Fusion splicer

Abstract

A fusion splicing device according to one embodiment of the present invention is an optical fiber fusion splicing device that positions an optical fiber to be spliced at a V-shaped groove and performs fusion splicing. This fusion splicing device is provided with: a microscope for receiving light which has been emitted from a light source and has passed through an optical fiber mounted to a V-shaped groove, so as to obtain luminance information; a V-shaped groove driving unit that moves the V-shaped groove; a storage unit that stores a position of the V-shaped groove at which the microscope is focused; and an identification unit that identifies the optical fiber. The position of the microscope is fixed. The V-shaped groove driving unit moves the V-shaped groove to the position stored in the storage unit. The identification unit identifies the optical fiber that has moved to the position.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber fusion splicing device. This application claims priority from Japanese Application No. 2021-060826 filed on March 31, 2021, and incorporates by reference all of the contents of said Japanese application. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 describes a fusion splicing device. The fusion splicing device includes an image observation mechanism, an image processing unit, and a fusion splicing mechanism. The image observation mechanism includes a pair of microscopes that capture images of a pair of optical fibers held in a butted state by the fusion splicing mechanism, and a pair of focus drivers for focus adjustment. The pair of microscopes capture images of the pair of optical fibers from two directions. Each microscope has high magnification and resolution. Each focus driver moves each microscope to adjust its focus. The image processing unit includes an image acquisition means and a waveform acquisition means. The image acquisition means acquires an image of the optical fiber. The waveform acquisition means generates a brightness waveform by profiling the cross section of the optical fiber from the captured image.

[0003] Patent Document 2 describes a fusion splicer and an optical fiber discrimination method. The fusion splicer includes a pair of holding mechanisms, an imaging unit that images the optical fiber cores, a fusion unit that fuses the pair of optical fiber cores, and a control unit that controls the imaging unit and the fusion unit. The pair of holding mechanisms hold each of the pair of optical fiber cores. The imaging unit has a light source and an imaging camera. The light source irradiates light from the side of the end of the optical fiber, and the imaging camera captures a side transmission image of the optical fiber. The control unit has a discrimination unit that discriminates the optical fiber. The discrimination unit creates a luminance distribution in a direction perpendicular to the optical axis of the optical fiber from the side transmission image captured by the imaging unit.

[0004] Patent Document 3 describes a fusion splicing system. The fusion splicing system includes an imaging unit that acquires radial image data of an optical fiber and an image processing unit that performs image processing on the radial image data. The imaging unit includes two image sensors and two light sources. The two image sensors are positioned so that their optical axes are perpendicular to each other. The two image sensors and two light sources are positioned so that light from each light source passes radially through the optical fiber and is received by each image sensor. The image processing unit changes the distance from the image sensors to the optical fiber so that the structural parameters of the optical fiber represented in the radial image data change little by little. The image processing unit adjusts the focus by changing the distance from the image sensors to the optical fiber, and analyzes the radial image data obtained by this adjustment. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-169050 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-54192 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-20997 Summary of the Invention

[0006] The fusion splicing device according to the present disclosure is an optical fiber fusion splicing device that performs fusion splicing by positioning an optical fiber to be spliced ​​in a V-groove. The fusion splicing device includes a microscope that receives light emitted from a light source and passed through an optical fiber placed in the V-groove to obtain brightness information, a V-groove driver that moves the V-groove, a memory unit that stores the position of the V-groove at which the microscope is focused on the optical fiber, and an identification unit that identifies the optical fiber. The position of the microscope is fixed. The V-groove driver moves the V-groove to the position stored in the memory unit. The identification unit identifies the optical fiber that has been moved to that position. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an overview of a fusion splicing device according to an embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an optical system for observing optical fibers in the fusion splicing apparatus of FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the light source and microscope of the optical system of FIG. 2 and the optical fiber placed in the V-groove. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a graph showing the relationship between the radial position of the optical fiber and the brightness. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In conventional fusion splicing devices, the microscope that receives the light that has passed through the optical fiber moves to adjust the focus. However, the microscope may be fixed. When the microscope is fixed, the brightness waveform obtained from the light that passes through the optical fiber may not be clearly generated. In this case, it may be difficult to identify the optical fiber.

[0009] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a fusion splicing device that can identify optical fibers with high accuracy even when a microscope that receives light that has passed through the optical fiber is fixed.

[0010] [Description of the embodiments of the present disclosure] First, embodiments of the present disclosure will be listed and described. A fusion splicing device according to one embodiment is an optical fiber fusion splicing device that positions an optical fiber to be spliced ​​in a V-groove and performs fusion splicing. The fusion splicing device includes a microscope that receives light emitted from a light source and passed through an optical fiber placed in the V-groove to obtain brightness information, a V-groove driver that moves the V-groove, a memory unit that stores the position of the V-groove at which the microscope is focused, and an identification unit that identifies the optical fiber. The position of the microscope is fixed. The V-groove driver moves the V-groove to a position stored in the memory unit. The identification unit identifies the optical fiber that has been moved to that position.

[0011] In this fusion splicing device, the optical fiber to be spliced ​​is placed in a V-groove and positioned in the V-groove. Light is emitted from a light source onto the optical fiber placed in the V-groove. A microscope receives the light emitted onto the optical fiber and obtains brightness information of the light that has passed through the optical fiber. The fusion splicing device is equipped with a V-groove driver, and the V-groove in which the optical fiber is placed can be moved by the V-groove driver. A memory unit stores the position of the V-groove where the microscope focuses on the optical fiber. The V-groove driver moves the V-groove to the position stored in the memory unit, and the identification unit identifies the optical fiber that has moved to that position. Therefore, because the memory unit stores the position of the V-groove where the microscope focuses and the V-groove driver moves the V-groove to that position stored in the memory unit, a clear brightness waveform of the optical fiber can be obtained even if the microscope is fixed. In other words, because the V-groove moves to the position where the microscope focuses and the identification unit identifies the optical fiber that has moved to that position, optical fiber identification can be performed with high accuracy even if the microscope is fixed in position.

[0012] The storage unit may store a reference range of the luminance characteristic information when the microscope is focused on the optical fiber. In this case, the reference range of the luminance characteristic information when the microscope is focused on the optical fiber is stored. Therefore, by using this reference range of the characteristic information to move the V-groove in which the new optical fiber is placed, the new optical fiber can be moved to a position where it is focused, thereby enabling high-accuracy identification of the optical fiber.

[0013] When the brightness feature information obtained from the optical fiber placed in the V groove falls outside the reference range of the feature information stored in the storage unit, the V groove driving unit may move the V groove to a position where the brightness feature information of the optical fiber falls within the reference range of the feature information stored in the storage unit. In this case, the storage unit stores the reference range of the brightness feature information when the optical fiber is in focus, and the V groove driving unit moves the V groove to a position where the brightness feature information falls within the reference range of the feature information stored in the storage unit. Therefore, the reference range of the brightness feature information of the optical fiber obtained by the microscope can be effectively used to position the V groove, and optical fibers can be identified with high accuracy even when the microscope is fixed.

[0014] The identification unit may identify the optical fiber by comparing the second characteristic information of brightness obtained from the optical fiber placed in the V-groove with the second characteristic information stored in the storage unit. In this case, the identification unit identifies the optical fiber placed in the V-groove using the second characteristic information of brightness when in focus that is stored in advance in the storage unit. Therefore, the identification unit can identify the optical fiber with high accuracy using the second characteristic information of brightness that is stored in advance.

[0015] [Details of the embodiments of the present disclosure] A specific example of a fusion splicing device according to an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. In the description of the drawings, the same or corresponding elements will be given the same reference numerals, and duplicate explanations will be omitted as appropriate. The drawings may be partially simplified or exaggerated to facilitate understanding, and the dimensional ratios and the like are not limited to those shown in the drawings.

[0016] First, the configuration of a fusion splicing apparatus according to this embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1 is a diagram for explaining an overview of the fusion splicing apparatus according to this embodiment. As shown in Fig. 1, the fusion splicing apparatus 1 is a fusion splicer that fusion-splices a pair of optical fibers F together. The fusion splicing apparatus 1 includes a V-groove clamp 2 having a V-groove 2b, a coating clamp 3, a pair of discharge electrodes 4, a V-groove driver 9 that drives the V-groove clamp 2, and a control unit 10. The control unit 10 includes a memory unit 7 and an identification unit 8.

[0017] The V-groove clamp 2 and the coating clamp 3 are members that support the optical fibers F to be fusion spliced. The optical fibers F to be spliced ​​are positioned in the V-groove 2b of the V-groove clamp 2. The V-groove clamp 2 supports the bare fiber portion where the coating has been removed from the optical fiber F and the glass portion is exposed. The coating clamp 3 holds the coated portion of the optical fiber F. In the fusion splicing device 1, the V-groove clamp 2 and the coating clamp 3 support the tips of a pair of optical fibers F so that they face each other, and fusion splicing is performed.

[0018] The pair of discharge electrodes 4 are arranged to face each other along a direction intersecting (for example, perpendicular to) the direction in which the optical fibers F extend. The pair of discharge electrodes 4 fusion-splices the tips of the pair of optical fibers F by discharge. In the fusion splicing device 1, the optical fibers F are aligned in the V-groove 2b.

[0019] In the fusion splicing device 1, the V-groove driving unit 9 and the control unit 10 align the pair of optical fibers F. The V-groove driving unit 9 and the control unit 10 align the axes of the pair of optical fibers F so that the pair of optical fibers F are aligned in a straight line. Thereafter, the discharge electrode 4 fusion-splices the tips of the pair of optical fibers F together by discharge. For example, the control unit 10 controls the discharge current or discharge time of the discharge electrode 4, thereby performing fusion splicing under fusion conditions suited to the type of optical fiber F.

[0020] The fusion splicing device 1 includes an image observation mechanism 11 that obtains brightness information of light that has passed through the optical fiber F placed in the V-groove 2b of the V-groove clamp 2. FIG. 2 shows the configuration of the image observation mechanism 11. The image observation mechanism 11 includes, for example, a light source 12 and a microscope 13. The light source 12 includes a first light source 12b and a second light source 12c, and the microscope 13 includes a first microscope 13b and a second microscope 13c. The first light source 12b and the first microscope 13b are arranged side by side in the X direction and sandwich the optical fiber F therebetween.

[0021] The second light source 12c and the second microscope 13c are arranged side by side along the Y direction intersecting the X direction, with the optical fiber F sandwiched therebetween. The angle between the X direction and the Y direction is, for example, 60° or more and 120° or less. The first light source 12b emits light to the optical fiber F along the X direction, and the second light source 12c emits light to the optical fiber F along the Y direction. The first microscope 13b receives the light emitted from the first light source 12b along the X direction to obtain luminance information of the light that has passed through the optical fiber F. The second microscope 13c receives the light emitted from the second light source 12c along the Y direction to obtain luminance information of the light that has passed through the optical fiber F.

[0022] The configuration and function of the first light source 12b are, for example, the same as the configuration and function of the second light source 12c. The configuration and function of the first microscope 13b are, for example, the same as the configuration and function of the second microscope 13c. Therefore, hereinafter, unless there is a particular need to distinguish between them, the first light source 12b and the second light source 12c will be collectively referred to as the light source 12, and the first microscope 13b and the second microscope 13c will be collectively referred to as the microscope 13.

[0023] 3 is a diagram schematically showing the positional relationship between the light source 12, the optical fiber F, and the microscope 13. As shown in FIG. 3, the light source 12, the optical fiber F, and the microscope 13 are arranged in a straight line. The light source 12 is, for example, a light-emitting element such as a light-emitting diode. As an example, the light source 12 emits light H, which is red light. The microscope 13 obtains brightness information of the light that has passed through the optical fiber F by receiving the light H emitted from the light source 12 to the optical fiber F placed in the V-groove 2b.

[0024] The microscope 13 includes, for example, an observation lens and an imaging element. For example, the microscope 13 is a CCD camera (Charge-Coupled Device Camera) or a CMOS camera (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor Camera). The position of the microscope 13 is fixed in the fusion splicing device 1, and the position of the microscope 13 is kept unchanged. The observation results by the microscope 13 are acquired as light luminance information. The luminance information of the light that has passed through the optical fiber F and is acquired by the microscope 13 is transmitted to the control unit 10.

[0025] The V groove driving unit 9 is driven, for example, based on a control signal input from the control unit 10. The V groove driving unit 9 moves the V groove 2b. For example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) configured with one or more integrated circuits (ICs) is used as the control unit 10. The control unit 10 acquires luminance information of light that has passed through the optical fiber F from the microscope 13. The luminance information of the optical fiber F is stored in the storage unit 7 together with position information. For example, the control unit 10 acquires the center position of the core F1 of the optical fiber F from the acquired luminance information and position information. The control unit 10 may use the acquired results to output a control signal to the V groove driving unit 9 to control the V groove driving unit 9.

[0026] The control unit 10 acquires a luminance waveform W, which is a distribution of luminance with respect to positions corresponding to the radial direction of the optical fiber, from the acquired luminance information and position information of the optical fiber F. FIG. 4 shows an exemplary luminance waveform W of the optical fiber F acquired by the control unit 10. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the portion corresponding to the core F1 is displayed as high luminance, and the portion corresponding to the cladding F2 is displayed as low luminance. As an example, the luminance decreases when the relative position corresponding to the radial direction of the optical fiber moves from 0 to the optical fiber F. The luminance increases when the relative position corresponding to the radial direction of the optical fiber reaches the portion corresponding to the core F1 of the optical fiber F. A peak W2 with high luminance appears in the luminance waveform W near the center sandwiched between a pair of valleys W1 with low luminance.

[0027] The control unit 10 uses the acquired luminance information and position information to acquire the outer diameter of the optical fiber F. For example, the control unit 10 extracts the bright portion corresponding to the peak W2 as the portion corresponding to the core, and acquires the width of the bright portion. Then, the control unit 10 acquires characteristic information of the luminance (for example, the luminance waveform W).

[0028] For example, the characteristic information may be the core diameter, the outer diameter of the optical fiber F, the ratio of the core diameter to the cladding diameter, the luminance at the center position of the core F1, the sum of the luminances in the vicinity of the core F1, the difference in average luminance between the cladding F2 portion and the core F1 portion, or the average luminance of the peak W2. Furthermore, the characteristic information may be the slope (edge) of a straight line portion extending from W11 to W12 in a specific portion corresponding to the outer surface of the optical fiber F. Furthermore, the characteristic information may be a combination of one or more of the above-mentioned characteristic information.

[0029] The storage unit 7 stores, for example, brightness waveforms W of a plurality of types of optical fibers F in advance. The storage unit 7 stores, from the brightness waveforms W, the position of the V-groove 2b at which the microscope 13 is focused on the optical fiber F. The storage unit 7 stores the position of the V-groove 2b for each fusion splicing device 1 (for each fusion splicing device 1), for example.

[0030] A new optical fiber F (the optical fiber F to be fusion spliced) is placed in the V-groove 2b, and the V-groove driver 9 moves the V-groove 2b to the position stored in the storage unit 7. This allows the microscope 13 to focus on the optical fiber F by moving the V-groove 2b. For example, the control unit 10 acquires brightness characteristic information from the new optical fiber F and determines whether the acquired characteristic information is within a reference range for characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7. The "reference range" is, for example, a reference value ±X% (X is a real number, for example, X=15). In this case, the control unit 10 determines that the characteristic information is within the reference range when the difference between the characteristic information acquired from the new optical fiber F and the characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7 is less than ±X% of the reference value. The "reference range" may be a range of values ​​or a reference value (the value itself). The storage unit 7 stores a reference range for characteristic information, and the reference range is stored, for example, as a standard pass / fail judgment table. For example, if the characteristic information acquired from the new optical fiber F is a discrete value, the pass / fail judgment table may be used to make the above judgment.

[0031] For example, when the control unit 10 determines that the characteristic information acquired from a new optical fiber F is within a reference range of the characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7 (that is, the optical fiber F is in focus), the identification unit 8 identifies the optical fiber F. As described above, the characteristic information used by the control unit 10 to determine whether the optical fiber F is in focus may be the core diameter, the outer diameter of the optical fiber F, the ratio of the core diameter to the cladding diameter, the luminance at the center position of the core F1, the sum of the luminances near the core F1, the difference in average luminance between the cladding F2 portion and the core F1 portion, or the average luminance of the peak W2. Furthermore, the characteristic information may be the slope (edge) of the straight line portion extending from W11 to W12 of a specific portion corresponding to the outer surface of the optical fiber F. Furthermore, the characteristic information may be a combination of one or more of the above-mentioned characteristic information.

[0032] Furthermore, when the control unit 10 determines that the characteristic information acquired from the new optical fiber F is outside the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7 (out of focus), the V-groove driving unit 9 moves the V-groove 2b to a position where the characteristic information acquired from the new optical fiber F is within the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7 (for example, fine-adjusts the position of the V-groove 2b). When the characteristic information acquired from the new optical fiber F falls within the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7 and the optical fiber F is in focus, the identification unit 8 identifies the optical fiber F. The identification unit 8 identifies the type of optical fiber F from the image captured by the microscope 13 of the optical fiber F in the V-groove 2b moved by the V-groove driving unit 9. For example, the identification unit 8 identifies the type of optical fiber F, such as whether the optical fiber F is a single-mode fiber or a multimode fiber, from second characteristic information on brightness previously acquired in the storage unit 7. The second characteristic information used by the identification unit 8 above may be the core diameter, the outer diameter of the optical fiber F, the ratio of the core diameter to the cladding diameter, the luminance at the center position of the core F1, the sum of the luminances in the vicinity of the core F1, the difference in average luminance between the cladding F2 portion and the core F1 portion, or the average luminance of the peak W2. The second characteristic information may also be the slope (edge) of a straight line portion extending from W11 to W12 in a specific portion corresponding to the outer surface of the optical fiber F. Furthermore, the second characteristic information may be one or a combination of two or more of the above-mentioned second characteristic information.

[0033] An example of the optical fiber identification method according to this embodiment will be described below. For example, in a fusion splicing apparatus 1 before shipment, a reference range of brightness feature information is stored in advance in the storage unit 7. First, a reference optical fiber F is placed in the V-groove 2b, and the V-groove driver 9 moves the V-groove 2b. This causes the microscope 13 to be focused on the optical fiber F using the stored reference range of the feature information as a reference. The storage unit 7 then stores the position of the V-groove 2b when the focus is achieved. After the above steps, for example, the fusion splicing apparatus 1 is shipped.

[0034] Thereafter, when a new optical fiber F is placed in the V groove 2b, the V groove driver 9 moves the V groove 2b to the position stored in the memory unit 7. For example, the controller 10 acquires luminance characteristic information from the optical fiber F placed in the V groove 2b. When the luminance characteristic information obtained from the optical fiber F placed in the V groove 2b is within the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the memory unit 7, i.e., when the microscope 13 is focused on the optical fiber F, the identification unit 8 identifies the optical fiber. On the other hand, when the luminance characteristic information obtained from the optical fiber F placed in the V groove 2b falls outside the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the memory unit 7, i.e., when the microscope 13 is not focused on the optical fiber F, the V groove driver 9 moves the V groove 2b to a position where the luminance characteristic information of the optical fiber F is included in the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the memory unit 7. At this time, for example, the V groove driver 9 fine-tunes the position of the V groove 2b, and the identification unit 8 identifies the optical fiber F. The identifying unit 8 identifies the optical fiber F by comparing, for example, the brightness characteristic information obtained from the optical fiber F placed in the V-groove 2b with the brightness characteristic information stored in the storage unit .

[0035] Next, the effects obtained from the fusion splicing apparatus 1 according to this embodiment will be described. In the fusion splicing apparatus 1, the optical fiber F to be spliced ​​is placed in the V groove 2b and positioned in the V groove 2b. Light H is emitted from the light source 12 to the optical fiber F placed in the V groove 2b. A microscope 13 receives the light H emitted to the optical fiber F and obtains brightness information of the light that has passed through the optical fiber F. The fusion splicing apparatus 1 includes a V groove driver 9. The V groove 2b in which the optical fiber F is placed can be moved by the V groove driver 9. A memory unit 7 stores the position of the V groove 2b at which the microscope 13 focuses on the optical fiber F. The V groove driver 9 moves the V groove 2b to the position stored in the memory unit 7. An identification unit 8 identifies the optical fiber F that has been moved to that position.

[0036] Therefore, the position of the V groove 2b where the microscope 13 is focused is stored in the memory unit 7, and the V groove driving unit 9 moves the V groove 2b to the position stored in the memory unit 7, so that even if the microscope 13 is fixed, it is possible to obtain a clear luminance waveform W of the optical fiber F. In other words, the V groove 2b moves to the position where the microscope 13 is focused, and the identification unit 8 identifies the optical fiber F that has moved to that position, so that even if the position of the microscope 13 is fixed, it is possible to identify the optical fiber F with high accuracy.

[0037] The storage unit 7 may store a reference range of characteristic information of luminance (e.g., luminance waveform W) when the microscope 13 is focused on the optical fiber F. The V-groove driving unit 9 may move the V-groove 2b to a position where the luminance characteristic information is included in the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7. In this case, the storage unit 7 stores a reference range of characteristic information of luminance when the optical fiber F is focused, and the V-groove driving unit 9 moves the V-groove 2b to a position where the luminance characteristic information is included in the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7. Therefore, the reference range of the luminance characteristic information of the optical fiber F obtained by the microscope 13 can be effectively used for positioning the V-groove 2b, and the optical fiber F can be identified with high accuracy even when the microscope 13 is fixed.

[0038] The memory unit 7 may store in advance the position of the V-groove 2b that becomes the characteristic information of the brightness when the microscope 13 is focused on the optical fiber F. The V-groove driver 9 may move the V-groove 2b to the position stored in the memory unit 7. In this case, the memory unit 7 stores the position of the V-groove 2b that becomes the characteristic information of the brightness of the optical fiber F obtained by the microscope 13 when the optical fiber F is focused, and the V-groove driver 9 moves the V-groove 2b to that position. Therefore, since the memory unit 7 stores in advance the position of the V-groove 2b that becomes the characteristic information when the microscope 13 is focused, and the V-groove driver 9 moves the V-groove 2b to that position, the V-groove 2b can be quickly moved to an appropriate position, allowing for highly accurate identification of the optical fiber F. Here, the "position of the V-groove" may be a relative position based on another specific component of the fusion splicer, for example, a relative position based on the microscope 13.

[0039] The identification unit 8 may identify the optical fiber F by comparing the second brightness characteristic information obtained from the optical fiber F placed in the V-groove 2b with the second characteristic information stored in the storage unit 7. In this case, the identification unit 8 identifies the optical fiber F placed in the V-groove using the second brightness characteristic information stored in advance in the storage unit 7. Therefore, the identification unit 8 can identify the optical fiber F with high accuracy using the second brightness characteristic information stored in advance. The brightness characteristic information used for focusing and the second brightness characteristic information used for identification may be the same or different from each other.

[0040] The above describes an embodiment of a fusion splicing device according to the present disclosure. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment. In other words, those skilled in the art will readily recognize that various modifications and variations of the present invention are possible within the scope of the gist of the claims. The configuration of each part of the fusion splicing device can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the above-described gist. In other words, the shape, size, number, material, and arrangement of each part of the fusion splicing device according to the present disclosure are not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be modified as appropriate. [Explanation of symbols]

[0041] 1...Fusion splicer 2...V-groove clamp 2b…V groove 3...Sheathing clamp 4…Discharge electrode 7...Storage section 8...Identification section 9...V-groove drive unit 10...Control unit 11...Image observation mechanism 12...Light source 12b…1st light source 12c…Second light source 13...Microscope 13b...First microscope 13c...Second microscope F...Optical fiber F1…Core F2…Clad H...light W...Luminance waveform W1...valley W2…Yamabe W11...part W12...part

Claims

1. An optical fiber fusion splicing device for performing fusion splicing by positioning optical fibers to be spliced ​​in a V-groove, a microscope that receives light emitted from a light source and passed through an optical fiber placed in the V-groove to obtain brightness information; a V-groove driving unit that moves the V-groove; a storage unit that stores the position of the V-groove at which the microscope is focused relative to the optical fiber; an identification unit for identifying an optical fiber; Equipped with The microscope is fixed in position, The microscope does not move and the position of the microscope is kept unchanged, the V-groove driving unit moves the V-groove to the position stored in the storage unit, the identification unit identifies the optical fiber that has been moved to the position. Fusion splicer.

2. the storage unit stores a reference range of brightness feature information when the microscope is in focus with respect to the optical fiber; 10. The fusion splicer of claim 1.

3. when the brightness characteristic information obtained from the optical fiber placed in the V groove falls outside the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the storage unit, the V groove driving unit moves the V groove to a position where the brightness characteristic information of the optical fiber is included in the reference range of the characteristic information stored in the storage unit.

3. The fusion splicer of claim 2.

4. the identification unit compares second characteristic information of brightness obtained from the optical fiber placed in the V-groove with second characteristic information stored in the storage unit to identify the optical fiber. The fusion splicing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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