Abstract: A housing for enclosing optical components may include a series of fasteners, such as magnets, around the perimeter of the housing. The housing may also include a male and female or tongue-in-groove style coupling around the perimeter of the housing that may work in conjunction with fasteners around the perimeter of the housing. The perimeter of the housing may further include one or more insertion elements for receiving optical elements such as optical fibers, cables, or other wiring. An outer wall surface of the housing may include latches formed by flanges having a cavity that receive flanges without a cavity.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses that facilitate installation of a communications cable, e.g., an optical fiber cable, are disclosed. The system may include a communications cable and an adhesive for securing the cable to a surface. The method may include the use of an adhesive to secure the communications cable to a surface. The apparatus may include a pathway to avoid over-bending of the communications cable, which may otherwise result in transmission loss and compromise the performance of the cable.

Abstract: An N×N switching apparatus for optical components is provided. A switching apparatus includes a first element that provides for a supply of a length of optical fiber in tension and has an interface component for maintaining an end of the optical fiber in tension at a first position. The switching apparatus further includes a second element that has a coupling component for detachably maintaining the end of the optical fiber at a second position. The first and second elements are arranged such that the end of the optical fiber is movable between the first and second elements.

Abstract: Radially symmetric splicer joint and locking assemblies and connectors for optical fibers are provided. The assemblies use splicer joints formed from a slightly deformable plastic material. The splicer joints contain an axial bore having a diameter slightly less then the diameter of the stripped ends the optical fibers inserted into the axial bore. When a stripped fiber is inserted into the axial bore of the splicer joint, the bore expands slightly to frictionally receive the stripped end. The assemblies and connectors use radially symmetric locking to secure the fibers therein. The radially symmetric locking and the surface tension provided by the axial bore against the stripped ends of the fibers minimizes the occurrence of mis-alignment and reduces insertion and return losses.

Abstract: The invention provides and apparatus for mechanically splicing fiber optic cables and method for performing the process. The apparatus comprises an inventive segmented track with a middle track segment containing a splicer mount, and first and second rotating track segments on opposed sides of a middle segment, the rotating segments moving from a cleaving orientation wherein the rotating track segments align with a respective flat edge angled cleaver and a rounded edge angled cleaver, to a splicing orientation wherein the rotating track segments align with the middle track segment. First and second fiber key holders securely holding partially stripped fiber optic cables move along the respective first and second track segment for cleaving by the cleavers and then toward the middle track segment where their cleaved tips come into controlled aligned contact within a splicer joint contained in the splicer joint mount.

Abstract: The invention provides and apparatus and method for mass producing a plurality of fiber optic mechanical splice-on connector subunits. The apparatus utilizes a magazine detachably mounted on a frame and containing a plurality of slots. The slots contain a plurality of subunits, each of which includes a ferrule assembly carrying a fiber stub coated in uncured epoxy. The slots are moved through a cleaving zone on the apparatus defined by the area between a cleaver and fiber holder, wherein the fiber stubs are cleaved and then pulled so the portion of the fiber stub extending from the ferrule assembly to the cleaved end has a specified length. After cleaving and pulling all the fiber stubs in the magazine, the magazine is detached from the apparatus and moved to an oven wherein the epoxy is cured. After cooling, the subunits and removed from the magazine to provide a plurality of subunits, each containing a cleaved fiber stub securely oriented therein.

Abstract: An assembly and method for splicing optical fibers is provided. A termination assembly may include a housing having an engagement element for engagement with an engagement component of a fixture and a support or splicer joint between which a first optical fiber extends in a longitudinal direction. A locking mechanism or a splicer joint may be operable to be biased against the first optical fiber to maintain an end of the first optical fiber at the support or the splicer joint fixed in position and only in a predetermined alignment with an end of a second optical fiber fixedly supported by the support or the splicer joint, such that the end of the second optical fiber is fixed at a predetermined orientation and a predetermined position at the support associated with the predetermined alignment by engagement of the engagement element with the engagement component.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for securing an optical cable unit to one or more surfaces. The optical cable unit includes a length of adhesive tape and a length of optical cable. The apparatus includes a housing having an outlet and an adjustable securing portion disposed adjacent the outlet. The adjustable securing portion has first and second surface portions configured to adjust between first and second positions. The surface portions form a first angle therebetween in the first position and a second angle therebetween in the second position. The adjustable securing portion may be selectively attachable to the housing. A system is provided and can include a housing and at least two adjustable securing portions. Also provided is a separate adjustable securing portion adapted for use with an apparatus, and a method of applying an optical cable unit to one or more surfaces.

Abstract: A housing for enclosing optical components may include a series of fasteners, such as magnets, around the perimeter of the housing. The housing may also include a male and female or tongue-in-groove style coupling around the perimeter of the housing that may work in conjunction with fasteners around the perimeter of the housing. The perimeter of the housing may further include one or more insertion elements for receiving optical elements such as optical fibers, cables, or other wiring. An outer wall surface of the housing may include latches formed by flanges having a cavity that receive flanges without a cavity.

Abstract: Radially symmetric splicer joint and locking assemblies and connectors for optical fibers are provided. The assemblies use splicer joints formed from a slightly deformable plastic material. The splicer joints contain an axial bore having a diameter slightly less then the diameter of the stripped ends the optical fibers inserted into the axial bore. When a stripped fiber is inserted into the axial bore of the splicer joint, the bore expands slightly to frictionally receive the stripped end. The assemblies and connectors use radially symmetric locking to secure the fibers therein. The radially symmetric locking and the surface tension provided by the axial bore against the stripped ends of the fibers minimizes the occurrence of mis-alignment and reduces insertion and return losses.

Abstract: The invention provides and apparatus and method for mass producing a plurality of fiber optic mechanical splice-on connector subunits. The apparatus utilizes a magazine detachably mounted on a frame and containing a plurality of slots. The slots contain a plurality of subunits, each of which includes a ferrule assembly carrying a fiber stub coated in uncured epoxy. The slots are moved through a cleaving zone on the apparatus defined by the area between a cleaver and fiber holder, wherein the fiber stubs are cleaved and then pulled so the portion of the fiber stub extending from the ferrule assembly to the cleaved end has a specified length. After cleaving and pulling all the fiber stubs in the magazine, the magazine is detached from the apparatus and moved to an oven wherein the epoxy is cured. After cooling, the subunits and removed from the magazine to provide a plurality of subunits, each containing a cleaved fiber stub securely oriented therein.

Abstract: The invention provides and apparatus for mechanically splicing fiber optic cables and method for performing the process. The apparatus comprises an inventive segmented track with a middle track segment containing a splicer mount, and first and second rotating track segments on opposed sides of a middle segment, the rotating segments moving from a cleaving orientation wherein the rotating track segments align with a respective flat edge angled cleaver and a rounded edge angled cleaver, to a splicing orientation wherein the rotating track segments align with the middle track segment. First and second fiber key holders securely holding partially stripped fiber optic cables move along the respective first and second track segment for cleaving by the cleavers and then toward the middle track segment where their cleaved tips come into controlled aligned contact within a splicer joint contained in the splicer joint mount.

Abstract: In a wavelength selective optical device, a lens for transmitting multiplexed optical signals having a plurality of wavelengths is provided to face an end of a first optical fiber such that light output from the end of the first optical fiber is converted into parallel light, and an optical filter is provided at a location to which the parallel light output from the lens is input. A second optical fiber is provided at a location in which the light reflected from the optical filter is input to the lens again to be focused by the lens. The lens is configured by bonding the ends of two gradient index rod lenses having different refractive index distribution constants and the substantially same outer diameter to each other to align their optical axes to each other.

Abstract: The invention provides a wavelength selective optical device in which a light emitted from an end surface of a first optical fiber that propagates optical signals with a plurality of multiplexed wavelengths is incident on a first end surface of a first graded index rod lens, then a parallel light beam emitted from a second end surface of the first graded index rod lens is incident on an optical filter arranged to face to the second end surface of the first graded index rod lens, and then a light reflected by the optical filter is incident again on the second end surface of the first graded index rod lens so as to couple to a second optical fiber arranged on a first end surface side of the first graded index rod lens, wherein a refractive index distribution constant of the first graded index rod lens is set such that a center wavelength of the light reflected by the optical filter is positioned within a desired range.

Abstract: In a wavelength selective optical device, a lens for transmitting multiplexed optical signals having a plurality of wavelengths is provided to face an end of a first optical fiber such that light output from the end of the first optical fiber is converted into parallel light, and an optical filter is provided at a location to which the parallel light output from the lens is input. A second optical fiber is provided at a location in which the light reflected from the optical filter is input to the lens again to be focused by the lens. The lens is configured by bonding the ends of two gradient index rod lenses having different refractive index distribution constants and the substantially same outer diameter to each other to align their optical axes to each other.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing optical coupler comprising an input optical fiber for a plurality of wavelengths; a lens for converting the light from the input optical fiber into a parallel light; a first optical filter group comprising optical filters aligned along the flux of parallel light so as to be fixed by angles different from each other such that fluxes of light in predetermined wavelength ranges are reflected in respective directions; and output optical fibers, to which the fluxes of light are coupled; wherein a second optical filter group for transmitting the predetermined wavelength ranges are arranged between the first face of the lens and the respective end faces of the set of the output optical fibers for coupling the fluxes of light reflected by the respective optical filters of the first optical filter group.

Abstract: A wavelength division multiplexing optical coupler comprising an input optical fiber for a plurality of wavelengths; a lens for converting the light from the input optical fiber into a parallel light; a first optical filter group comprising optical filters aligned along the flux of parallel light so as to be fixed by angles different from each other such that fluxes of light in predetermined wavelength ranges are reflected in respective directions; and output optical fibers, to which the fluxes of light are coupled; wherein a second optical filter group for transmitting the predetermined wavelength ranges are arranged between the first face of the lens and the respective end faces of the set of the output optical fibers for coupling the fluxes of light reflected by the respective optical filters of the first optical filter group.

Abstract: The invention provides a wavelength selective optical device in which a light emitted from an end surface of a first optical fiber that propagates optical signals with a plurality of multiplexed wavelengths is incident on a first end surface of a first graded index rod lens, then a parallel light beam emitted from a second end surface of the first graded index rod lens is incident on an optical filter arranged to face to the second end surface of the first graded index rod lens, and then a light reflected by the optical filter is incident again on the second end surface of the first graded index rod lens so as to couple to a second optical fiber arranged on a first end surface side of the first graded index rod lens, wherein a refractive index distribution constant of the first graded index rod lens is set such that a center wavelength of the light reflected by the optical filter is positioned within a desired range.

Abstract: The tunable wavelength division multiplexer is disclosed. The wavelength division multiplexer includes a fiber, a holder, a filter, and an isolator. The fiber carries an optical signal that includes a plurality of channels. The holder has and end and an axis. The holder receives the first fiber in an aperture such that the first fiber is separated from the axis by a distance. The distance is selected to tune the first angle of incidence so that the filter transmits a portion of the optical signal centered around at least one particular wavelength. The optical signal from the fiber impacts the filter at a first angle of incidence. The filter transmits a portion of the optical signal centered around at least one particular wavelength. The isolator is optically coupled with the filter and prevents a first portion of the portion of optical signal transmitted by the filter from returning to the first fiber.