Abstract: An article having an array of varistors, including (a) a varistor body made of varistor material and having two major opposing faces, one of the opposing faces having an array of indentations thereon; (b) conductor material on the opposing face having the indentations, the conductor material filling the indentations and forming multiple leads for connection to electrical circuitry; and (c) conductor material on the other opposing face, forming multiple leads for connection to electrical circuitry.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing an index matching coating material onto an end of an optical fiber to be terminated includes a reservoir formed by a floor and sidewalls with a small portion of the index matching coating material being disposed on a top surface of the floor. An interior perimeter shape of the sidewalls is registrable with an external perimeter shape of an optical fiber contact to which the optical fiber is secured which allows the index matching material to be conveniently disposed on an end of the optical fiber by simply inserting the optical fiber contact into the reservoir.

Abstract: A strained distributed optical fiber distribution network includes read and write optical fibers having taps attached thereto in series so as to strain portions of the fiber in excess of 0.60%, the strained portions being environmentally isolated by an enclosure which includes gel filled seals subject to a resilient load.

Abstract: An apparatus for terminating an optical fiber includes a resiliently deformable spherical member disposed in contact with a front end of a bore of an optical fiber contact body. Subsequent to softening an adhesive disposed within the contact body bore, an optical fiber is inserted through the bore and the adhesive until the fiber contacts the blocking member and deforms it. The resiliency of the blocking member causes adhesive to be wiped off the front face of the fiber being terminated and into an annulus formed between an outer cylindrical surface of the fiber and an inner cylindrical surface of the bore, and causes the fiber front end to be recessed a predetermined amount from a front end of the contact body.

Abstract: A circuit for the transmission of optical signals, which comprises (a) a substrate which includes a waveguide through which an optical signal can pass when the system is in use; (b) an optically active device which is optically connected to the waveguide, the waveguide and the device being separated by a fluid which is transparent to the optical signal; and (c) means by which the substrate and the device are mechanically interconnected, the interconnection means allowing the substrate and the device to move relative to one another, at least in the plane which extends perpendicular to the direction in which the signal passes between the substrate and the device. Preferably, the component and the device are positioned face to face, and are interconnected by interconnection wires which extend between them.

Abstract: A bus receiver communicates with a bus head end transmitter via a communication path different from read and write optical fibers used by a plurality of remote terminals on the bus so that the bus receiver can quickly determine beginning and end of time slots, clock frequency, and signal trigger levels using a minimum amount of bits attached to a front end of each packet in each time slot.

Abstract: A splice case for encapsulating a substrate includes first and second containers each of which contain a gel having a cone penetration between 100 and 350 (10.sup.-1 mm) and an ultimate elongation of at least 200%, the gel in each container having an exposed surface, one exposed surface having a cross-sectional area larger than the cross-sectional area of the other exposed surface, the first and second containers being adapted for telescopic engagement.

Abstract: An optical fiber read or write tap includes a substrate having a substantially flat upper surface on which two separated grooves are formed, a light element being disposed in the second groove so as to be capable of coupling light with a bent portion of an optical fiber disposed in the first groove.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector which includes a connector body having at least one socket cavity therein and a socket contact inserted into the socket contact cavity. The socket contact has a retention area and a cable termination area at one end and a retractable contact portion at the other end. The connector further includes means on the retractable contact portion for limiting axial movement of the contact portion so that when the contact portion is unretracted, a tip of the contact portion is substantially flush with a surface of the connector body.

Abstract: An optical fiber coupler for injecting light into, and withdrawing light from, an optical fiber utilizes a deformable material (8) and a clamping member (4) which clamp a buffered optical fiber (6) therebetween. Both the clamping member and deformable material are curved causing the optical fiber to be bent when so clamped resulting in light coupling between an optical fiber core and the deformable material through the fiber buffer. The deformable material is substantially transparent and has an index of refraction substantially equal to that of an outer surface of the optical fiber. A light element has a surface embedded within the deformable material, and the deformable material and coupler are specifically formed so as to reduce microbend stresses induced in the fiber when so clamped so as to increase coupling efficiency.

Abstract: A tap for withdrawing light from an intermediate portion of an optical fiber core by passing light through a side of the optical fiber comprises an optical coupler in contact with an outside surface of an optical fiber which is bent and disposed in a plane. A light reflector extending transverse to the plane deflects the withdrawn light towards the end surface of a light element disposed completely outside the plane. A similar arrangement may be used to inject light to an intermediate portion of an optical fiber. The tap may be used as a read tap to withdraw light, or as a write tap to inject light in optical fiber networks.

Abstract: An optical fiber tap which is especially useful as a node in a ring topology data processing system. The tap, which does not interrupt the physical continuity of the fiber, has an open position and a closed position. In the open position, a signal passing down the optical fiber passes through the tap without alteration. In the closed position, a signal passing down the optical fiber is extracted through a first bend which is put into the fiber by the tap; the extracted signal, or an electrical counterpart thereof, is processed and a counterpart of the extracted signal, or a new signal obtained by operating on the extracted signal, e.g. in a data processor, is injected into the fiber through a second bend which is put into the fiber by the tap.

Abstract: An optical fiber cable construction includes a first fiber marker which allows one initially to determine a linear length of the optical fiber between first and second points, and a second marker which allows one to determine a linear length of the fiber optical cable between the first and second points, thus ensuring that the length of the fiber initially exceeds the length of the cable during initial installation so as to minimize the chances of excessive temperature induced stress being imposed on the optical fiber during its useful life.

Abstract: A mode filter for reducing a dynamic range of a write optical fiber bus which utilizes taps which initially inject optical signals into an optical fiber which have intensities skewed towards higher order modes rather than lower order modes as compared to equilibrium for the fiber functions to preferentially attenuate outermost modes rather than lowermost modes in the fiber so as to reduce a required dynamic range for an optical receiver.

Abstract: A method of forming an optical fiber elbow includes bending a straight optical fiber while subjecting the fiber to an elevated temperature for an amount of time sufficient to anneal strain out of the bent section of the optical fiber such that upon cooling the optical fiber maintains a bent attitude with little or no strain in the bend.

Abstract: A distribution optical fiber network includes a light source having a mode volume less than a distribution optical fiber, the light source being connected to the fiber so as to minimize the number and order of modes initially supported by the fiber by aligning an optical center of the light source with a geometric center of the fiber.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning, and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof.

Abstract: An optical fiber contact for terminating an optical fiber includes a solid multi-part thermoset mixture in a cavity in a front portion of the contact, an optical fiber being terminated by heating the thermoset so as to cause it to soften and liquify and subsequently inserting an optical fiber through the contact. The thermoset when liquified chemically reacts so as to form an epoxy adhesive which secures the optical fiber within the contact and keeps the optical fiber in place even when subjected to extremely wide temperature variations.

Abstract: An assembly for interconnecting a plurality of first contacts disposed in a ribbon array with a plurality of second contacts, also disposed in a ribbon array, includes a plurality of cylindrical radial springs which are split longitudinally along an axial direction of the contacts, each radial spring providing three common lines of contact with the mating first and second contacts so as to precisely align front ends of mating the first and second contacts. The assembly further includes dynamic seals on opposite ends of an alignment insert which contains the cylindrical, radial springs, the dynamic seals preventing foreign matter from entering an interface between front ends of the mating first and second contacts, and also functioning to dampen shock- and vibration-induced displacements of the mating first and second contacts.

Abstract: A method of joining, repairing or reinforcing substrates, particularly polymeric pipes for transporting fluids, e.g. natural gas and water. The method makes use of an article, preferably a heat-recoverable article, which comprises a conductive polymer composition and which is heated to its recovery temperature by passing electrical current through the conductive polymer. Preferably the article is a heat-shrinkable coupler. The coupler may make direct contact with and fuse to the pipes, or there may be an insert between the coupler and the pipes. The article preferably comprises carbon black dispersed in either a sintered polymer, particularly ultra high molecular weight polyethylene or a very high molecular weight polymer, particularly polyethylene having a molecular weight greater than 150,000.