A fusion splicing system includes a fusion splicer configured to perform fusion splicing of optical fibers, and a server configured to receive fusion splicing data pertaining to the fusion splicing from an information terminal capable of communicating with the fusion splicer, or the fusion splicer via a communication network. The fusion splicing data includes first identification information for identifying a project to which the fusion splicing belongs. The server retains second identification information related to a registered project registered in advance, compares the first identification information with the second identification information, and interrelates the fusion splicing data with the registered project indicated by the second identification information when the first identification information coincides with the second identification information.

Laser light splicing of optical fibers with laser light outside of the peak absorption band of the optical fibers, for example splicing of silica optical fibers at wavelengths smaller than about 9 μm. In some variants, the product of the absorption coefficient at ambient temperature of the optical fibers at the wavelength of the laser light with the power of the laser light is smaller than the product of the peak absorption coefficient at ambient temperature in the absorption band by the power required to splice the optical fibers with light at the peak absorption.

A break-out assembly includes an enclosure defining a first port at the first end to receive an optical cable and a second port at the second end to receive a plurality of break-out cables. Each port leads to the interior of the enclosure. A cable retention region defined within the enclosure at the second end is configured to enable the break-out cables to each secure to the enclosure at one of a plurality of axial locations. Certain types of break-out assemblies include other cable retention regions to axially and/or rotationally secure the optical cable to the enclosure. A splice retention region is disposed within the enclosure between the first port and the second cable retention region. The splice retention region receives optical splices at which optical fibers of the optical cable are spliced to optical fibers of the break-out cables.

The present disclosure relates to a method of forming a tapered optical fiber, where the optical fiber has a cladding encasing a core and has an initial outer diameter. The method involves applying opposing forces to spaced apart sections of the optical fiber. The spaced apart sections define a length portion representing a waist region. While applying the opposing forces, simultaneously applying heat to the waist region to gradually produce a taper of the optical fiber within the waist region. The taper has a first diameter at a midpoint of the waist region which is less than the initial outer diameter. An etch operation is then performed by chemically etching at least a subportion of the waist region of the optical fiber to reduce the subportion to a second diameter which is less than the first diameter.

The present disclosure describes fusion spliced cable assemblies. An assembly may include a first and a second fiber optic cable, where an end of at least a first optical fiber from the first fiber optic cable is fusion spliced together with an end of at least a second optical fiber from the second fiber optic cable, the first optical fiber having a first length of prepared fiber extending from the spliced end of the first optical fiber to a transition point of the first optical fiber, the second optical fiber having a second length of prepared fiber extending from the spliced end of the second optical fiber to a transition point of the second optical fiber, where the transition point of the first optical fiber is a distance from the transition point of the second optical fiber, and where a total length of prepared fiber is the sum of the first length of prepared fiber for the first optical fiber and the second length of prepared fiber for the second optical fiber; a support configured to engage at least a portion of the total length of prepared fiber such that the distance between the transition points of each optical fiber is less than the total length of prepared fiber of the first and second optical fibers; and a transition housing coupled to the first and second fiber optic cables and surrounding the support. Fusion spliced cable assembly breakout kits are also provided.

Disclosed herein are safety devices that are positioned on the end of a fiberoptic cable, such as those used in surgical procedures, to prevent patients and other objects from the risk of burn from light or heat emitted from the end of the cable when not connected to an optical instrument. The disclosed safety devices can be added to the ends of existing cables and/or can be included at the end of cables during manufacture. In some embodiments, the safety device replaces an existing connector at the end of a cable, and in some embodiments the safety device is added in addition to a connector at the end of the cable. In some embodiments, a slit end cover is included over an open end of an adaptor that is mounted on a distal connector of a fiberoptic cable.

Disclosed herein are safety devices that are positioned on the end of a fiberoptic cable, such as those used in surgical procedures, to prevent patients and other objects from the risk of burn from light or heat emitted from the end of the cable when not connected to an optical instrument. The disclosed safety devices can be added to the ends of existing cables and/or can be included at the end of cables during manufacture. In some embodiments, the safety device replaces an existing connector at the end of a cable, and in some embodiments the safety device is added in addition to a connector at the end of the cable. In some embodiments, a slit end cover is included over an open end of an adaptor that is mounted on a distal connector of a fiberoptic cable.

Optical fiber mass splice methods and assemblies are provided. A method may include securing a fiber clamp to a fiber setting fixture, the fiber setting fixture including a fiber alignment block and a backstop. A plurality of fiber grooves may be defined in the fiber alignment block. The method may further include inserting a plurality of optical fibers into the fiber setting fixture such that each of the plurality of optical fibers is disposed in one of the plurality of fiber grooves and contacts the backstop. The method may further include loading, after the inserting step, each of the plurality of optical fibers into the fiber clamp. The method may further include clamping the plurality of optical fibers in the fiber clamp.

Disclosed is a method and system applicable to attaching a single or multiple optical fibers in sequence to a photonic integrated circuit enabling precise control of optical fibers and/or multiple types of optical fibers and/or at any pitch. The system and method provide optical alignment and in situ attachment of one or more optical fibers to a photonic integrated circuit chip using a photo-curable adhesive, wherein curing light is delivered to the adhesive by the optical fiber being attached.

The present disclosure relates to a plasma treatment (under atmospheric conditions or under vacuum conditions) of a jacketed cable comprising a cable jacket and a heat shrink tubing. The plasma treatment improves retention properties of an optical fiber cable assembly by imparting a permanent change on a polymer surface of the cable jacket by cross-linking, leading to eventual graphitization, that can result in a diffusion barrier layer at an interface of the cable jacket and the heat shrink tubing, which prevents or minimizes plasticizer migration and results in an environmental seal (e.g., a long-term water tight seal).