like can be obtained by performing a three-dimensional position calculation based on information on each position and angle by a CPU or the like built in the fusion splicer. In the calculation, it is desirable that optical (lens aberration, light refraction, etc.) is taken into consideration.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the wavelength λ of the light source 15 corresponding to the light source 5 may be varied and observed. In this case, for example, the wavelength λ ₁ and the wavelength λ ₂ have different light paths when passing through the optical fiber 1, so that the display portions 11 have different appearances as shown in the display regions 11 a and 11 b, respectively. When the optical fiber 1 is misaligned on the V-groove 2, the geometric misalignment between the V-groove 2 and the optical fiber 1 can be obtained by comparing the images.

  Furthermore, the sound output unit 33 can output sound. For example, it transmits an instruction for prompting the user to reset the optical fiber or that the estimated connection loss is equal to or less than the set connection loss.

It is a figure which shows the structure regarding the connection loss estimation at the time of the fusion splicing in the fusion splicer which is Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the loss estimation processing procedure in the fusion splicer shown in FIG. It is a figure which shows the structure regarding the connection loss estimation at the time of the fusion splicing in the fusion splicer which is Embodiment 2 of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the loss estimation process procedure in the fusion splicer shown in FIG. It is a figure explaining the parameter used for the relational expression of the amount of shaft gaps, and connection loss. It is a figure which shows the measurement result of the relationship between an estimation loss and an actual connection loss, and an estimation failure. It is a figure which shows an example of a multi-core optical fiber. It is a figure which shows the clamped state of a multi-core optical fiber. It is a perspective view which shows an example of a fusion splicer. FIG. 10 shows the fusion splicer shown in FIG. 9 with the windshield cover opened and the holder holding the optical fiber installed on the holder base. It is a figure which shows the structure which has arrange | positioned the observation direction of a light-receiving system and an image pick-up element in the direction substantially parallel or substantially orthogonal to V groove. It is a figure which shows the structure in the case of observing the axial deviation | shift amount of an optical fiber based on a some wavelength.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Optical fiber 2 V groove 3 Clamp 4 Dust 5 Light source 6, 16 Light receiving system 7, 17 Image sensor 8 Image processing part 9, 19 Loss estimation part 10 Input / output part 11 Display part C, C2 Control part Lo, Lr Axis deviation amount

Claims (14)

At the time of fusion splicing, light is applied to the optical fiber from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber disposed and clamped in the V-groove, and the midline between the two surfaces forming the V-groove is formed. An axis deviation detecting means for detecting an axis deviation amount which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a substantially vertical direction and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
And estimating means for estimating a splice loss after the fusion splicing on the basis of the correlation between the shaft displacement detecting means axial deviation amount detected and the actual connection loss,
A fusion splicer characterized by comprising: At the time of fusion splicing, light is applied to the optical fiber from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber disposed and clamped in the V-groove, and the midline between the two surfaces forming the V-groove is formed. An axis deviation detecting means for detecting an axis deviation amount which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a substantially vertical direction and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
Convert the previous SL-axis shift amount in the axial shift amount along the tapered surface of the V groove, to estimate the connection loss after the fusion splicing the correlation between the converted axis deviation amount and the actual connection loss was based An estimation means;
Fusion splicers comprising the. During fusion splicing, the light is irradiated to the optical fiber from a direction perpendicular are arranged in a V groove in the longitudinal direction of the clamped optical fiber, the midline of the two faces forming an angle to form the V groove An axis deviation detecting means for detecting an axis deviation amount which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a substantially vertical direction and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
The axial displacement amount is converted into an axial displacement amount along the taper surface of the V-groove, and the converted axial displacement amount is applied to a loss equation corresponding to the axial displacement amount at the time of optical fiber connection. An estimation means for estimating connection loss;
A fusion splicer characterized by comprising: And determination means for estimating connection loss before KiToruchaku after connection is equal to or less than a predetermined connection loss,
An output means for displaying a judgment result of the judgment means and / or outputting a sound;
The fusion splicer according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: And the output means, the determination means a determination result is displayed and / or an instruction to prompt the cleaning reinstallation or V groove to the V groove of the optical fiber together with the judgment result when it exceeds the predetermined connection loss The fusion splicer according to claim 4 , which outputs a sound. The optical fiber according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that it is clamped from a direction substantially parallel to the midline of the angle between the two faces forming said V-groove to the V-groove Fusion splicer. The axial deviation detection means includes observation means for observing the optical fiber, and an observation direction connecting the observation means by the observation means and the optical fiber to be observed is a direction substantially parallel to the slope forming the V-groove. The fusion splicer according to any one of claims 1 to 6 , wherein the fusion splicer is. The fusion splicer according to claim 7 , wherein the observation unit is one imaging device. At the time of fusion splicing, the optical fiber is irradiated with light from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber disposed and clamped in the V-groove, and the angle formed by the two surfaces forming the V-groove An axial misalignment detection procedure for detecting an axial misalignment amount, which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
And estimation procedure for estimating the connection loss after the fusion splicing on the basis of the correlation between the shaft displacement detection procedure is the axial shift amount and the actual connection loss detected,
A connection loss estimation program comprising: At the time of fusion splicing, the optical fiber is irradiated with light from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber disposed and clamped in the V-groove, and the angle formed by the two surfaces forming the V-groove An axial misalignment detection procedure for detecting an axial misalignment amount, which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
Convert the previous SL-axis shift amount in the axial shift amount along the tapered surface of the V groove, to estimate the connection loss after the fusion splicing the correlation between the converted axis deviation amount and the actual connection loss was based An estimation procedure;
Comprising a connection loss estimation program. During fusion splicing, the light is irradiated to the optical fiber from a direction perpendicular are arranged in a V groove in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber clamped, in the two surfaces forms an angle to form the V groove An axial misalignment detection procedure for detecting an axial misalignment amount, which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
The axial displacement amount is converted into an axial displacement amount along the taper surface of the V-groove, and the converted axial displacement amount is applied to a loss equation corresponding to the axial displacement amount at the time of optical fiber connection. An estimation procedure for estimating the connection loss;
A connection loss estimation program comprising: At the time of fusion splicing, the optical fiber is irradiated with light from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber disposed and clamped in the V-groove, and the angle formed by the two surfaces forming the V-groove An axial deviation detecting step for detecting an axial deviation amount, which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
An estimation step of estimating a splice loss after the fusion splicing on the basis of the correlation between the shaft displacement detection step axial shift amount and the actual connection loss detected,
A connection loss estimation method comprising: At the time of fusion splicing, the optical fiber is irradiated with light from a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the optical fiber disposed and clamped in the V-groove, and the angle formed by the two surfaces forming the V-groove An axial deviation detecting step for detecting an axial deviation amount, which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
Convert the previous SL-axis shift amount in the axial shift amount along the tapered surface of the V groove, to estimate the connection loss after the fusion splicing the correlation between the converted axis deviation amount and the actual connection loss was based An estimation step;
Connection loss estimating how to comprising a. During fusion splicing, the light is irradiated to the optical fiber from a direction perpendicular are arranged in a V groove in a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber clamped, in the two surfaces forms an angle to form the V groove An axial deviation detecting step for detecting an axial deviation amount, which is a distance between the axis of the optical fiber when normally arranged in a direction substantially perpendicular to the line and the axis of the optical fiber actually installed;
The axial displacement amount is converted into an axial displacement amount along the taper surface of the V-groove, and the converted axial displacement amount is applied to a loss equation corresponding to the axial displacement amount at the time of optical fiber connection. An estimation step for estimating connection loss;
A connection loss estimation method comprising:

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