The low-loss two-fiber mechanical splice for fiber optic cable

A two-fiber mechanical splice for single-mode and multimode optical-fiber cables has been developed. This splicing method has realized short-time splicing without adjustment and skilled operation. The method has secured high reliability because of its excellent performance with low loss and high return loss; it has maintained low losses for a long period of time. The small, lightweight splicing machine enables short-length fibers to be spliced. Various reliability tests have been conducted, identifying the reliability of the splice. The results have proved extremely satisfactory. Underground and air experiments on midspan branch splicing with only a short surplus length of fibers have been carried out to study the possibility of the practical implementation of this technique