Abstract: A method and apparatus for separating a first and second optical fibers including a fiber feed mechanism adapted to feed the first optical fiber and the second optical fiber, and a nozzle adapted to provide a displacing force on the second optical fiber, where the second optical fiber is displaced away from the first optical fiber to thereby separate the second optical fiber from the first optical fiber. In one embodiment, the displacing force is provided by a gas stream directed away from the nozzle while in another embodiment, the displacing force is directed towards the nozzle. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a separation mechanism with a first guide, a second guide, a guide separator, and a deflector plate. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a clamp mechanism with a first clamping pad having an offset extension that extends beyond an edge of a second clamp pad.

Abstract: The present invention includes a composite optical waveguide fiber. The composite optical waveguide fiber includes a first optical waveguide fiber. The first optical waveguide fiber has a first diameter and a first outermost layer having a first coefficient of thermal expansion. The composite optical waveguide fiber further includes a second optical waveguide fiber coupled to the first optical waveguide fiber. The second optical waveguide fiber has a second diameter and a second outermost layer, the second outermost layer having a second coefficient of thermal expansion. Wherein the first coefficient of thermal expansion is greater than the second coefficient of thermal expansion. Wherein the first diameter is greater than the second diameter.

Abstract: An optical splice joint and splicing process are provided for joining an end portion of a microstructured optical fiber having a microstructure formed from an array of holes, and a conventional optical fiber. The optical splice joint is formed from a fused portion of opposing end portions of the microstructured optical fiber and optical fiber, wherein the microstructured optical fiber is surrounded by a jacket that is at least 1.6 times thicker along its radius than the microstructure, and has a tensile strength of at least 30 Kpsi with an optical loss of less than 0.30 dB, and relatively little shrinkage (i.e., about 30%) of the holes forming the microstructure. The splice joint is formed by aligning end portions of the microstructured optical fiber and the optical fiber, in a fusion splicer, and applying fusion heat to the fiber ends in a two step process with a low current arc that is offset with respect to the end of the microstructured optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention is a chromatic dispersion compensator. The chromatic dispersion compensator includes a first 3-port optical circulator, a first grating coupled to the second optical port of the first 3-port optical circulator. A polarization controller is coupled to the third optical port of the first 3-port optical circulator. The chromatic dispersion compensator further includes a second 3-port optical circulator, the polarization controller is coupled to the first optical port of the second 3-port optical circulator and a second grating is coupled to the second optical port of the second 3-port optical circulator.

Abstract: A method for removing a coating (14) from a portion of optical fiber (11) including the steps of mechanically removing the coating (14) from two portions of fiber (16a, 16b) of predetermined length and spaced each other of a predetermined distance, and then immersing the portion of fiber (17) interposed between the two considered portions (16a, 16b) in a liquid solvent (28) so as to chemically remove the coating (14) thereof; the two portions of fiber (16a, 16b) from where the coating (14) has been mechanically removed are held only partially dipped in the liquid solvent (28), so that the liquid solvent (28) is prevented from reaching the portions of the fiber (18a, 18b) outside the liquid solvent (28) by capillary action through the coating.

Abstract: An improved temperature-compensated optical grating device includes a temperature-compensating structure including a plurality of members that are selected and arranged to provide an effective coefficient of thermal expansion that is negative with respect to two mounting points for an optical fiber grating, wherein the improvement is achieved by making at least one of the members of the temperature-compensating structure from a material having a low coefficient of thermal expansion that decreases with increasing temperature and at least one other member having a high coefficient of thermal expansion that increases with increasing temperature.

Abstract: The present invention includes a tool (300) for positioning optical waveguide fibers (310) on an adhesive coated substrate (302) including a holder (301) and a pressure source. The holder (301) includes a chamber (314) coupled to the pressure source and multiple recesses (308) configured to position the optical waveguide fibers (310). Each recess (308) includes a reference surface (312) and is connected to the chamber (314) by a passageway (316). The pressure source is configured to selectively increase and decrease the pressure in the chamber (314). The invention also includes a method of making optical waveguide fiber array blocks using the tool (300).

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention is a positioner for an optical element. The positioner includes a base having a receptacle and a substantially planar surface slidably engageable with a substrate. The positioner also includes a mounting platform disposed in the receptacle. The receptacle constrains the mounting platform to translation in a direction substantially perpendicular to the substantially planar surface and the mounting platform is configured so as to be free to rotate about three orthogonal axes within the receptacle. The optical element is coupled to the mounting platform. The optical element is aligned with a second optical element by selectively positioning the mounting platform.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for making a lens on the end of an optical waveguide fiber. The apparatus includes a laser, wherein the laser emits a laser beam. The apparatus further includes a beam expander disposed to receive the laser beam, whereby the beam expander increases the diameter of the laser beam, thereby producing an expanded laser beam. The apparatus further includes a first aperture disposed within the expanded laser beam, wherein the first aperture blocks a portion of the expanded laser beam, and a second aperture disposed within the expanded laser beam, wherein the second aperture blocks a portion of the expanded laser beam. The apparatus further includes a first mirror disposed in the path of the expanded laser beam wherein the first mirror redirects the expanded laser beam. The apparatus further includes a focusing mirror disposed to receive the expanded laser beam, wherein the focusing mirror focuses the expanded laser beam thereby forming a heat zone.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention is an optical add/drop multiplexer. The optical add/drop multiplexer includes a first optical circulator, the first circulator includes a first port, a second port, and a third port. The optical add/drop multiplexer also includes a first tunable grating coupled to the first port and a second tunable grating coupled to the first grating. The optical add/drop multiplexer further includes a second optical circulator, the second optical circulator includes a fourth port, coupled to the second grating; a fifth port, and a sixth port. Wherein the first tunable grating is a fiber Bragg grating and wherein the second tunable grating is a fiber Bragg grating.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a five-degree of freedom alignment structure 10 for an optical element 28. The alignment structure 10 is a two piece assembly including a submount 12 and a support member 18. An optical element 28 is coupled to the mounting surface 14 of submount 12. The alignment structure 10 is used to align the optical axis 34 of the optical element 28 with the optical axes 32 of another optical element 30.

Abstract: A package for temperature compensating a Bragg grating region of an optical waveguide fiber. The package includes a first tubular member having a low coefficient of thermal expansion attached to the optical fiber. A second tubular member, having a coefficient of thermal expansion greater than that of the first tubular member, is attached to the first tubular member. A third tubular member, having the same coefficient of thermal expansion as the first tubular member has one end attached to the optical waveguide fiber and the other end is attached to the second tubular member. The three tubular members are coaxial with one another and the Bragg grating region is encapsulated by the package.

Abstract: An apparatus for measuring polarization dependent loss is disclosed featuring several fiber optic couplers combined in tandem and oriented such that the PDL noise of the measurement system is reduced to a negligible level. By matching the PDLs of the couplers and vectorally subtracting opposite phases of polarization, the PDL of the measurement system is virtually eliminated. Thus, the PDL noise floor is lowered to near zero and the PDL of the optical device-under-test (DUT) can be accurately measured. The system is relatively inexpensive to implement and offers needed versatility because it measures the PDL of optical devices that operate in a reflection mode or in a forward transmission mode. Thus, it provides one PDL measurement solution for both types of devices.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a photonic band gap fiber including the steps of etching a preform and then drawing the preform into a photonic band gap fiber. Glass tubes are bundled and then formed into a photonic crystal perform having a number of passageways by reducing the cross-section of the bundle. One of the passageways is enlarged by flowing an etchant through it. After cleaning, the band gap fiber is made from the etched photonic preform, for example, by drawing.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic filter that includes a central core, a ring core concentric with the central core, an inner cladding region of refractive index ni between the central and ring cores, and a cladding layer of refractive index nc surrounding the ring core. The maximum refractive index n1 of the central core and the maximum refractive index n2 of the ring core are greater than nc and ni. The propagation constants of one core mode and one ring mode are different at wavelengths except for at least one wavelength &lgr;0 whereby power transfers between the two cores at &lgr;0. At least a portion of the fiber optic filter fiber is wound around a reel to subject it to a continuous curvature, the radius of which determines the amplitude of the attenuation. Such fibers are useful in fiber amplifiers in which the central core contains active dopant ions.

Abstract: A fusion joint between a waveguide (1a) and an optical fiber (2) is created by irradiating the interface (4) between the optical fiber and the waveguide using a laser beam. The spatial distribution of the energy furnished to the interface presents a central zone of which the energy is reduced with respect to a peripheral zone, whereby to enable a relatively high energy laser to be used while avoiding bending of the waveguide. The laser beam is caused to irradiate a higher energy density upon the waveguide than the optical fiber, typically by offsetting the center of the laser beam towards the waveguide. The fusion is performed while a force F urges the waveguide and optical fiber towards one another, so as to avoid the creation of a void at the boundary. A supplementary polymer or mineral joint can be provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tunable optical device 10 that includes an optical fiber device 12 having optical properties that vary with temperature and a heater 14. The heater 14 is thermally coupled to the optical fiber device 12. The heater 14 includes a metal layer 18 and two electrical contacts 20, 22 that are electrically connected to the metal layer 18. The electrical contacts 20, 22 are spaced apart from one another along the metal layer 18. The electrical resistance of the portion of the metal layer 18 between the contacts 20, 22 varies with temperature and serves as a resistive heater. The invention also includes a controller 16 that is electrically connected to the heater 14. The controller 16 provides electrical power to the heater 14 and measures the electrical voltage across the heater 14. The controller 16 compares the measured electrical voltage to a pre-selected reference value. The controller then regulates the amount of electrical current supplied to the heater 14.

Abstract: A fused coupler optical switch (FCOS) of the present invention is an electrically switchable device that functions as a latching bi-directional optical cross bar switch with a first and a fourth optical ports at a first end, and, a second and third ports at a second end of the coupler, where a magnetic sleeve surrounds the second end of the coupler. A first stop block maintains the coupler in a first mechanical position and a second stop block maintains the coupler in a second mechanical position, where the first and second stop blocks are V-grooved stop blocks. In the first position, the first port is optically connected with the third port and the fourth port is connected with the second port. In the second position, the first port is optically connected with the second port and the fourth port is connected with the third port. The inventive optical switch may include a sensor element such as a Hall element for detecting the state of the optical switch.

Abstract: An component upgradable optical communications routing system using a base module and detachable opto-electronic modules for use in processing and directing optical signals in an optical communications system.

Abstract: Apparatus for packaging a fiber optic device along with electronic and opto-electronic components upon a printed circuit board. Bend members having arcuate shaped guide surfaces for directing fibers between various components are strategically mounted upon the top surface of the board. Passive fiber optic components are also mounted upon support means between bend members so that the fibers entering and exiting the passive component run tangent to the bend radius of the bend members. The radius of curvature of the bend members is within the bend tolerance of the fibers used in the device. The bend members and support members are formed of a material having a thermal coefficient of expansion that is about equal to that of the board material whereby thermally induced stresses on the board mounted components are minimized.