Abstract: A package receives and encapsulates an optoelectronic integrated circuit chip. A plurality of optically transmissive filaments have first ends coupled with the chip and second ends opposite the first ends positioned outside the package. In a preferred embodiment, the first ends are flamed off to form spherical lenses, which are then used to contact optically active devices on the integrated circuit chip.

Abstract: Composite apparatus for preparing and positioning tails of two optical fibers for fusion splicing and for effecting a fusion splice between prepared and appropriately positioned tails comprises optical fiber cleaving apparatus mechanically controlled fusion splicing apparatus optical fiber holding devices and associated transfer arms and a low voltage power source, the cleaving and splicing apparatus, holding devices and associated transfer arms being housed in a casing and the low voltage power source being housed in a casing which is separately formed with respect to the casing. The low voltage power source is electrically connected to the high voltage circuitry of the splicing apparatus by a flexible electric cable.

Abstract: An optical fiber holder 10 has a base 20 which has at least one groove 24 for retaining a fiber 13, which groove 24 is optimally slightly smaller than the cross-sectional area of the optical fiber 13. The top of the groove 24 is slightly larger than the diameter of the fiber 13. A strand retaining plate 30 is spring biased to additonally secure the fiber 13 when the plate 30 is placed over the fiber 13. The base 20 may be securely fixed in place. To fuse two fibers 13, two optical fiber holders 10 may be placed facing each other with the end of a fiber 13 extending from each. When fusing is to be performed by laser, the pair of apparatus may be securely placed at the proper distance from the laser beam as well as at the proper distance with respect to one another.

Abstract: The present invention provides a manufacturing method for an optical fiber coupler, the optical characteristic of which is less dependent on wavelength. In the manufacturing method, a coupling region is formed by fusion-bonding and extending parts of a plurality of optical fibers arranged to be closely touching each other. At least one of the optical fibers is extended at a speed different from that of the other optical fibers when a low-temperature heat source is applied to soften the optical fibers. When the temperature of the low-temperature heat source is raised to form a high-temperature heat source, the extended parts of the closely touching optical fibers are fusion-bonded. When the temperature of the high-temperature heat source is then lowered to form a low-temperature heat source again, the fusion-bonded part can be extended further. In one embodiment, the fibers are twisted before fusion bonding the fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning a plurality of single-fiber cables, comprises a base, a cover hinged to the base and forming a gap along with the base when closed, and a pair of arms inserted in the gap and movable within the gap, for aligning the single-fiber cables in the same plane. To align single-fiber cables by means of the apparatus, the cables are arranged on the base, one after another. Then, the cover is closed, whereby the cables are located in the gap between the base and the cover. The arms or the pawl members, which are inserted in the gap, are moved, thereby putting the cables together and placing them parallel to one another in the same plane, any cable not forced above so that it rides atop another. The cables, thus aligned, can easily be held by a holder designed for multi-fiber cables.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a fiber type coupler of the present invention by fusing and elongating a plurality of optical fibers is characterized in that a multi-wire optical fiber wire is used as the plurality of optical fibers.

Abstract: In a method of preventing twisting of a fusion-spliced optical fiber in the process of encasing the optical fiber in a casing, one of a pair of optical fibers is wound N turns in one direction to form a first coil. Another of the pair of optical fibers is wound N turns in another direction opposite to the direction to form a second coil. Ends of remainder portions of the optical fibers which are not wound are fusion-spliced to each other to form a fusion-spliced portion. The fusion-spliced portion is fixed within a casing. The remainder portions of the optical fibers are pushed into the casing to expand the first and second coils.

Abstract: Two optical fiber segments are spliced in an end-to-end fashion by first axially aligning the optical fiber segments, and then fusing the optical fiber segments with a converging conical light beam convergently focused to an apex region along the optical fiber. The converging conical beam heats the optical fiber segments and the splice in a circumferentially uniform manner. The apex region at which the converging conical beam is focused can be moved progressively along the length of the optical fiber to effect the fusion, and also to directionally fire polish and stress relieve the optical fiber to minimize the presence of flaws in the optical fiber after fusion is complete. The converging conical light beam is achieved by creating a diverging conical beam using movable mirrors to deflect a collimated beam into a diverging conical beam. The diverging conical beam is reflected from a parabolic mirror to form the converging conical beam that is focused toward the optical fiber.

Abstract: A protected fiber optical splice and a method for making the protected splice. The protective structure encapsulates first and second spliced optical fibers. The fibers are preferably fusion spliced. The protective structure includes a rigid tube surrounding the splice and its adjacent regions of the spliced fibers. A plastic such as an epoxy or moldable plastic is injected into the tube between the substantially axially centered fibers and splice, and the interior wall of the tube. Two molding fixtures are preferably surrounding the two ends of the tube, for injecting the moldable plastic into the tube and for shaping the portions of the structure external to the the tube ends.

Abstract: A method of forming low loss splices between single-mode optical fiber ends involves taking prepared fiber ends and aligning the one with the other by inserting them into opposite ends of the bore of a ferrule, and fusing the fiber ends together by applying thermal energy thereto by means of an aperture in the wall of the ferrule. Splices prepared in this way have losses of less than 0.5 dB. The use of a precisely dimensioned ceramic ferrule enables the use of splicing apparatus which does not incorporate means for 3-dimensional micromanipulation.

Abstract: A method of splicing optical fibres is described in which at least one of the fibers has a high numerical aperture (NA) and the two fibres have different mode spot sizes. The method comprises fusing the ends of the fibres together with their cores in alignment and heating the fused junction between the fibres so as to cause dopant to migrate out of the core. The heating step is carried out for a time sufficient to achieve a predetermined level of matching between propagation modes in the two fibres.

Abstract: A substrate for mounting optical components and electric circuit components thereon, comprising an insulating substrate on which an electric circuit is to be formed and a metallic portion on which optical components are to be fixed by welding. This construction may be reversed; that is, an insulated layer on which an electric circuit is to be formed may be provided on a metallic board on which optical components are to be fixed by welding. A device constituted using this substrate permits improvement of the frequency band characteristic and a long-term stabilization of optical coupling efficiency.

Abstract: An optical fiber fusion splicer includes a discharge unit for producing an electric discharge to fusion splice optical fibers and a pressure sensor for producing a pressure detection signal representing the surrounding atmospheric pressure. In response to the pressure detection signal the discharge is controlled by a control unit so that a substantially optimum discharge current for the fusion splicing is provided to the discharge unit. The discharge control unit includes an adjusting unit for producing a discharge current adjusting signal, a control signal generating unit for generating a control signal on the basis of both the pressure detection signal and the discharge current adjusting signal, and a discharge current control unit for controlling the discharge current in response to the control signal.

Abstract: Fiber optic power splitters having a central fiber and a selected number of surrounding fibers spaced periodically around the central fiber and the method of fabricating such splitters are described. For splitters having between three and five surrounding fibers, the central fiber is made to have a reduced diameter relative to the surrounding fibers so that it contacts each of the surrounding fibers and each of the surrounding fibers, likewise, touches each of its neighboring fibers. For splitters having seven or more surrounding fibers, the diameters of the surrounding fibers are reduced relative to the central fiber so that mutual contact is made among the set of equal diameter surrounding fibers and the central fiber. The equation governing the relative diameters of the central and surrounding fibers, and methods of obtaining uniform diameter reduction in an optical fiber are described.

Abstract: Signal strength in an optical fiber transmission path is attenuated in one direction to a desired lower level by incorporating a selected length of coreless, undoped fiber of the same diameter into the signal-carrying fiber. On encountering the insert, the beam diameter expands to a pre-selected value at the far end of the insert. The ratio of the beam diameter at this point to the diameter of the adjacent fiber end establishes the attenuation factor. Steps are taught for achieving high consistency in both structural strength of the attenuator as well as the attenuation factor.

Abstract: A method of simultaneously splicing by fusion welding the splicing areas of each of successive adjacent pairs of optical waveguides, the welding being effected by generating an arc between a pair of welding electrodes having a width which overlaps all such splicing areas. A uniformly high quality splice of each pair is attained by establishing a magnetic field between the welding electrodes which interacts with the arc so as to cause it to reciprocate back and forth over the width of the welding electrodes a number of times determined by the number of pairs of waveguides to be spliced. The magnetic field and/or the welding current are controlled so that the average welding energy is the same at all splicing areas.

Abstract: Metal pipes containing optical fibers are connected to each other directly or indirectly by use of a sleeve. In case of using the sleeve, the sleeve is connected at one end to one of the metal pipes, after the optical fibers are connected. Then, the sleeve is elongated by a predetermined length, so that the sleeve is connected at the other end to the other metal pipe. Consequently, no tensile stress resides in the connected optical fibers in the connected structure. When the metal pipes are connected directly to each other, one or both of the metal pipes are elongated, after the optical fibers are connected. Then, the metal pipes are connected by used of the elongated portions. Consequently, the same result is obtained as using the sleeve.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical communication system comprising at least two optical fibers of dissimilar core sizes, joined by a fusion splice. In one embodiment, the larger-core fiber is a communication fiber, and the smaller-core fiber is an erbium-doped amplifier fiber. A taper region is included adjacent the splice. The diameter of the smaller-core fiber increases within the taper region as the splice is approached along the smaller-core fiber. The taper region is substantially free of constrictions. As a consequence of the taper region, the optical losses associated with the splice are relatively low, even when there is relatively high mismatch between the mode field diameters (at a signal wavelength) in the respective fibers.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a device and method for precise positioning, or alignment of two or more articles with respect to each other. The device comprises a Unistructural Mass of Inherent Memory Polymer with two or more internal cavities which have inherent shapes with at least one cross-sectional configuration which is congruent to a cross-sectional configuration shape of the said article(s) in the positioned or aligned position(s). The unistructural mass cavities have cross-sectional configurations which are the same or smaller than those corresponding to the positions of the articles. The unistructural mass also includes at least one separate access cavity. It is deformed such that the articles can be readily inserted into the corresponding cavities.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning a plurality of single-fiber cables, comprises a base, a cover hinged to the base and forming a gap along with the base when closed, and a pair arms inserted in the gap and movable within the gap, for aligning the single-fiber cables in the same plane. To align single-fiber cables by means of the apparatus, the cables are arranged on the base, one after another. Then, the cover is closed, whereby the cables are located in the gap between the base and the cover. The arms or the pawl members, which are inserted in the gap, are moved, thereby putting the cables together and placing them parallel to one another in the same plane, any cable not forced above so that it rides atop another. The cables, thus aligned, can easily be held by a holder designed for multi-fiber cables.

Abstract: An arrangement for effectively fusing together two optical fibers. Many fibers currently have a carbon-based coating applied to the bare fiber, with the coating being surrounded by a plastic jacket. It has been difficult to fuse the two fibers together due to the coating. The present invention provides an effective method for removing the coating using a rapid and high temperature electric discharge. The removal of the coating allows a better connection of the two fibers with the connection having a low transmission loss.