Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Patent
1999-01-11
2000-06-13
Crispino, Richard
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
156158, 156305, 1563086, 264 125, B65H 6900, B29C 6500, B29D 1100
Patent
active
060745118
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a splicing method for plastic optical fibers themselves.
BACKGROUND ART
Heretofore, as a splicing method for optical fibers, with respect to optical fibers employing silica as a material having a high melting point, a method has been known in which a very high temperature is created by electric arc discharge, and optical fibers thereby melted are spliced to each other. However, to let very small portions like optical fiber tips undergo electric discharge, an extremely high level of technique and precision in control are required, and to let silica be melted, a large electric power was required.
On the other hand, with respect to plastic optical fibers such as acrylic plastic optical fibers or fluorine type plastic optical fibers (see e.g. JP-A-8-5848), no method for efficiently splicing optical fibers themselves, has been known.
The present invention is intended to provide a method for readily splicing plastic optical fibers themselves, whereby the splicing efficiency is increased, and an increase in the transmission loss is reduced.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a splicing method for plastic optical fibers, which is a method for splicing ends of plastic optical fibers themselves, characterized in that solvent splicing is carried out by means of an organic solvent capable of dissolving or swelling the plastic material of the plastic optical fibers.
In the present invention, a plastic optical fiber is "a general term for an optical fiber cord and an optical fiber string, of which at least a light transmitting portion is made of a plastic material"(hereinafter may sometimes be referred to simply as an optical fiber), and an optical fiber cord is one having an optical fiber string covered with a covering material. Here, the light-transmitting portion is meant for a core portion in the case of a refractive index stepped optical fiber, or a portion where at least 5% of the maximum intensity occupies in the distribution in the fiber radial direction of the intensity of light outgoing from the fiber in the case of a graded-index optical fiber.
In the present invention, solvent splicing means that plastic materials themselves dissolved or swelled by the organic solvent, are contacted or mixed, followed by evaporation of the organic solvent in the plastic materials, whereby the plastic materials themselves are solidified, so that the plastic optical fibers themselves are spliced to each other.
In the present invention, the method for solvent-splicing the ends of plastic optical fibers themselves, may, for example, be (1) a method wherein the ends of optical fibers themselves are solvent-spliced by permitting the solvent to penetrate into a clearance between the ends of optical fibers themselves, which is formed by bringing the ends of optical fibers themselves close to each other, (2) a method wherein the ends of optical fibers themselves are solvent-spliced by contacting the optical fiber ends themselves dissolved or swelled by the organic solvent, or (3) a method wherein the ends of optical fibers themselves are solvent-spliced, while permitting the optical fibers themselves to butt against each other by the bending stress of the optical fibers.
The splicing method of the present invention makes it possible to readily splice plastic optical fibers themselves and to increase the splicing efficiency and reduce an increase of transmission loss. Further, by using a reinforcing member for the joint portion, position setting of the optical fibers can be facilitated, a proper pressure can easily be exerted to the joint surfaces of the optical fibers, and the joint portion of the plastic optical fibers themselves can be reinforced.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a schematic view illustrating optical fibers and a solvent.
FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a supporting tool for splicing optical fibers, which has a V-groove and a void space.
FIG. 3 is a schematic plan view showing the state in which optical fibers are placed on the su
REFERENCES:
patent: 4675136 (1987-06-01), Calvet et al.
patent: 5013495 (1991-05-01), Noba et al.
patent: 5226995 (1993-07-01), White
Sugiyama Norihide
Takano Yoshinobu
Asahi Glass Company Ltd.
Crispino Richard
Purvis Sue A.
LandOfFree
Method of joining plastic optical fibers to each other does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of joining plastic optical fibers to each other, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of joining plastic optical fibers to each other will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2065445