Patent ID: 6207922
Filing Date: 2001-03-27
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
A device for splicing two ends of optical fibers by welding, comprising:means for generating a glow discharge between two electrodes,first means for producing a voltage which is proportional to an electric current through the electrodes, wherein the first means comprises a first resistor placed in a line connected to one of the two electrodes to produce over the resistor a first voltage that is proportional to the electric current through the two electrodes,second means for producing a voltage, which is proportional to the electric voltage over the electrodes, wherein the second means comprises two second resistors connected in series with each other in a line parallel with the two electrodes to produce at a connection point between the two resistors a second voltage that is proportional to the electric voltage over the two electrodes,means for multiplying these two proportional voltages by each other, wherein the multiplying means comprises means connected to the first resistor and the connection point of the second resistors to receive the first and second voltages and to produce a third voltage that is proportional to the product of the first and second voltages and that is thereby proportional to the electric power in the glow discharge, andmeans for maintaining the electric power in the glow discharge electric arc substantially constant during the welding, wherein the maintaining means is connected to the multiplying means for receiving the third voltage and maintains the third voltage substantially constant during welding, whereby the electric power in glow discharge electric arc is maintained substantially constant during the welding.