CPC G02B 6/2551 (2013.01) [G02B 6/02042 (2013.01); G02B 6/2555 (2013.01); G02B 6/3885 (2013.01); G02B 6/2553 (2013.01)] | 12 Claims |
1. A method of connecting lengths of multicore optical fibers to one another for use in a data network, comprising:
providing a first multicore optical fiber (MCF) having a number of cores arranged in a certain pattern about a central axis of the fiber to define a number of pairs of cores, wherein the cores of each pair are disposed symmetrically with respect to a key plane that includes the axis of the first MCF, and the cores of each pair are spaced a certain distance D from the key plane;
providing a second MCF having a number of cores arranged in a certain pattern about a central axis of the fiber to define a number of pairs of cores, wherein the cores of each pair are disposed symmetrically with respect to a key plane that includes the axis of the second MCF, and the cores of each pair are spaced by the distance D from the key plane;
arranging ends of the first and the second MCFs in axial alignment with respect to one another;
aligning the key plane at the end of the first MCF with the key plane at the end of the second MCF, thereby placing a defined pair of cores in the first MCF in position to be spliced to a corresponding defined pair of cores in the second MCF; and
splicing the defined pairs of cores in the first and the second MCFs to one another.
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