Cross-coupling method for fibre=optic cables - fusing cladding layers of fibres together while leaving central cores having higher melting point unharmed

摘要

The cables to be joined (3) are bowed so that the outer surfaces of the cladding are in contact. The sections in contact are heated to between 520 and 560 deg.C. This temp. is high enough to fuse the two cladding layers together, but some 80 deg.C too low to melt the fibre cores (7). The amount of coupling from one cable to the other is proportional to the bending radius (R) and inversely proportional to the final min. distance between the heart-lines of the cores. Cables may also be joined, crossing each other at an acute angle.