Abstract: Reinforced protective tubes for optical waveguide fibers are provided. The tubes include an inner layer of a polyester elastomer, an outer layer of a polyvinyl chloride polymer, and two longitudinal reinforcing members composed of aramid fibers. The tubes have low thermal expansion, an outside diameter of less than about 1,000 microns, and can be used to form the pigtails of optical waveguide couplers. Methods for producing the protective tubes in which the reinforcing members and the plastic layers are coated onto a removable core member are also disclosed.

Abstract: An integrated optical component comprising at least one waveguide integrated into a substrate and connected to the end of an optical fiber which is attached to the substrate at said fiber end and in a region separated from said fiber end by a first drop of adhesive and a second drop of adhesive, respectively. The adhesive product which constitutes the first drop has a glass transition temperature located in a predetermined operating temperature range of the component, while the adhesive product which constitutes the second drop has a glass transition temperature located generally above this operating temperature range, thereby assuring the absorption of differential expansions in such a way as to maintain the optical continuity of the fiber/waveguide attachment and the mechanical strength of the fiber/substrate attachment.

Abstract: Methods for deteting defects, such as, holes or voids, in optical waveguide fibers are provided. The methods employ far-field interference patterns produced by transversely illuminating the fiber with a laser beam. Holes in the fiber produce a characteristic peak in the spatial frequency spectrum of the interference pattern which subdivides into two peaks which migrate in opposite directions as a hole grows in size. Holes also produce a characteristic increase in the total power of the interference pattern, the amount of the increase being a linear function of the size of the hole for holes having a diameter less than about 60% of the diameter of the fiber. The hole detection methods are incorporated in an overall system for controlling the drawing of optical waveguide fibers.

Abstract: A tight buffered optical waveguide fiber having improved strippability is provided. The fiber includes a core, a cladding, a first protective coating in contact with the cladding, an interfacial layer in contact with the first protective coating, and a buffer layer in contact with the interfacial layer. The interfacial layer comprises a solid lubricant such as sub-micron particles of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) in a film-forming binder. The concentration of particles at the external surface of the interfacial layer is preferably greater than the concentration at the internal surface so that the interfacial layer is more adherent to the first protective coating than to the buffer layer. This differential adhesion facilitates the manufacturing process while still allowing long lengths (e.g., a foot or more) of either the buffer layer or both the buffer layer and the first protective coating to be removed from the cladding without damage to the fiber's physical and optical properties.

Abstract: A method of making an optical waveguide fiber with a fatigue resistant TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outer cladding, and a substantially glass blank for drawing into such fiber, wherein a glass soot TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outermost layer, with an initial TiO.sub.2 concentration greater than 10.5 wt. %, is deposited on a preform, and the preform is exposed to an atmosphere of chlorine and oxygen at a high temperature, and the resulting TiO.sub.2 concentration in the outermost layer of the TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outer cladding of the substantially glass blank is less than the initial TiO.sub.2 concentration. In the glass blank form, the outermost layer includes a substantial volume percentage of crystalline phases and in the fiber form, the outermost layer includes inhomogeneities.

Abstract: An optical two-way transmission-received communications system utilizing a coaxial coupler in place of a standard coupler, the optical system being capable of operation either in a single or multiple wavelength mode by designing the coupling region to have the proper length (i.e., either in 3dB or WDM operation), and further comprising a transmitter and a detector adjacent a coaxial coupler. The detector of the system is provided with a hole in its center in order to allow the transmitter access to the core waveguide of the coaxial coupler. The coaxial coupler may be formed from a rod in tube structure with a core waveguide extension adjacent the Tx/Rx and an integral pigtail on the opposite side of the coupler.

Abstract: Single fiber cables of the composite buffer type are provided which include: (a) a central optical waveguide fiber; (b) a layer of fill compound surrounding the optical fiber; (c) a layer of aramid fiber surrounding the fill compound; and (d) a plastic jacket surrounding the layer of aramid fiber. Multi-fiber cables are also provided which include: (a) a plurality of optical waveguide fibers; (b) a layer of aramid fiber surrounding the optical fibers; (c) fill compound in contact with the inner surface of the layer of aramid fiber and with the optical fibers; and (d) a plastic jacket surround the layer of aramid fiber. Methods for producing cables of these types are disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively transmitting input optical signals carried on input optical fibers to output optical fibers. A three refractive index tapered wave guide structure is bent and maintained in the bent state. This structure is, thereafter, rotated in the bent state. The coupling characteristics are tunable based on the degree of rotation.

Abstract: A fiber-optic sensor device utilizing modal interference in a multimode optical sensor fiber, having output light from the sensor fiber coupled to an axially separated detection lead fiber, and having light from the detection lead fiber coupled to a substantially uniform light detector.

Abstract: An optical waveguide fiber with a fatigue resistant TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outer cladding including a cylindrical outermost layer with TiO.sub.2 concentration greater than 10.5 wt. % and thickness less than 3 .mu.m. The fiber may include a two layer outer cladding with higher TiO.sub.2 concentration in the outer layer. The outer cladding may include a plurality of inhomogeneities dispersed in a TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 matrix.

Abstract: An optical signal amplifier with a waveguide path integrated into a glass body that is doped with optically active material. The signal to be amplified is transmitted through the waveguide and the pump power is coupled into the waveguide at one end. The waveguide comprises closely spaced adjacent guide lengths in the form of a spiral, zigzag paths between mirrors, or parallel paths with connecting semicircles at alternating ends of succeeding pairs of paths.

Abstract: A metehod of manufacturing planar optical waveguides in which a planar optical preform which is stretched to form a planar optical cane with substantially smaller cross-sectional dimensions than the original preform, and in which the optical circuitry pattern is achieved by lithographic techniques. Optical fiber preforms may be inserted in slots in a substrate to form the planar optical preform.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapidly forming a porous glass preform is provided in which an array of burners is oscillated along a path parallel to the longitudinal axis of the preform. The oscillation amplitude is limited so that each burner deposits soot on only a portion of the preform, e.g., 20% of the preform. By controlling inter-burner variability and the air flow in the burner-array/preform region, preforms having substantially uniform diameter and axial properties are obtained.

Abstract: A process for encapsulating a component for interconnecting optical fibers wherein a bar connected to the fibers is inserted and sealed with a sealing composition into an elongated housing with U-shaped cross-section, and an encapsulated component manufactured by this process, wherein the regions of the junctions between the fibers and the bar are protected from the flow of the sealing composition.

Abstract: A system for delivering a liquid reactant at high flow rates to an oxidation/flame hydrolysis glass soot deposition site. A first liquid only reactant is delivered to a flash vaporization chamber to form a thin film and mixed with oxygen after vaporization. Additional vaporized reactants are thereafter mixed with the vaporized first liquid prior to delivery to an oxidation/flame hydrolysis burner to form a glass soot outer cladding layer on a soot preform. The soot preform is subsequently fused to form a high quality glass blank for drawing into optical fiber.

Abstract: Method and apparatus wherein continuous indexed lengths of optical fiber are automatically measured for load at failure for each failure below a predetermined maximum stress. A predetermined length of optical fiber is indexed. The optical fiber is clamped at one or more clamp points along its length. Increasing tension is applied to a first indexed length of optical fiber between at least one clamp point and a tension application means. Increasing tension is applied between an initial value and the predetermined maximum load. The increasing tension is measured during its application. If failure occurs, the actual load at failure is detected while the increasing tension is being applied. When failure does not occur, the first length of optical fiber is released and a second length of optical fiber is indexed to the position where increasing tension is applied to the second length between at least one clamp point and the tension application means.

Abstract: A method of making an optical waveguide fiber with a fatigue resistant TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outer cladding, and a substantially glass blank for drawing into optical fiber, wherein a glass soot TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outermost layer, with an initial TiO.sub.2 concentration greater than 10.5 wt. %, is deposited on a preform, and the preform is exposed to an atmosphere of chlorine at a high temperature, and the resulting TiO.sub.2 concentration in the outermost layer of the TiO.sub.2 -SiO.sub.2 outer cladding of the substantially glass blank is less than the initial TiO.sub.2 concentration. In the glass blank form, the outermost layer includes a substantial volume percentage of crystalline phases and in the fiber form, the outermost layer includes inhomogeneities.

Abstract: A variable gap optical sensor device with a pair of opposed reflective surfaces and having a periodic response function. The sensor includes stiffening means or limiting means intermediate the reflective surfaces to diminish the potential variation in the gap between the reflective surfaces and thereby increase the monotonic range of the periodic response function, resulting in a dual stage sensor response function with a second stage having an increased period.

Abstract: An integrated optical component with ion diffused optical circuit paths in glass connected to optical fibers, comprising a transverse exit groove machined adjacent the paths, a plateau for supporting an uncoated portion of the optical fibers for connection to the paths, and a shoulder adjacent the plateau for supporting a coated portion of the fiber, the fiber endfaces being secured to the terminations of the paths by means of an adhesive; and, a method for manufacturing such a component comprising machining, approximate alignment, precise alignment, and gluing steps.

Abstract: An optical fiber transmission path wherein total dispersion of the system is compensated by use of fibers composed of glasses with total dispersion of opposite signs at the operating wavelength for the system. With silica-based fibers, CdF.sub.2 --LiF--AlF.sub.3 --PbF.sub.2 --KF--YF.sub.3 fluoride glass-based fibers may be used for a system with 1.55 .mu.m operating wavelength.