Patent ID: 9199411
Filing Date: 2015-12-01
Classification: B29C,G02B

Abstract:
1. A method of connecting a pair of multi-core fibers, the method comprising: preparing a first multi-core fiber and a second multi-core fiber, the first multi-core fiber including a plurality of first cores and a first common clad surrounding each of the plurality of the first cores, the second multi-core fiber including a plurality of second cores and a second common clad surrounding each of the plurality of the second cores; a butting step of butting end surfaces of the first and second multi-core fibers against each other by aligning central axes of the first and second common clads of the multi-core fibers with each other to cause each core of the first multi-core fiber and corresponding each core of the second multi-core fiber to face each other and butt end faces of the first common clad and the second common clad against each other; and a fusing step of fusing the first and second multi-core fibers to each other by carrying out discharge by a pair of discharge electrodes disposed perpendicular to the central axes of the first and second clads, sandwiching a butted position of the first and second multi-core fibers and facing each other, wherein the fusing step further includes moving respective tips of the pair of discharge electrodes in a plane perpendicular to the central axes of the first and second clads to cause an imaginary straight line connecting the tips of the discharge electrodes to move in the plane perpendicular to the central axes, and wherein the fusing step fuses the first common clad and the second common clad to each other.