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Optical Fiber Splices

Under guidance of subtitleT.D Biradar Click to edit Master Prof. style Presented bySandhya S

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Fiber Joints (Connections)

Point where two fibers are joined together To allow light signal to propagate from one fiber into the other with as little loss as possible Reasons for fiber joints:

Fibers and cables are not endless and therefore must eventually be joined. Fiber may also be joined to distribution cables and splitters. At both transmit and receive termination

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Fiber Splices

Fiber optic cables terminated in 2 ways :

Connectors Splices Permanent connection of two optical fibers.

Splicing

Note: Splicing is employed when 7/13/12 repeated connection or disconnection is

Fiber splices (contd.)

Need of splicing:

System design may require that fiber connections have specific optical properties (low loss) Permit repair of damaged optical fibers Cables are of limited lengths 1 to 6 km. To establish long-haul optical fiber links.

Splices might be required at building entrances, couplers, wiring closets, etc.


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Splicing: Pre-requisite

End preparation

Stripping :

Stripping away all protection Stripping their protective polymer coating Thermal splicers are best

Cleaning

alcohol and wipes, or ultrasonic cleaner

Cleaving
fiber end face cut
Fig. SCORE-AND-BREAK

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Alignment

Fiber splice alignment

Passive : relies on precision reference surfaces Active : monitors splice loss or uses microscope

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Fusion splicing

Localized heat melts or fuses the ends Splice loss- direct function of angles and quality of fiber-end faces Arc fusion- discharge of electric current across the gap between two electrodes
Fig. A basic fusion splicing apparatus.

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ARC FUSION
o Fiber ends placed between electrodes o Electric discharge melts or fuses the ends of each fiber o Initially, a small gap between fiber ends o Pre-fusion: short discharge of electric current, eliminates fiber defects from cleaving o Surface defects can cause core distortions or bubble formations o Fusion splice-ends pressed together, -actively aligned, -longer and stronger electric discharge o Surface tension of molten glass tends to realign 7/13/12

Fusion splicing (contd.)

Protecting the fiber:

Splice protection sleeve

Yields vary between 25 and 75% Sophisticated fusion splicers for low loss

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Mechanical splicing

Mechanical fixtures to align and connect optical fibers Amount of splice loss stable over time Unaffected by changes in environmental or mechanical conditions If high splicing loss results- splice reopened and fibers realigned

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Mechanical splicing (contd.)

Glass Or Ceramic Alignment Capillary tube Tube Splices


Inner diameter of tube slightly larger than outer diameter of fiber Transparent adhesive injected into the tube bonds the two fibers together Adhesive also provides index matching Relies on inner diameter of tube

Fig. A glass or ceramic alignment tube for mechanical splicing.

Inner diameter should be appropriate 7/13/12

Mechanical splicing (contd.)

V-Grooved Splices

o Open grooved substrate to perform fiber alignment


o

V-groove aligns the cladding surface of each fiber end Transparent adhesive makes the splice permanent by securing the fiber ends to the grooved substrate Transparent adhesives are epoxy resins that seal mechanical splices and provide index matching between the connected fibers. 7/13/12

Fig. Open V-grooved splice.

Mechanical splicing (contd.)

Spring V-Grooved Mechanical Splice Two positioning rods


Two rods form a groove. This is used to align the fiber ends Outer surface of each fiber end extends above the groove formed by the rod A flat spring presses fiber ends into the groove Transparent adhesive completes the process 7/13/12 Fig. Spring V-grooved mechanical splice.

Mechanical splicing (contd.)


o

Rotary Fibers Splice into a glass are mounted ferrule and secured with

adhesives
o

The splice begins as one long glass ferrule that is broken in half during the assembly process. Fiber inserted into each half of the tube, epoxied using ultraviolet cure epoxy.

o The end face of the tubes are polished and placed together using the alignment sleeve. o Added mechanical stability o The rotary splice may use index matching gel within the alignment sleeve to produce 7/13/12 low-loss splices. Fig. Rotary mechanical splice

Multifiber Splicing
o

Ribbon type fiber optic cables Can use arc fusion to restore connection Most splicing techniques use mechanical splicing Ribbon splice is most common Etched silicon chip or grooved substrate Spacing between grooves = spacing between fibers Cleaving is done before placing Fibers are held in place with a flat cover Index matching gel to reduce splice loss 7/13/12

Fig. Ribbon splice on etched silicon chip.

Splicing Defects

Several defects can occur during splicing leading to useless splices

Great care needs to be taken

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