US 12,169,305 B2
Fusion splicing device and fusion splicing method
Ryosuke Meo, Yokohama (JP); Hiroshi Takayanagi, Yokohama (JP); and Shohei Nakamura, Yokohama (JP)
Assigned to SUMITOMO ELECTRIC OPTIFRONTIER CO., LTD., Yokohama (JP)
Appl. No. 17/424,029
Filed by SUMITOMO ELECTRIC OPTIFRONTIER CO., LTD., Yokohama (JP)
PCT Filed Dec. 23, 2019, PCT No. PCT/JP2019/050417
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 19, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/162064, PCT Pub. Date Aug. 13, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2019-018759 (JP), filed on Feb. 5, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0099894 A1, Mar. 31, 2022
Int. Cl. G02B 6/255 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/2553 (2013.01) 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fusion splicer for fusion-splicing end surfaces of a plurality of first optical fibers and end surfaces of a plurality of second optical fibers by melting with an arc discharge, comprising:
a first electrode and a second electrode each having a distal end that are disposed so that the distal ends face each other on a center line that extends in a first direction, wherein the first electrode has a first potential and the second electrode has a second potential lower than the first potential, and the first electrode and the second electrode are configured to generate an arc discharge between the distal ends;
an optical fiber disposition unit which has a plurality of grooves in which the plurality of first optical fibers and the plurality of second optical fibers are able to be accommodated and which extend in a second direction intersecting the first direction, the optical fiber disposition unit being disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode in the first direction;
a first conductive member that is provided apart from the plurality of grooves between the first electrode and the second electrode in the first direction, wherein the first conductive member has a third potential that is lower than the first potential and higher than the second potential, and is disposed at a position at which the shortest distance from one of the first electrode and the second electrode is shorter than the shortest distance from the other of the first electrode and the second electrode in the first direction; and
a conductive and columnar first support member that extends in a third direction intersecting both the first direction and the second direction and supports the first conductive member,
wherein the first conductive member has a plate shape in the first direction as a thickness direction and extends from a distal end part of the first support member, and
wherein a base end of the first support member is electrically connected to a constant potential line having the third potential.