Techniques for aligning each of a plurality of optical fibers for coupling to a photonic integrated circuit (PIC). Transmission is detected from each respective optical fiber to the PIC using a probe, and the respective optical fiber is aligned based on the detected transmission. Each of the plurality of optical fibers is coupled to the PIC using at least one of: (i) laser splicing, (ii) laser spot welding, or (iii) arc welding.

An optical fiber fusion splicing method for performing fusion splicing through positioning of optical fibers to be spliced in a V-groove is provided. The optical fiber fusion splicing method includes pressing the optical fibers placed in the V-groove relatively toward the V-groove using a clamp, varying a clamp pressure of the clamp pressing the optical fibers, and moving the optical fibers placed in the V-groove with respect to the V-groove in an axial direction.

The present invention relates to an optical connection technology, and more specifically, to a field-assembled optical connector configured to prevent bending phenomenon in which an optical fiber is bent when the optical connector is assembled by using an adapter. The present invention is characterized in that the field-assembled optical connector comprises: an inner sleeve module; a connector frame 6 configured to house the inner sleeve module; and a cable boot 9 coupled to the inner sleeve module to protect a sheath of the optical fiber, wherein the inner sleeve module includes: a sleeve body 3 having a sleeve for aligning the optical fiber during optical fusion splicing, at one end thereof, and a threaded portion at the other end thereof; an intermediate connector 4 fitted on the sleeve body 3 while approaching toward a portion of the sleeve body to which the sleeve is provided, the intermediate connector having protrusions 4a at right and left surfaces thereof; a spring 5 fitted on the threaded portion of the sleeve body 3; a fixing ring 2 screwed to the threaded portion of the sleeve body 3 to prevent the spring 5 from disengaging from the sleeve body; and a ferrule stub 1 inserted into the sleeve body 3 through the fixing ring 2 to allow the optical fiber provided to the ferrule stub to extend to the sleeve of the sleeve body 3, and wherein the cable boot 9 is fixed to the sleeve body 3 and is coupled to the intermediate connector 4 to be movable within a predetermined range.

A beam combiner includes: a plurality of input optical fibers, a beam combination optical fiber and an output optical fiber; the input optical fiber includes an input fiber core and an optical fiber input cladding layer wrapping an outer wall of the input fiber core, the output optical fiber includes an output fiber core and an optical fiber output cladding layer wrapping an outer wall of the output fiber core, a cross section of the optical fiber input cladding layer is fan-shaped or hexagonal and is provided with a groove and/or a protrusion along an axial direction, the plurality of input optical fibers are nested with each other to form the beam combination optical fiber, fiber cores in the beam combination optical fiber are all connected to the output fiber core, and a beam combination cladding layer of the beam combination optical fiber is connected to the output fiber core.

A fusion splicer includes: a device main body including a heater that heats a pair of optical fibers that each include a glass part and a coated part; a pair of glass holders each including a groove on which the respective glass part is disposed; a pair of first clamps that each clamp the respective glass part against the respective glass holder; a pair of second clamps that each clamp the respective coated part from above; a third clamp that is fixed to the device main body and that restricts movement of at least one of the optical fibers in a closed state; and a windproof cover that covers the heater, the glass holders, the first clamps, the second clamps, and the third clamp.

Systems and methods of aligning multicore fiber optic cables are provided. A method for aligning a first multicore fiber (MCF) and a second multicore fiber (MCF), the first MCF and second MCF each comprising a plurality of cores and a marker, the method including: producing a brightness profile for the first and second MCFs; determining rotational orientations of the first and second MCFs from the brightness profile; rotating at least one of the first and second MCFs until each of the plurality of cores of the first MCF and the second MCF are aligned; determining if the markers of the first MCF and second MCF are aligned in view of a region of the brightness profile associated with the markers; and splicing the first MCF and the second MCF together if the cores and marker of the first MCF are aligned with the cores and marker of the second MCF.

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.

A fusion splicer includes an irradiation unit to irradiate an optical fiber with first wavelength light and second wavelength light; a light receiving unit; a processing unit to extract first feature data from first luminance information based on the first wavelength light and to extract second feature data from second luminance information based on the second wavelength light; a determination unit to determine whether the first feature data and the second feature data are within a predetermined range; and a drive unit to move one optical fiber on the basis of the luminance information from which the feature data is extracted so as to arrange the axes of the optical fibers in a predetermined positional relationship when the feature data is determined to be within the predetermined range. The processing unit extracts the second feature data when the first feature data is not within the predetermined range.

A jig for a fusion splicer mountable on a heater of the fusion splicer includes: a plate part configured to face a heating part of the heater; a first retainer, configured to face a first clamp of the fusion splicer that is disposed outside of the heating part along a longitudinal direction of an object to be heated, and further configured to retain a first member extending from a first end of the object along the longitudinal direction; and a second retainer, configured to face a second clamp disposed on a side of the heating part opposite to the first clamp along the longitudinal direction, and further configured to retain a second member extending from a second end of the object along the longitudinal direction.

Various embodiments and methods relating to an optical fiber alignment and splicing system are described herein. The optical fiber alignment and splicing system includes a first rotation stage having a first central axis, a first end, and a second end, and a second rotation stage having a second central axis, a third end, and a fourth end. The first central axis extends from the first end to the second end of the first rotation stage, and the second central axis extends from the third end to the fourth end. The first rotation stage includes a first optical fiber channel extending from the first end of the first rotation stage to the second end of the first rotation stage, and the second rotation stage includes a second optical fiber channel extending from the third end of the second rotation stage to the fourth end of the second rotation stage.