Abstract: In respect of a cable having a plastics electrically insulating layer (16) covered by a metal tape layer (17) which is encased by a plastics jacket layer (19), a method of reinstatement of the metal tape and plastics jacket layers on an exposed region of the electrically insulating layer (16). Two plastics tubes (30) with associated metal collars (34) are introduced around the exposed region and an end of each is inserted under the end of the metal tape (17) at each end, the tape having previously been flared out to accommodate the tube end. The flared tape ends are welded to the collars (34), and more tape (40) is formed around the exposed region and also welded to the collars (34) to complete reinstatement of the metal layer. The plastics jacket reinstatement is effected using a length of heat-shrunk tubing (50, 53) with a lining (54) of melt-flowable plastics material.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed injection laser package is made by first forming a sub-assembly of a monitoring photodiode (50) on a metal support member (53) and welding it to a heat sink (30) on which the laser (31) is mounted. The heat sink is secured inside the package housing (10) and then a further sub-assembly, comprising a plastics packaged optical fiber (60) hermetically sealed in a fiber support tube (61), is introduced through an aperture in one wall of the housing. Anchorage means (70) is laser beam welded to this tube and to the heat sink to secure the inner end in position for optimum optical coupling between the laser and the fiber.