At&t Bell Laboratories

American Telephone and Telegraph Company, At&t Technologies, Inc.

William J Hurd

Ralph J Darsey

Spliced end portions (30--30) of two optical fibers are recoated in a manner which results in the cross section of the spliced length of fiber transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof being substantially constant. This is accomplished without compromising the adhesion of a curable recoating material (51) to an adjacent original coating material (38). In order to provide such a recoated portion, original coating material which is removed to permit splicing is removed in such a manner as to leave a tapered portion (52) remaining on the end portion of each optical fiber. As a result, the interface between the recoating material and the original coating material is increased sufficiently to avoid having to overlap some of the recoating material with original coating material on adjacent portions of the fibers being spliced. Further, the spliced, recoated end portions are positioned at the focal point of a parabolic reflective surface (75) so that a portion of the radiation which is emitted toward the spliced end portions to cure the recoating material is reflected to engage non-exposed peripheral portions of the recoating material to insure uniformity of cure.

Methods of recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers

Apparatus for recoating spliced lengths of optical fibers

Spliced end portions (30-30) of two optical fibers are recoated in a manner hich results in the cross section of the spliced length of fiber transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof being substantially constant. This is accomplished without compromising the adhesion of a curable recoating material (51) to an adjacent original coating material (38). In order to provide such a recoated portion, original coating material which is removed to permit splicing is removed in such a manner as to leave a tapered portion (52) remaining on the end portion of each optical fiber. As a result, the interface between the recoating material and the original coating material is increased sufficiently to avoid having to overlap some of the recoating material with original coating material on adjacent portions of the fibers being spliced. Further, the spliced, recoated end portions are positioned at the focal point of a parabolic reflective surface (75) so that a portion of the radiation which is emitted toward the spliced end portions to cure the recoating material is reflected to engage non-exposed peripheral portions of the recoating material to insure uniformity of cure.

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Stone Mountain, GA, United States of America

William J Hurd