Abstract: A light source assembly having N outputs, the assembly including: a light source arrangement arranged for supplying light to M inputs, where M an N independently of each other are integers and where M?2 and M?N; at least one optical couplers, each having at least one input arm and a plurality of output arms; and an integer number, P, of mode scramblers. The light source arrangement may include a broadband light source and a multimode coupler configured for receiving one or more light beams from the light source arrangement, wherein the one or more light beams being derived from the broadband light source and wherein a mode scrambler is arranged for mode scrambling one of said light beams before it enters the multimode coupler.

Abstract: A fusion splicer for fusion-splicing a first group of optical fibers and a second group of optical fibers by arc discharge is disclosed. The fusion splicer includes first and second electrode rods, first and second fiber holding parts, and a first shield. The electrode rods generate the arc discharge therebetween. The first fiber holding part has a first plurality of V-grooves positioning the first group of optical fibers. The second fiber holding part has a second plurality of V-grooves positioning the second group of optical fibers. The first shield is located between the first and second plurality of V-grooves and the first electrode rod in a direction along a center line connecting a tip of the first electrode rod to a tip of the second electrode rod. The first shield is formed of an insulating material having heat resisting properties withstanding 1000 or more degrees Celsius.

Abstract: Provided is an optical fiber manufacturing method that uses a low-cost large optical fiber preform having high precision. The optical fiber manufacturing method includes at least a positioning step of positioning core rods in a hollow carbon pipe that contains carbon as a main component, a soot preform preparation step of filling a gap between the carbon pipe and the core rods with silica powder that contains SiO2 as a main component, thereby producing a soot preform, a consolidating step of introducing the soot preform into a furnace and consolidating the silica powder, thereby producing a transparent intermediate preform from the soot preform, an extraction step of extracting the transparent intermediate preform from the carbon pipe, and a drawing step of drawing the transparent intermediate preform, thereby manufacturing an optical fiber.

Abstract: A multicore fiber includes six or more of core elements having a core, a first clad surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the core and a second clad surrounding the outer circumferential surface of the first clad, and includes a clad surrounding the core elements. All of expressions are satisfied: n1>n2>n3, n1>n4, n3<n4, wherein the refractive index of the core is n1, the refractive index of the first clad is n2, the refractive index of the second clad is n3, and the refractive index of the clad is n4. The core elements are disposed so that the inter-center pitch between the cores adjacent to each other is disposed at regular spacing and the centers of the cores are annularly disposed.

Abstract: A multi-core amplification optical fiber includes: a plurality of core portions doped with a rare-earth element; an inner cladding portion positioned at a periphery of the plurality of core portions, having a refractive index lower than a refractive index of the plurality of core portions, in which a first hole is formed; and an outer cladding layer positioned at a periphery of the inner cladding portion, having a refractive index lower than the refractive index of the inner cladding portion.

Abstract: An optical fiber coupling connector of compactness includes a main body, and first and second layers of optical fibers which are all parallel. The main body includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a front surface, and a back surface. The upper surface carries a row of light-emitting optical fibers and the lower surface carries a row of light-receiving optical fibers. The upper surface partially or entirely overlaps the lower surface perpendicularly. The light-emitting fibers are fixed in the upper surface with first glue body and any excess glue flows to and collects by a recess in the upper surface. The light-receiving fibers are fixed in the lower surface with second glue body and any excess glue flows to and collects in a recess in the lower surface.

Abstract: A multi-core optical fiber according to the present invention includes plural single-core optical fibers, and comprises an intermediate portion in which a side surface of each single-core optical fiber is covered with a resin layer, and a terminal portion in which the each single-core optical fiber is exposed from the resin layer. In the terminal portion of the multi-core optical fiber, the single-core optical fibers are separated from each other.

Abstract: An electronic device includes a housing, a light emitting module, a light sensor and a lens. The light emitting module is disposed inside the housing and configured to emit a light out of the housing. The light sensor is disposed inside the housing and configured to receive an environmental light from outside of the housing. The lens, coupled with the housing, includes a first transparent portion, a second transparent portion and an opaque portion. The first transparent portion allows the light to be emitted out of the housing. The second transparent portion allows the environmental light to pass through, so that the light sensor receives the environmental light. The opaque portion is disposed between the first transparent portion and the second transparent portion. The first transparent portion, the second transparent portion and the opaque portion are integrated into a whole and made of the same material.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making an optical fiber preform comprising the steps of (i) depositing a plurality of rods are deposited into an inner cavity of an apparatus; (ii) depositing particulate glass material in the inner cavity between the rods and the inner wall; and (iii) applying pressure against the particulate glass material to pressurize the particulate glass material against the plurality of rods.

Abstract: A multi-core optical fiber which has a plurality of core portions arranged separately from one another in a cross-section perpendicular to a longitudinal direction, and a cladding portion located around the core portions, the multi-core optical fiber comprises a cylindrical portion of which diameter is even, and a reverse-tapered portion gradually expanding toward at least one edge in the longitudinal direction, wherein a gap between each adjacent ones of the core portions in the reverse-tapered portion is greater than that in the cylindrical portion.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a photonic band gap fiber base material includes: a forming step of continuously forming a columnar core glass body 10 and a clad glass body 20 which coats the core glass body to obtain an intermediate base material 110; a hole making step of making holes 30 in the clad glass body 20; an insertion step of inserting in the holes 30 a plurality of bilayer glass rods 40 in which an outer layer 42 which has the same refractive index as the clad glass body coats high refractive index portions 41 having a higher refractive index than a refractive index of the clad glass body 20; and a heating step of heating the intermediate base material 110 and integrating the intermediate base material 110 and the bilayer glass rods 40.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for tapering an optical fiber segment having an initial radial profile to substantially conform to a pre-specifiable desired radial profile for controlling mutually coordinated elongation and softening of different axial portions of the segment according to control parameters derivable based on a normalized axial coordinate reference by which points of the initial profile map to corresponding points of the desired profile. The softening and/or elongation may progress substantially in either a step-wise, time-discrete manner or time-continuously. The invention is useful for forming tapered fused couplers as well as for tapering individual fibers.

Abstract: The invention relates to a pump coupler (2) and a manufacturing method. The pump coupler (2) comprises a least one signal fiber (50) for outputting optical energy, multiple pump fibers (31) for inputting optical energy into the signal fiber (50), and a coupling structure (40) for coupling the optical energy of the pump fibers (31) into the signal fiber (50). A signal feed-through fiber (32) goes through the coupling structure (40). In accordance with the invention the coupling structure (40) is a tapering capillary tube (40) having a first wide end (65) and a second narrow end (70), the pump fibers (31) are connected to the wide end of the capillary tube (40), and at least the narrow end (70) of the capillary tube (70) is collapsed around the signal fiber (32).

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for making an optical fiber preform comprising the steps of (i) depositing a plurality of rods are deposited into an inner cavity of an apparatus; (ii) depositing particulate glass material in the inner cavity between the rods and the inner wall; and (iii) applying pressure against the particulate glass material to pressurize the particulate glass material against the plurality of rods.

Abstract: According to one embodiment a method of making optical fibers comprises: (i) manufacturing a core cane; (ii) situating a plurality of microstructures selected from rods, air filled tubes and glass filed tubes and placing said microstructures adjacent to the core cane, said microstructures forming no more than 3 layers; (iii) placing the core cane with said adjacent microstructures inside a holding clad tube; and (iv) placing interstitial cladding rods inside the holding (clad) tube, thereby forming an assembly comprising a tube containing a core cane, a plurality of microstructures and interstitial cladding rods. The assembly is then drawn into a microstructured cane and an optical fiber is drawn from the microstructured cane. According to several embodiments, the method of making an optical fiber includes providing at least one air hole and at least one stress rod adjacent to the core.

Abstract: A method of making a multi-fiber assembly with irregular hexagonal array, which includes the steps of forming a plurality of primitives each made of a plurality of fibers, said fibers having cylindrical outer surfaces of same diameter and being arranged in an irregular hexagonal array, said irregular hexagonal array having six sides wherein three alternate sides of said primitive are each composed of n fibers and the other three alternate sides of said primitive 11 are each composed of n?1 fibers; and bringing together said primitives in such a way that sides with n fibers of said primitives are in contact with sides with n?1 fibers of other primitive thereby arranging said fibers at a central portion among said primitives in alignment with one another and therefore preventing said fibers at said central portion from squeezing one another.

Abstract: A device for coupling multimode pump light and a laser signal into or out of a cladding-pumped fibre laser is disclosed, comprising an output optical fibre, a substantially un-tapered feed-through optical fibre, an annular waveguide having a tapered section, and a plurality of multimode pump fibres such that: the signal feed-through fibre is located within the annular waveguide; the signal feed-through fibre is fused into the annular waveguide in the tapered section so that the annular waveguide becomes an additional cladding layer of the feed-through fibre; the end of the feed-through fibre that is fused into the annular waveguide is optically coupled to the output optical fibre; the multimode pump fibres are optically coupled to the annular waveguide in the un-tapered section. Methods of forming the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method of making an article having channels therethrough includes the steps of: providing a ductile structure defining at least one macro-channel, the macro-channel containing a salt; drawing the ductile structure in the axial direction of the at least one macro-channel to reduce diameter of the macro-channel; and contacting the salt with a solvent to dissolve the salt to produce an article having at least one microchannel.

Abstract: An optical fiber arrangement has at least two optical fiber sections, each optical fiber section defining an outside longitudinally extending surface. The outside longitudinally extending surfaces are in optical contact with each other. The invention further provides for an amplifying optical device have an optical fiber arrangement as just described, and a pump source. The amplifying optical device is configured such that the pump source illuminates the amplifying optical fiber. A amplifying arrangement is also disclosed. The amplifying arrangement includes a plurality of amplifying optical devices as just described, and each amplifier also has at least one input fiber and a first multiplexer connected to the input fiber. Each amplifier is configured such that at least one of the amplifying optical fibers is connected to the first multiplexer. The amplifying arrangement also has a second multiplexer connected to each of the first multiplexers.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of manufacture that minimizes the lateral offset of a plurality of optical fiber holes associated with a multi-fiber ferrule, including: determining an initial offset distance of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes from each of a plurality of corresponding target locations on an initial endface; removing a predetermined amount of material from the multi-fiber ferrule to form a subsequent endface; determining a subsequent offset distance of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes from each of the plurality of corresponding target locations on the subsequent endface; and, using the initial offset distance and the subsequent offset distance, determining an angle of each of the plurality of optical fiber holes relative to the initial endface.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an image fiber bundle that includes the steps of aligning a plurality of image fibers into a bundle, bonding the plurality of image fibers in at least three regions to form an image fiber bundle with a useable length and at least one useable sub-length, and inspecting the image fiber bundle for defective image fibers. The image fiber bundle includes flexible regions disposed between the bonded regions and the spacing of the bonded regions corresponds to a plurality of standardized lengths for fiberscopes.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an image fiber bundle that includes the steps of aligning a plurality of image fibers into a bundle, bonding the plurality of image fibers in at least three regions to form an image fiber bundle with a useable length and at least one useable sub-length, and inspecting the image fiber bundle for defective image fibers. The image fiber bundle includes flexible regions disposed between the bonded regions and the spacing of the bonded regions corresponds to a plurality of standardized lengths for fiberscopes.

Abstract: The invention is a staggered splice and method for making the same. The staggered splice is used to join two multi-fiber optic cables. Each opposing pair of optic fibers is cleaved such that they all have substantially the same combined length and provide fully operable communication. The light transmitting interfaces are staggered with respect to each other. The individual splices can be mechanical or fusion splices. The splices are typically bundled and protected with a sheath. The staggered splice is particularly applicable for connecting torpedo payout spools wound with the multi-fiber optic micro cable to the shipboard side wire.

Abstract: A plurality of optical fibers are bundled, and the fiber bundle is cut at a part of a mouthpiece which is fixed on an intermediate part of the fiber bundle. Thus, the fiber bundle is divided into a first optical fiber bundle and a second optical fiber bundle. Division surfaces of the first and second optical fiber bundles have the same properties and condition since the first and second optical fiber bundles are formed of the fiber bundle that is obtained by bundling the same optical fibers. The first optical fiber bundle is assembled in an insertion section of an endoscope and the second optical fiber bundle is assembled in a flexible tube, and a first light guide in the insertion section of the endoscope and a second light guide in the flexible tube are formed. Thereby, a separable light transmission path of the light guide is formed.

Abstract: A mesh (36) is placed around a bundle (32) of fused glass fibers. The bundle is then immersed in a leaching bath (44). The ends of the bundle are protected from the bath fluid by furrules (34). Some of the glass of the bundle is leached out, so as to provide a flexible fiber bundle.

Abstract: A multimode to low-mode optical fiber is constructed by forming a plurality of multimode optical fibers into a fiber bundle. The bundle is then selectively heated and drawn to form a bi-tapered fiber bundle having a central straight portion in which the multimode fibers are fused into a single length of fiber. During the drawing step, measures are taken to provide an aperture extending through the bi-tapered bundle, including the single straight portion of the bundle. An optical fiber having a low-mode or single-mode core is inserted through the aperture into the straight section of the bi-tapered bundle. The bi-tapered bundle and the low-mode core fiber are heated to a temperature at which cladding of the low-mode core fiber fuses to the straight portion of the bi-tapered bundle. The bi-tapered bundle is then cleaved in the straight portion to provide the multimode to low-mode optical fiber combiner. In one example, the multimode fiber bundle is formed around a metal wire before the drawing operation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sample cell with a glass body comprising a gas inlet and a gas outlet and at least one orifice, a plane glass window is fused into the orifice, the shape and size of the window corresponds to the shape and size of the orifice, the orifice is limited by a rim, the rim is wider than the thickness of the window, the rim of the window is fused with the rim of the orifice. The invention further relates to a method of producing the sample cell. The window is inserted into the orifice. The rim of the orifice is heated several times from the exterior in such a way that the glass melts and a fused joint is formed between the window and the rim of the orifice. The sample cell produced by the method has a particularly rigid joint between the window and the glass body. Therefore, this glass cell is able to withstand pressures above 10 bar and allows the passage of light without lens effects owing to its plane-parallel windows. The sample cell is used in a polarizer for inert gas.

Abstract: In accordance with the present invention a fiber optic array is provided. The array includes a substrate having a fiber support surface. The array further includes an optical fiber having a fiber portion that includes an un-jacketed, un-buffered optical core segment. The un-jacketed, un-buffered optical core segment is placed in contact with the fiber support surface to orient the optical core segment at a selected position relative to the support surface. In addition, the array includes a solder glass chemically bonded to the optical core segment and the fiber support surface so that the optical core segment is secured at a predetermined location relative to the support surface of the substrate. A method for fabricating such a fiber optic array is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for making a multicore large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, two or more inner cores, a cladding surrounding the two or more inner cores, and one or more side holes for reducing the bulk modulus of compressibility and maintaining the anti-buckling strength of the large diameter optical waveguide. The method features the steps of: assembling a preform for drawing a multicore large diameter optical waveguide having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters, by providing an outer tube having a cross-section of at least about 0.3 millimeters and arranging two or more preform elements in relation to the outer tube; heating the preform; and drawing the large diameter optical waveguide from the heated preform. In one embodiment, the method also includes the step of arranging at least one inner tube inside the outer tube.

Abstract: An optical fiber is tapered, for example, by heating it with a CO2 laser. The tapering process is controlled such that the taper transition regions have taper angles selected to minimize loss. The taper waist has a diameter selected to introduce desired dispersion properties and desired nonlinearity. The optical fiber can be used as a dispersion compensator in a fiber laser or other fiber optic system. The nonlinearity in the tapered optical fiber allows the generation of ultrashort light pulses.

Abstract: An achromatic power splitter is formed from multiple optical fibers. The achromatic power splitter operates single mode, which permits the power splitter to operate substantially insensitive to changes in wavelength of the input light, to changes in the polarization of the input light, to changes in the temperature of the device, and to exposure to ionizing radiation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a technology for obtaining a large area fiber plate suited for downsizing a radiation imaging apparatus and reducing its cost and excellent of workability in the manufacturing process. A multi-fiber is manufactured by bundling and drawing a plurality of fibers to take a polygonal shape in section so that the multi-fibers can be air-tightly stacked without any air gap, a multi-fiber aggregate is manufactured by bundling and drawing the multi-fibers to take other polygonal shape in section that enables air-tight stacking with no air gap so as to be analogous to or different from the one polygonal shape in section, and there is manufactured a fiber plate configured by air-tightly bonding the multi-fiber aggregates to each other with a bonding agent without the air gap in a state of keeping the one or other polygonal shape in section after being drawn.

Abstract: An optical delay line of a configuration in which a number of components such as a circulator and an optical coupler is reduced is to be provided. To this end, the optical delay line has a configuration in which, after an optical fiber diffraction grating having a core subjected to refractive index modulation and a cladding partly cleared of its outer circumference and an optical fiber having a cladding partly cleared of its outer circumference are brought close to each other so that the cores have mutually parallel directions of an optical axis to fabricate a directional coupler, both ends of the optical fiber are connected into an optical fiber loop. In this way, an optical delay line to generate a specific time delay for controlling optical signals can be provided in small dimensions and with a small number of components.

Abstract: A method for producing fiber optic devices having improved intrinsic resistance to external environmental conditions and a fiber optic device made my the method are disclosed. The fabrication method produces an optic device that is treated with deuterium. The method includes a step for treating and/or making optical devices in the presence of a flame produced by the combustion of deuterium gas or a mixture including deuterium.

Abstract: A coupling method of a coupler includes the following steps: (1) making a pair of optical fibers with different photosensitivity fused and drawn, (2) irradiating specific portions of the pair of optical fibers by intense ultraviolet light at the same time for making refractive index of the pair of optical fibers markedly different, (3) supervising coupling light energy loss spectrum and gradually adjusting the intense ultraviolet light for decreasing maximum coupling ratio and achieving an optical fiber coupler of optimum flat spectrum, thereby improving fabricating process and reducing deficient products.

Abstract: Multiplexing and demultiplexing single-mode fiber optic couplers are fabricated by aligning two single-mode fibers which have been stripped of their protective plastic jackets and cleaned so that they are held in parallel contact with each other, and then fusing these fibers to achieve a desired fusion profile and elongating the fused fibers to achieve a match point between the wavelength period and the polarization phase. The elongation process is interrupted and resumed as required to obtain a precise match point required to produce the desired multiplexing or demultiplexing coupler.

Abstract: A method for producing fiber optic devices having improved intrinsic resistance to external environmental conditions and a fiber optic device made my the method are disclosed. The fabrication method produces an optic device that is treated with deuterium. The method includes a step for treating and/or making optical devices in the presence of a flame produced by the combustion of deuterium gas or a mixture including deuterium.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical fiber pumped through the cladding, including: a core having an optical index n1, around the core, a first cladding having an index n2 lower than n1, and around the first cladding, a second cladding having an index n3 lower than n2, characterized in that the interface between the first cladding and the second cladding has a substantially polygonal cross section. The invention also concerns a method of fabricating an optical fiber pumped through the cladding, characterized in that it consists in executing the following steps: placing around a central optical preform including a core having an index n1 surrounded by a first cladding having an index n2 lower than n1, a plurality of rods having an index n3 lower than n2, and drawing the optical preform and the rods in a vacuum to obtain an optical fiber including a core and two claddings.

Abstract: A method of making a fiberoptic dental light probe having a bent distal end with a tapered tip. The method includes the step of heating just the mid-section of a vertically-disposed, solid, cylindrical fused fiberoptic rod and permitting the midsection to stretch and thin under its own weight by the force of gravity. Local heating of the mid-section is accomplished with a high-temperature small flame, such as the flame emitted by a gas-fired blow torch. The heat is removed when the rod stretches to a predetermined length, and then after the mid-section cools, the mid-section is cut to produce a pair of identical tapered tip probes. Thereafter, the distal ends of the probes can be bent to a desired angle and the ends of the probes can be cut to size, ground, and polished. A unique probe configuration is also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method of making a photonic crystal preform which provides improved properties of the photonic band-gap crystal waveguide fiber drawn therefrom. The photonic crystal preform defect is formed using materials having a particular shape or composition so that the defect walls are preferentially etched away to provide a photonic band-gap crystal waveguide fiber having a smooth walled defect.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a fused-type directional coupler that can be made in a simple manner. The present invention is characterized in that a pair of optical fibers satisfying a particular phase match condition are previously selected to form a fused-type directional coupler. The two optical fibers are prepared by respectively tapering and etching two identical optical fibers. The present invention can be applied to fabrication of mode-selective directional couplers utilizing symmetrical high-degree modes such as LP02 mode as well as fabrication of mode-selective directional couplers utilizing asymmetrical high-degree modes such as LP11 mode.

Abstract: An add/drop filter for optical wave energy incorporates a Bragg grating in a very narrow waist region defined by merged lengths of elongated optical fibers. Light is propagated into the waist region via adiabatically tapered fibers and is transformed from two longitudinally adjacent fibers into two orthogonal modes within the air-glass waveguide of the waist and reflected off the grating from one fiber into the other. The geometry of the waist region is such that the reflected drop wavelength is polarization independent, without lossy peaks in the wavelength band of interest. Additionally, back reflection are shifted out of the wavelength band of interest. High strength gratings are written by photosensitizing the waist region fibers by constantly in-diffusing pressurized hydrogen or deuterium. For narrow spectral bandwidth gratings, dimensional variations must be minimized or compensated, and the grating is apodized by both a.c. and d.c. variations in writing beams at a net constant power.

Abstract: In an optical fiber coupler making apparatus which makes an optical fiber coupler by thermally fusing a plurality of optical fibers together by use of a heater and then elongating thus thermally fused part, the heater comprises a heating element which is made of zirconia and which has a slit for containing the optical fibers. The inner face of the heating element is preferentially heated due to a characteristic of its material. Consequently, if optical fibers are contained in the fiber receiving slit, then they can be thermally fused at a sufficiently high temperature in a short period of time, whereby reducing mingling of impurities into the optical fiber coupler. Therefore, the heating element made of zirconia is effective as means for preventing impurities from mingling from the outside thereof. Also, performances of the heating element can be maintained over a long period of time even if the optical fibers are thermally fused at a high temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed are a shaping mold for producing an optical fiber guide block which permits highly accurate positioning and fixing of optical fibers, an optical fiber guide block having such excellent properties, processes for the production of these, and an optical fiber array.

Abstract: Optical fibers which are disposed in parallel and at each other in a plane, are fixed in this position by pieces of tapes provided with an adhesive on their surfaces facing the fibers, so that the tape pieces are located exactly opposite each other on the two large surfaces of the parallel fiber assembly. The tape pieces can extend exactly up to the lateral edges of the assembly but can advantageously be a little longer, so that adhesives from the opposite tape pieces come in contact with each other at the lateral edges of the assembly. The tape pieces are advantageously cut off from specially designed retainer tapes having openings which are provided in pairs with the openings of each pair placed opposite each other at each of the edges, of the tapes. The assembly is placed so that it extends over the two openings of a pair of openings, crossing or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tapes.

Abstract: A manufacturing method for a glass product not having a rotatively symmetric body like an optical fiber fixing member but having a fine structure as of optical fiber engagement portions, to transfer the fine structure with a high precision without creating molding burrs, includes the steps of placing a glass material in a cavity defined by a lower mold, an upper mold, and a side mold, molding the glass material in the cavity with pressure into the glass product in so controlling that the glass material has a viscosity range of 106.5 to 109.

Abstract: Optical fiber bundles having high optical throughput can be produced with relatively high yield if gaps between fibers are eliminated by application of a particle-containing glass precursor material, exemplarily fumed silica in an aqueous medium. Manufacture of optical fiber bundles that comprise two or more fibers that each comprise a substantially planar surface (with the planar surfaces facing each other) is improved by application of a particle-free glass precursor material, e.g., partially hydrolysed tetramethyl orthosilicate, to the fiber bundle. After drying of the applied glass precursor material the fiber bundle is heated to fuse the fibers together.

Abstract: A wavelength selective optical fiber coupler having various applications in the field of optical communications is disclosed. The coupler is composed of dissimilar waveguides in close proximity. A light induced, permanent index of refraction grating is recorded in the coupler waist The grating filters and transfers energy within a particular range of wavelengths from a first waveguide to a second waveguide. Transversely asymmetric gratings provide an efficient means of energy transfer. The coupler can be used to combine or multiplex a plurality of lasers operating at slightly different wavelengths into a single fiber. Other embodiments such as a dispersion compensator and gain flattening filter are disclosed.

Abstract: A Mach-Zehnder interferometer for performing an optical function on a plurality of optical fibers is provided. The interferometer includes a first cane segment surrounding the optical fibers. The first cane segment forms a first optical coupling region. The interferometer also includes a second cane segment surrounding the optical fibers. The second cane segment forms a second optical coupling region. A phase shift region is formed by a discontinuity between the first and second cane segments for exposing the optical fibers. The optical fibers are suspended between the first and second cane segments within the phase shift region. A substrate is provided for supporting the optical fibers within the phase shift region.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for removing protective coating material from a fiber optic cable including one or more optical fibers. A stream of hot inert gas is directed onto the cable to soften the protective coating material and blow it from the cable. The stream can be moved relative to the cable until the desired length of coating material has been removed.