Patent ID: 6203213
Filing Date: 2001-03-20
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A fusion splice module for fusing optical fibers resting along a passline thereon, comprising:a) a v-groove module comprising;a non-conductive base plate having substantially planar top and bottom surfaces, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center;a non-conductive first top plate having a substantially planar bottom surface for mounting on the top surface of said base plate, and a mating edge for mating against a second top plate, a face having an angle .PHI. adjacent to said mating edge, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center;a non-conductive second top plate having a substantially planar bottom surface for mounting on the top surface of said base plate and a mating edge for mating against said first top plate, a face having an angle .PHI. adjacent to said mating edge, and a notch located substantially in the longitudinal center; andan adhesive layer located between the top surface of said base plate and the bottom surfaces of said first top plate and said second top plate thereby adhesively bonding said first and second top plates to said base plate; andb) an electrode module comprising;a non-conductive base plate having a pair of non-conducting electrode mounts, substantially in the longitudinal center of said base plate, separated by a substantially hour-glass shaped opening, and forming the narrow center portion of said hour-glass shaped opening;a pair of electrodes, each electrode having an electrode tip end and having an other end for contacting a current source, a portion of each electrode overlying the upper surface of one of said electrode mounts in spaced apart relationship across said narrow center portion of said hour-glass opening and the passline, the electrode tips defining an arc region therebetween; andan adhesive layer on the upper surface of said non-conductive base plate on either side of said non-conducting electrode mounts for mounting said electrode module to said v-groove module.