Patent ID: 7900480
Filing Date: 2011-03-08
Classification: G01N,G02B

Abstract:
1. A method of determining an amount of heating adequate for fusion splicing optical fibers, the method comprising the steps of: (1) heating of end portions of optical fibers that are placed opposite one another with a predetermined gap there between; (2) observing the end portions of the optical fibers with an image capturing device to capture an image of the end portions of the optical fibers being heated; (3) measuring a light emitting width of one of the end portions of the optical fibers being heated, the light emitting width corresponding to changes in a light emitting state of the end portions of the optical fibers that occurs due to heating, the light emitting width being measured along a direction that is parallel to an axis of the one of the optical fibers; (4) comparing the measured light emitting width with a value, the value corresponding to the end portions of the optical fibers being in a state adequate for fusion splicing; and (5) determining the amount of the heating provided to the end portions of the optical fibers once the measuring indicates that the light emitting width has reached the value.