Abstract: Connectors for optical cables in ribbon form and a process for making such connectors in which metal plates for the enclosing the cable ends are made by cold, plastic flow forming of grooves in the plates with a punch having ridges produced by a process which produces grooves which hold the positions of the optical fibers between the plates within narrow tolerances. In the process, a punch body with partially formed ridges is mounted on a head rotatable about the axis of the body and movable toward a grinding wheel which is movable in a path perpendicular to the direction of movement of the head toward the grinding wheel. After two opposite passes of the grinding wheel along the side of a ridge, the punch body is rotated 180 degrees, and the side of a corresponding ridge on the opposite side of the punch body axis is ground. The process is repeated with movement of the head toward the grinding wheel, which is measured, until the sides of all ridges are ground.

Abstract: A drawing head for ribbon type optical cables having optical fibres in ribbons with respective end connectors, a central strength member and a grooved core includes a drawing member connected at one end thereof to the axial strength member of the cable and at the other end thereof to a pulling and grasping member, which drawing member is surrounded by a flexible body. The drawing member has a length corresponding to a predetermined fibre ribbon length required for establishing cable connections, and the flexible body is provided with grooves adapted to accommodate the fibre ribbons disposed in alignment with the grooves of the cable core. The flexible body is followed by a deformable supporting body surrounding the drawing member and which can be deformed by the connector to provide longitudinally separated and aligned recesses for receiving the end connectors of the ribbons of each ribbon group accommodated in a given groove.

Abstract: A pair of interengageable connectors for interconnecting optical fiber tape or ribbon cables which have a plurality of parallel optical fibers within a relatively thin and wide covering. Each connector has a ferrule formed by semicylindrical elements with engaging and axially extending planar faces. One end of the elements is a coupling face, and the planar faces have grooves extending axially from the coupling face for receiving the fibers with the covering removed and a recess remote from the coupling face for receiving the fibers with the covering thereon. The elements are held together by a sleeve which extends from at or adjacent the coupling face toward the other end of the ferrule. A ring nut with teeth for engaging corresponding teeth of the other connector encircles the sleeve and the ferrule and is slidable axially with respect thereto. A spring urges the ring nut toward the end of the ferrule remote from the coupling face.

Abstract: An interconnect system for ribbon-joined optical fibers includes two connectors (1, 2) integrally attached to the ends of respective optical fiber ribbons (3, 4), in which each connector (1, 2) consists of a pair of coupled metal plates (5) rigidly fastened to each other, between which two or more optical fibers (7) belonging to a ribbon (3, 4) made of parallel optical fibers as well as alignment plugs (10) are clamped. At least a plate (5) in each connector (1, 2) includes an element made of metallic material in which several housing grooves (6, 9) for the optical fibers (7) of the ribbon (3, 4) and for the alignment plugs (10) are formed by cold plastic deformation using the same punch for all the plates belonging to one series.

Abstract: An optical position sensor for indicating the position of a movable body with respect to a reference point. A first optical signal at one wavelength and a second optical signal at a different wavelength, both modulated at a radio frequency, are transmitted through an optical fiber to the reference point at which a semi-reflecting mirror which passes the first signal and reflects the second signal is disposed. The first signal is reflected by the body into the optical fiber, and a phase comparator coupled to the fiber compares the phases of the modulating signals on the reflected first signal and the reflected second signal to determine the position of the body relative to the mirror.

Abstract: A method for interconnecting optical fiber cables and a connector for use in such method. In the method, the spherical lenses normally used to couple the fibers is replaced by a spherical body of smaller diameter and the fibers are brought into contact with such body and fixed in axial position. Thereafter, the body is replaced by the lenses normally used which provides the correct spacing between the latter lenses and the ends of the optical fibers. The connector has housings for the normal lenses part of which is removable for the substitution of the spherical body during adjustment of the positions of the optical fibers.

Abstract: A connector for interconnecting optical fiber cables or an optical fiber with an optical component, the cable or cables having an optical fiber encircled by a tension resistant member comprising a yarn. The connector has a hollow cylindrical body which slidably receives a lens mount with a lens thereon, the optical fiber is secured to the lens mount and the tension resistant member is secured to the body so that the cable can be pulled without applying damaging stress to the optical fiber. The lens mount is spring biassed into its normal position in which is couples optical signals to another cable or to an optical component.

Abstract: Apparatus for sensing the position of a body which is rectilinearly movable with respect to a fixed, reference body which apparatus comprises a pair of surfaces on the movable object each with areas with a low coefficient of reflection and with a high coefficient of reflection and a pair of lens systems for projecting light on and receiving reflected light from respective ones of such surfaces. Light is supplied to such lens systems by optical fibers which are coupled to light-to-electrical signal converters for providing electrical signals dependent upon the amount of reflected light received from the surfaces and hence, upon the relative positions of the bodies. The pair of surfaces may be on the end of a piston operable by the pneumatic springs of a vehicle. Also, computer systems for processing the electrical signals of the converters and for actuating controls for changing the position of the movable body.