Optical Fiber Fusion Splicing and Its Applications

What is optical fiber fusion splicing?

Optical fiber fusion splicing is a welded joint formed between two optical fibers. It is a permanent, low-loss, high-strength joint compared with other temporary joint such as a mechanical splice. Optical fiber fusion splices play a crucial role in the optical network.

The Ideal Fusion Splicing Process

The goal is to create a joint with minimum insertion loss yet with mechanical strength and long-term reliability that matches the fiber itself.

The ideal process should be fast, inexpensive and should not require expensive equipment. But in reality the process needs trade-offs among different applications and requirements. For example, for undersea telecommunications, long-term reliability is the most important goal for a fusion splicing.

The Advantages

There are other approaches for interconnecting fibers cables such as fiber optic connectors and mechanical splicing. Compared to these two, fusion splicing has many advantages as explained below.

Very compact

Lowest insertion loss

Lowest back reflection (optical return loss ORL)

Highest mechanical strength

Permanent

Can withstand extreme high temperature changes

Prevents dust and other contaminants from entering the optical path

Different Splicing Types

Into three types fusion splicing environment and applications can be roughly divided:

Field splicing

Factory splicing

Laboratory splicing

An example of laboratory splicing is done by researcher’s fusion splicing the newest developed fibers to test their compatibility with existing industry standard fibers.

Fiber fusion splicing with fusion splicer involves concepts from many subjects including optical waveguide theory, heat transfer, material science, mechanical engineering, fluid mechanics and more.

Introduction to the Fusion Splicing Process

The major steps can be summarized as the following.

Optical fiber stripping

The fiber cable jacket is removed and then the fiber polymer coating is stripped with fiber optic strippers.

Fiber cleaving

The fiber is cleaved with specialized tool called fiber cleaver. Two types of fiber cleaver exist: high precision fiber cleaver for single mode applications and field cleaver for multimode applications. A mirror like almost perfect end face is achieved by this cleaving process.

Fiber alignment

The fibers are laterally aligned to each other by step motor in a fusion splicer. This may involve rotating the fibers in polarization maintaining fiber splicing.

Fiber welding

The fibers are then heated with electric arc or other methods to the fiber glass's softening point and then both fibers are pressed together to form a solid joint.

Insertion loss estimation

The insertion loss is estimated based on the fusion quality and dimensions.

Pull tension strength testing

The fusion is pull proof tested when opening the fusion splicer cover.

A brand new feature around the principal examination instrument for fiber optic connection facilities is the Optical Time Domain Reflectometer, or OTDR. The OTDR is actually an instrument that uses the interior back dispersing attributes regarding an optical fiber that will find and also categorize its condition by transmitting high power impulses involving laser light down in the fiber and take the light that is replicated back.

Author Bio:-

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Bentley James works in a R&D division in the automotive industry. He says about how the testing equipments like Otdr and signal generator have been helpful in identifying.