A device for fusion splicing, by an arc discharge, a pair or a plurality of pairs of optical fibers arranged so that end surfaces thereof face each other. An optical fiber arrangement portion positions the pair or the plurality of pairs of optical fibers between a pair of electrodes. A control portion controls a voltage applied to the pair of electrodes. The control portion generates a first discharge between the pair of electrodes, stops the first discharge between the pair of electrodes, and then generates an arc discharge between the pair of electrodes to fusion-splice the pair or the plurality of pairs of optical fibers to each other. A discharge time of the first discharge is 200 milliseconds or less. A time from stopping the first discharge to starting the arc discharge is 100 milliseconds or less.

An optical fiber arrangement method includes: preparing an intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon including optical fibers arranged side by side at a first pitch larger than a fiber diameter; holding a non-connecting region of the optical fiber ribbon with a holder, where connecting portions intermittently connect the optical fibers extending out from the holder to each other; changing a width of the optical fiber ribbon in an interior of the holder; and arranging the optical fibers, extending out from the holder, with intervals of the optical fibers changed from the first pitch to a second pitch smaller than the first pitch by removing the connecting portions in a state where the holder is holding the optical fibers.

An optical fiber arrangement method includes: preparing an intermittently connected optical fiber ribbon including optical fibers arranged side by side at a first pitch larger than a fiber diameter; holding a non-connecting region of the optical fiber ribbon with a holder, where connecting portions intermittently connect the optical fibers extending out from the holder to each other; changing a width of the optical fiber ribbon in an interior of the holder; and arranging the optical fibers, extending out from the holder, with intervals of the optical fibers changed from the first pitch to a second pitch smaller than the first pitch by removing the connecting portions in a state where the holder is holding the optical fibers.

The present invention relates to a low-profile splice protection system for protecting multi-fibre fusion splice sites. The splice protection system comprises coating material to package the splice site and may comprise a protective housing.

A hollow-core photonic crystal fiber (HC-PCF) (10) for guiding at least one mode of a light field (1) along a mode guiding section (11) of the HC-PCF (10), comprises an outer jacket (12), an inner cladding (13) and a hollow core (14), which extend along the HC-PCF (10), wherein the inner cladding (13) is arranged on an interior surface of the outer jacket (12) and comprises anti-resonant structures (15) surrounding the hollow core (14), and the hollow core (14) has a mode guiding core diameter (d) provided along the mode guiding section of the HC-PCF (10), and wherein at least one fiber end (16) of the HC-PCF (10) has a light field coupling section (17) in which the hollow core (14) is tapered over an axial coupling section length from a fiber end core diameter (D) at the at least one fiber end (16) to the mode guiding core diameter (d). Furthermore, methods of using the HC-PCF and manufacturing the HC-PCF are described.

Provided is a method of manufacturing an optical device that includes a multicore fiber including a plurality of cores and a fan-in/fan-out device including single-core fibers that are respectively connected to the cores based on a plurality of connection combinations when the multicore fiber is rotated. The method includes: a first step of determining an optical loss for each of the cores while changing the connection combinations between the single-core fibers and the cores; and a second step of selecting one of the connection combinations according to a result of the first step and connecting an end portion of the multicore fiber and an end portion of the fan-in/fan-out device to connect the single-core fibers with the cores based on the one of the connection combinations.

Provided is a method of manufacturing an optical device that includes a multicore fiber including a plurality of cores and a fan-in/fan-out device including single-core fibers that are respectively connected to the cores based on a plurality of connection combinations when the multicore fiber is rotated. The method includes: a first step of determining an optical loss for each of the cores while changing the connection combinations between the single-core fibers and the cores; and a second step of selecting one of the connection combinations according to a result of the first step and connecting an end portion of the multicore fiber and an end portion of the fan-in/fan-out device to connect the single-core fibers with the cores based on the one of the connection combinations.

A system for optical coherence tomography includes a source of optical radiation, an optical fiber, and a graded index fiber attached to a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the graded index fiber are together configured to provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a reference interface at a distal end of the graded index fiber and from a target.

A system for optical coherence tomography includes a source of optical radiation, an optical fiber, and a graded index fiber attached to a distal end of the optical fiber. The optical fiber and the graded index fiber are together configured to provide a common path for optical radiation reflected from a reference interface at a distal end of the graded index fiber and from a target.

A mobile robot system for automated operation of a data center or telecommunications office, includes a moveable robotic platform with a multiplicity of tools integrated therein, to operate on a network element within a bay, with integrated RFID (radio-frequency identification) tags and visual alignment markers attached to fiber optic connectors and ports of the network elements. The mobile robot system positions a robot probe arm with an RFID probe for proximity detection to identify a cable and associated fiber optic connector based on a unique RF identifier of a tag on the fiber optic connector. The robot probe arm has a connector gripper to engage and unplug the associated fiber optic connector.