US 11,740,410 B2
Routing of multicore optical fibers in data networks
Kelvin B Bradley, Lawrenceville, GA (US); Eric J Leichter, Buford, GA (US); Gregory A Sandels, Buford, GA (US); and Yue Liang, Johns Creek, GA (US)
Assigned to OFS FITEL, LLC, Norcross, GA (US)
Filed by OFS Fitel, LLC, Norcross, GA (US)
Filed on Oct. 26, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/80,178.
Application 17/080,178 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/578,914, filed on Sep. 23, 2019, granted, now 10,859,772.
Prior Publication US 2021/0088729 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. G02B 6/255 (2006.01); G02B 6/02 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01)
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
OG exemplary drawing
 
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.