subject: Fusion Splicer [print this page] A fusion splicer for which maintenance can be performed efficiently is provided. A fusion splicer 1 for splicing optical fibers comprises a CCD camera 14 for capturing an image of a fusion splicing process of the optical fibers, a main memory 21 for storing image data obtained by the CCD camera 14, and a communication controller 3 adapted to make the image data transmittable and effect communication with a service station.
In general, fusion splicers are sold by their manufacturers to optical fiber providers so as to be used by the latter for installing optical fiber networks and so forth. There may be cases where troubles occur in operations of a fusion splicer upon its use. In such a case, when its site of use is located far from a service station of the manufacturer, the maintenance of the fusion splicer is performed by a serviceperson of the manufacturer over the telephone or the like. For example, the manufacturer's serviceperson instructs an operator at the site of use to operate the fusion splicer and the operation responds how the fusion splicer acts consequently by telephone or fax. The trouble in operation of the fusion splicer may disappear when it is caused by an operation miss. When it appears to be a failure of the fusion splicer, on the other hand, the fusion splicer is sent back and repaired for its maintenance.
In the maintenance of the fusion splicer at the remote site, however, the instruction of the serviceperson may not be delivered to the operator clearly or the operator may not be able to fully explain the action of the fusion splicer, thus failing to effect its maintenance efficiently. Namely, there are cases where the action of the fusion splicer is hard to report correctly by telephone, fax, and the like, remarkably when the user of the fusion splicer is not accustomed to its handling. The serviceperson may go to the site or the fusion splicer itself may be sent back to the serviceperson. When the trouble is caused by a handling miss of the fusion splicer or a minor error in operation setting, however, this process becomes quite inefficient.
In order to overcome the foregoing problems, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fusion splicer which allows maintenance to be performed efficiently.
