INFOCOMMUNICATIONSNew Direct Core Monitoring Fusion Splicer 		
TYPE-71C+
Makoto MIYAMORI*, Ryuichiro SATO, Kazufumi JOKO, Hideaki YUSA,Toshihiko HOMMA and Koji KASHIHARA---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------With a rapid progress in optical fiber network construction all over the world, fusion splicer users are increasing particularly
in newly industrializing countries. They require a fusion splicer with easy operation and high maintainability in any
operational environments. We have developed a new core alignment fusion splicer “TYPE-71C+.” It reduced by 43% in sizeand by 34% in weight compared with the current model and improved in performance under more harsh environments. Itachieves 20 seconds of total splice and heat cycle time, which is faster by 55% than the current model. Moreover, TYPE-71C+
is the first and only fusion splicer in the industry that features wireless LAN function. We have also developed “SumiCloud”
system, which manages fusion splicers via internet.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Keywords: fusion splicer, compact and lightweight, high-speed heating process, wireless LAN, fusion splicer management
system

2. Overview
Photo 1 shows an external view of the core-alignment fusion splicer. Table 1 shows the main specifications.

Size & Environmental
Resistance Properties

Table 1. Specifications for the core-alignment fusion splicer

Splicing & HeatingProperties

With the rapid deployment of optical accessnetworks worldwide, fusion splicers are being increasingly used in a variety of applications, such as backbone
network construction, FTTx network construction, andoptical component assembly. As fusion splicer users
increase in both industrialized and newly industrializing
countries, there is an increasing need for fusion splicers
that offer ease of use in all environments and withminimal maintenance.
To meet these needs, we have developed a corealignment fusion splicer “TYPE-71C+” with the concept
of “a fusion splicer easy to use by anyone in the world.”
Its features include compact and lightweight design,high speed splice, and a maintenance function based on
information and communication technologies such as
wireless LAN and the Internet.

Ease of Use/Ease ofMaintenance

1. Introduction

Item

New Model
TYPE-71C+

Existing Model
TYPE-39

Dimensions

120 (W) mm
154 (D) mm
130 (H) mm

150 (W) mm
170 (D) mm
150 (H) mm

Weight2.1 kg

3.2 kg

Impact resistance(76 cm drop)

5 surfacesexcluding the
top surface

Bottom surface

Dust/drip proof

IP52—

High-altitude
performance

6,000 m5,000 mSplice loss

SMF: 0.02 dB

SMF: 0.02 dB

Splice time

Approx. 6 s

Approx. 9 s

Heat shrink oven type

Dual

Dual

Heating time

Approx. 14 s

Approx. 35 s

Splice/heat cycles
per battery

Approx. 230

Approx. 200

Input operation

Touchscreen

Key padWireless LAN

Provided—

Splice data
management—

Work report
generation—

Help video—

Splicer healthmonitor—Fusion splicer
management system
SumiCloud

3. Features

Photo 1. External view of the “TYPE-71C+”

56 · New Direct Core Monitoring Fusion Splicer TYPE-71C+

Described below are the features of the new corealignment fusion splicer and the fusion splicer management system.
3-1 Compact and lightweight design
Figure 1 shows a comparison of the overall size ofthe existing and new splicers. Table 2 shows the reduction in volume and weight of the main components. Thecomponents inside the housing of the new splicer are
made of resin to reduce weight and are integrated into
one piece to reduce the number of parts. A touchscreen
is used for input operations, making it possible tooperate the splicer in an intuitive and easy-to-understand way and to reduce its size. The use of a newly
developed arc circuit board, a high-magnification microscope, and a lightweight lithium-ion battery make itpossible to reduce the volume and weight of the main
body of the fusion splicer by 43% and 34%, respectively,
over the existing model.

150
Unit: mm

As shown in Fig. 2, there is an elastic cushion
component attached to the exterior of the housing.
With the cushion component, the splicer passes a 76
cm drop test on the five surfaces excluding the topsurface, while the existing model passed the test only
on the bottom surface. Photo 2 shows the 76 cm drop
test conducted in-house.

Cushion component
170

Fig. 2. Cushion component

120150130

Cushion component in place in the splicer

TYPE-71C+

Free fall

76 cm
154

New model: TYPE-71C+

Existing model:
TYPE-39

Fig. 1. Comparison of the overall size

Table 2. Volume and weight reduction of main components
Component

Percentage of reduction
over existing model

Photo 2. Drop test conductedRemarks

VolumeWeight

Internalcomponents

34%

47%

Use of resin, downsizing,
integrationMonitor

66%

41%

Use of a touchscreen

Battery

72%

78%

Compact, lightweightbattery

3-2 Improvements in environment resistanceproperties
A fusion splicer is a device that can be used evenin harsh environments and requires an improvement inenvironmental resistance properties such as impact
resistance, being dust- and drip-proof, and high-altitudeperformance.
The splicer is downsized, resulting in a reduction in
impact energy from its own weight. In addition, parts
are integrated into one piece, resulting in the eliminationof joints between heavy parts. As a result of theseimprovements, the impact resistance of the splicer isimproved over the existing model.
The material of the windshield, an exterior component, is changed from resin, which were used for theexisting windshield, to die-cast metal to improve therobustness. Its thickness is reduced to avoid an increase
in weight.

Due to the improved airtight design of the housing,
the splicer is dust- and drip-proof equivalent to international protection class IP52. Table 3 shows the details of
the dust and drip proof performance. Photo 3 shows
the dust and drip test conducted.
Table 3. Details of the dust and drip proof performance
AttributeClassDescription

Dust
proof

IP5X

Required performance and safety are ensured
when dust (diameter: 75 µm) for dust proof testing
enters the product.

Dripproof

IPX2The housing is protected against water dripping
vertically from the top of the product when it istilted 15˚.

Dust proof test
(left: before the test; right: after the test)

Drip proof test

Photo 3. Dust and drip proof test conducted

SEI TECHNICAL REVIEW · NUMBER 80 · APRIL 2015 · 57

As for high-altitude performance, the improved
output performance of the newly developed arc circuitboard makes stable fusion splice possible at a low
atmospheric pressure at an elevation of 6,000 m above
sea level. Photo 4 shows the field test conducted on
the summit of Mt. Fuji.

control system most suitable for the new heater is introduced. As a result of these improvements, as shown inFig. 4, the heating time is 14 seconds, a reduction of 60%
over the existing model. As with the existing model, thenew model has dual heater systems, making it possible
to reduce the bottleneck of heat shrinking process.
The heat shrink oven of the new model is compatible with a variety of protection sleeves to reinforce asplice point of drop cables and field assembly connectors Lynx-CustomFit, and makes it possible to use thefusion splicer in a variety of applications.

4035 sHeating time

Required Time (s)35Heat-up time

30
25
20

14 s

15
10
50Existing model: TYPE-39

Photo 4. Field test conducted on the summit of Mt. Fuji

New model: TYPE-71C+Fig. 4. Reduction in heating time

3-3 Fusion splicing characteristics
A compact, high-magnification microscope isdeveloped for the new model to increase the accuracyof image processing. The splicer has a function to automatically identify the bend insensitive optical fiber
compliant with ITU-T G.657, which is increasingly being
used in FTTx network construction, and select a suitablesplice program for the fiber. Thus, it achieves stablefusion splicing quality. In addition, the splice time isdecreased as a result of improving the efficiency of the
optical fiber alignment algorithm and optimizing spliceprograms. The splice time is 6 seconds, 3 seconds fasterthan that of the existing model.
3-4 High-speed and power saving heat shrink oven
Figure 3 shows a comparison of the heater structure between the existing and new models. To reduce
the heat-up time, the new model has film heaters with afaster heating response around the bottom and side ofa protection sleeve. To increase heating efficiency, theshape of the heater is changed to increase the area ofcontact with the protection sleeve, and a heating

Protection sleeve

RadiatorplateHeater

Existing model: TYPE-39

New model: TYPE-71C+

Fig. 3. Comparison of heater construction

58 · New Direct Core Monitoring Fusion Splicer TYPE-71C+Figure 4 shows splice and heat cycles with a fully
charged battery. Power consumption is reduced byreducing the heat-up time of the heating process andimproving heating efficiency. As a result of reducing thepower consumption of electrical components, the spliceand heat cycles for the new model is the same as in theexisting model even when a small battery that has lessthan half capacity of the battery for the existing modelis used. The new model has an eco-mode (power savingsetting) to reduce battery consumption, achieving
about 230 cycles.
Table 4. Comparison of splice and heat cycles per battery
Item

Existing model
TYPE-39

New model
TYPE-71C+

Splice and heat cycles
per battery

Approx. 200

Approx. 230

Battery capacity

119 Wh49 Wh

3-5 New storage case
Figure 5 shows an external view of the newly
developed storage case. The storage case for theexisting model was intended for carrying a set of tools,
such as a fusion splicer and an optical fiber cleaver. Thestorage case for the new model can be used as a work
table as well. An easy-to-attach and -remove work tray
is placed on top of the storage case to provide a large
working space.
For ease of carrying, the new storage case is about
13% smaller in size than the existing one, while providing
the same inner volume as the existing one.

Work tray

Storage case

When used as a work table

Fig. 5. External view of the new storage case

3-6 Fusion splicer management system SumiCloudWith the recent rapid deployment of informationand communication technologies, such as the Internet,
the Internet of Things is increasingly drawing attention
around the world.
For the first time in the industry, we have developed a fusion splicer with wireless LAN functionality
and the SumiCloud system to manage fusion splicers
via the Internet.
As shown in Fig. 6, this system is configured by asmartphone application connected by wireless LAN
communication to the fusion splicer and a cloud server.

Cloud server
Smartphone application

Web server
database

Fusion splicer
TYPE-71C+

User

WirelessLANInternet

Sales representative
Distributor

Manufacturing
plant

Menu window

Video help TYPE-71C+

Fig. 7. An example screen display of the smartphone
application

base. Using the features of the cloud server, a managerof the fusion splicer can obtain information in real time
on work history and splicer condition via the Internet.
Thus, the new system can give extensive support tosplicer management work.

4. Conclusion
We have developed a new core alignment fusion
splicer, TYPE-71C+, which is compact, lightweight, andwith improved environmental resistance. We have
reduced the work time required for splicing and heat
shrinking processes from the existing model. We havealso developed the SumiCloud system to manage fusion
splicers via the Internet.
• Lynx-CustomFit is a trademark or registered trademark of
Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. and SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.
• SumiCloud is a trademark or registered trademark of Sumitomo
Electric Industries, Ltd.

Smartphone

Fig. 6. Schematic of the SumiCloud system configuration

Figure 7 shows an example screen display of thesmartphone application. The smartphone application
improves the convenience of data management withfeatures such as sending and receiving splice data,adding location information, and generating work
reports. The application offers maintenance features
such as help videos for the fusion splicer and splicer
health monitor, which are useful to a worker who has aproblem in the field.
The cloud server stores information sent from thefusion splicer in the database and manages the data-

SEI TECHNICAL REVIEW · NUMBER 80 · APRIL 2015 · 59

Contributors (The lead author is indicated by an asterisk (*).)

M. MIYAMORI*• ‌Assistant Manager, SEI Optifrontier Co.,Ltd.

R. SATO• ‌Assistant Manager, SEI Optifrontier Co.,Ltd.

K. JOKO• ‌SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.

H. YUSA• ‌Manager, Embedded System Group,
SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.

T. HOMMA• ‌Manager, Mechanical Design EngineeringGroup, SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.

K. KASHIHARA• ‌Department Head, Mechatronics Products
Department, SEI Optifrontier Co., Ltd.

60 · New Direct Core Monitoring Fusion Splicer TYPE-71C+