Optical Fiber Transmission Line Splice Loss Minimization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing optical fiber transmission lines experience significant splice loss due to frequent splice points, which increases the total splice loss per span, making it challenging to maintain efficient communication systems while balancing cable length and workability.
Innovation Solution
The optical fiber transmission line employs (N+1) number of optical transmission fibers connected in series between two repeaters, with specific mode field diameters and axial misalignment widths to minimize total splice loss, achieving a splice loss of 1.5 dB or less per span, and optimizing the number of splice points and mode field diameters to reduce overall loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If splice points are placed frequently (every 1-2 km) to maintain workability and cable handling, then the transmission line can be installed and maintained more easily, but the total splice loss per span increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mode field diameter parameter of the optical transmission fiber from the conventional 10.5 μm (ITU-T G.652 standard) to a larger value of 11.0 μm to 12.0 μm. This parameter change reduces the relative impact of axial misalignment at splice points, thereby reducing splice loss while maintaining the same splice point frequency for workability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the axial misalignment width parameter at splice points to be 0.5 μm or less. By controlling this parameter, the patent minimizes the impact of misalignment on splice loss while maintaining frequent splice points for ease of installation and maintenance.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the number of splice points per span is increased to improve installation flexibility, then the transmission line becomes more adaptable to routing requirements, but the total splice loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the mode field diameter parameter to 11.0 μm to 12.0 μm, which makes the optical fiber more tolerant to axial misalignment at each splice point. This allows for a higher number of splice points per span (N=40 to 80) while keeping the total splice loss at 1.5 dB or less, thereby improving installation flexibility without sacrificing performance.
3Adaptability or versatility
If standard single mode optical fiber (ITU-T G.652) is used with mode field diameter of 10.5 μm, then the fiber is widely compatible with existing infrastructure, but the splice loss becomes significant when axial misalignment occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the mode field diameter parameter from the standard 10.5 μm to a larger value of 11.0 μm to 12.0 μm. This change maintains compatibility with existing single mode fiber infrastructure while significantly reducing the impact of axial misalignment on splice loss, as the larger mode field diameter provides greater tolerance to alignment variations.
Data Source
AI summary
An optical fiber transmission line capable of minimizing the total splice loss per one span thereof. One span of an optical fiber transmission line provided between repeaters has two connection fibers and (N+1) number of optical transmission fibers. The optical connection fibers and are single mode optical fibers (SSMF) based on International standard ITU-T G.652 standard. (N+1) number of the optical transmission fibers are connected in series in order between the two optical connection fibers. The total splice loss αsp_total of the optical fiber transmission line as calculated from the given formula is 1.4 dB or less, when the average value of the mode field diameter of the two connection fibers is W′, and the average value of the mode field diameter of (N+1) number of the optical transmission fibers is W, and the axial misalignment width at the splice point of the optical transmission fibers is d.