Patent ID: 6984077
Filing Date: 2006-01-10
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
1. A splicer system for joining a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber along a common fiber axis by fusion splicing, each of said fibers being polarization-maintaining and having a discrete length and observable, internal asymmetric stress, the system comprising: a) a user interface having an output display and user input controls for activating the splicing system; b) an electric arc welding system; c) holding means for rotatably holding each of said first and second optical fibers, said holding means including first and second fiber holders, each supporting said fiber for rotation in an opening having the shape of an isosceles triangle and substantially circumscribing said fiber; d) illumination means for projecting polarized light transversely through said first and second optical fibers; e) polarized light detection means for receiving the light passed transversely through said fibers and producing therefrom an electrically detected signal; f) rotation means for rotating each of said first and second optical fibers about said common fiber axis; g) measuring means for creating first and second transverse intensity functions from variations in said electrically detected signal as said first and second optical fibers are rotated; h) lateral alignment means for laterally aligning a first end surface of said first optical fiber with a second end surface of said second optical fiber, whereby said first and second optical fibers are moved in three non-coincident directions to bring into coaxial, abutting relationship said first end surface and said second end surface to form a boundary therebetween; i) an imaging optical system having a fiber imaging illuminator and a fiber image detector, said imaging optical system being adapted to acquire optical images of said fibers in a first imaging direction and a second imaging direction, said imaging directions being non-coincident; and j) electronic control circuitry having: