Optical waveguides – With splice
Patent
1990-02-26
1991-10-29
Ullah, Akm
Optical waveguides
With splice
G02B 626
Patent
active
050610341
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a permanent connector for optical fibers, and particularly to a permanent connector of simple construction for optical fibers with the use of an ultraviolet-curing type adhesive taken into consideration.
BACKGROUND ART
Heretofore, permanent connectors for optical fibers using glass have commonly had a V-shaped groove or a like construction for optical fiber alignment (centering).
Recently, a permanent connector for optical fibers including a glass sleeve in which optical fibers are concentrically butted against each other has been suggested (see Japanese Utility Model Application Disclosure Nos. 61505/1986 and 99806/1986).
In the case where optical fibers are to be butted against each other, the use of a V-shaped groove has a possibility of the ends of optical fibers deviating to the space opposite to the groove, and if this really happens, the connection loss increases.
The conventional permanent connector for optical fibers for concentrically butting optical fibers against each other in a glass sleeve uses a specially shaped single sleeve of nonuniform thickness in order that optical fibers which are each composed of a core having a thickness of about 10 .mu.m or about 50 .mu.m and a clad having an outer diameter of about 125 .mu.m concentrically surrounding said core and which are each covered with a coat having an outer diameter of about 250 .mu.m or about 900 .mu.m may be butted against each other. Manufacture of glass sleeves of such shape is very difficult because of their small diameter. And they are low in strength and their nonuniform thickness tends to cause stress concentration and they have no reinforcing construction. Therefore, they have been of little practical use.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In view of the drawbacks of conventional permanent connector for optical fibers described above, the present invention has been accomplished as a result of intensive study, and its object is to provide a permanent connector for optical fibers which can be produced relatively simply and with high accuracy and has sufficient strength and which, using a simple and inexpensive tool, can be operated in an explosion-protected place or a narrow working space for connecting optical fibers safely and quickly and with high accuracy.
To achieve said object, a permanent connector for optical fibers comprises a capillary tube made of ultraviolet-transmitting glass which has an accurately produced inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the clads of optical fibers, tapered portions on the opposite ends of the inner diameter, and an adhesive-passing groove formed in the middle portion and having a depth which is not more than 1/2 of the inner diameter, and an ultraviolet-transmitting protective glass tube which has an inner diameter greater than the outer diameter of the capillary tube and to which the capillary tube is eccentrically joined in said inner diameter on the side opposite to the adhesive-passing groove to define a clearance between said inner diameter and the outer diameter of the capillary tube on the side where the adhesive-passing groove is formed.
Further, the permanent connector for optical fibers of the present invention has an ultraviolet-curing type adhesive agent injected thereinto and is wrapped in a light screening packaging material.
The present invention also includes an embodiment incorporating an adapter tube made of ultraviolet-transmitting glass adapted to be applied to optical fibers whose coats have a small outer diameter, said adapter tube having an outer diameter slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the protective glass tube and an inner diameter slightly greater than the outer diameter of the coats of optical fibers, said adapter tube having tapered portions on the opposite ends of said inner diameter.
Since the opposite ends of the inner diameter of the capillary tube are tapered, insertion of optical fibers is facilitated.
The middle portion of the capillary tube is provided with an adhesive-passing
REFERENCES:
patent: 4746189 (1988-05-01), Arrington et al.
patent: 4784458 (1988-11-01), Horowitz et al.
patent: 4789217 (1988-12-01), Mitch
patent: 4919510 (1990-04-01), Hoke et al.
patent: 4960316 (1990-10-01), Berkey
Fujikawa Junji
Tamura Fumiaki
Nippon Electric Glass Co. Ltd.
Ullah Akm
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