Abstract: A shielded optical fiber adaptor for mounting in an opening of a conductive faceplate of electronic equipment. The adaptor has an insulative body with a conductive plate imbedded therein. The plate has an aperture within the body which allows passage of light from the optical fiber and extends outwardly of the body to contact the faceplate when the body is retained in the faceplate opening. The largest dimension of the plate aperture is no more than ten percent of the wavelength at the highest operating frequency of the electronic equipment. In another embodiment, the plate is eliminated and the body is covered by a layer of conductive material. An interior channel in the body holds the fiber and has an aperture of no more than ten percent of the wavelength at the highest operating frequency of the electronic equipment. Since the interior of the channel is covered by the layer of conductive material, it acts as an attenuating waveguide.

Abstract: The disclosed method of making microstructured optical fiber comprises providing a mold, with a multiplicity of elongate elements extending into the mold and being maintained in a predetermined spatial arrangement with respect to the mold. Silica-containing sol is introduced into the mold and is caused to or permitted to gel, such that a gel body results. After removing the elongate elements from the gel body and removing the gel body from the mold, the gel body is dried, sintered and purified, and the microstructured fiber is drawn from the sintered body.

Abstract: A tuning index tool for use in determining the degree of tuning necessary for a tunable optical fiber connector has a first stationary member having a connector adapter affixed thereto and a second movable member within the first member and spring loaded with respect thereto. The second member has a connector adapter affixed thereto axially aligned with the adapter in the first member. The movable member is incrementally rotatable with respect to the stationary member by being pulled against the spring force to disengage the ferrules of connectors in the adapters, which are aligned in a split sleeve. Rotation changes the orientation of the eccentricity vectors of the two connectors, and hence the insertion loss. Measurements of insertion loss are made, and the orientation of the connectors for minimum loss is noted.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a preform from which fiber optics are drawn is fabricated by supplying reactants and gas vapors to the preform and by using two opposing forces to control the movement of a heat source supplying heat to the preform. The two forces function to reduce any hesitation or backlash in the movement of the heat source along predetermined portions of the preform to enable uniform layers to be formed within the preform.

Abstract: A silica sol-gel fabrication process is provided which allows improved control of the shrinkage that takes place during the drying of a gel body. In particular, the invention makes it possible to attain extremely low shrinkage through the completion of the drying stage, e.g., below 1% linear shrinkage, in relatively large sol-gel bodies of (dry weight) 1 kg or more, typically 10 kg or more, or even 40 kg or more, compared to the much higher shrinkages typically encountered. Specifically, use of a particular polymeric additive makes it possible for a gel body to experience linear shrinkage at least 55% less than an identical process without the polymeric additive.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a method, system, and computer system for measuring bending loss of an optical fiber with an optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR). Generally, the method of the present invention provides OTDR device that measures a one-way OTDR splice loss at a point in the optical fiber. Subsequently, a bend is introduced into the optical fiber and a second one-way OTDR splice loss measurement is performed at the same point in the optical fiber as the first measurement. Thereafter, the bending loss of the optical fiber is determined and related to an approximate cut-off wavelength of the optical fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring a UV curing lamp system to determine whether a UV-curable material passing through the curing lamp system is being properly cured. A thermal sensor is disposed to measure the temperature of gas being exhausted from a center tube of the UV curing lamp system. The center tube typically has nitrogen gas pumped into it to purge air from the center tube. The UV-curable material passes through the center tube. If a defect exists in the center tube, or if insufficient UV radiation is reaching the UV-curable material, the temperature of the gas stream exhausted from the center tube will drop. The temperature of the gas is compared to first and second threshold values, respectively, to determine whether a defect in the center tube exists or whether insufficient radiation is reaching the UV-curable material, respectively.

Abstract: An optical cable tracing system is constructed using an optical/electrical (hybrid) cable 10 containing both optical and electrical transmission media. This cable provides desirably high bandwidth via optical fibers 15 while connection accuracy is provided via electrical wires 13, which are used to operate indicator lights 941 at one or both ends of the cable. A hybrid plug connector 300 terminates the cable at each end and includes a dielectric housing 20, 30 that encloses the optical fiber (glass or plastic), which extends through a front opening 21 in the housing. A single cantilever latch 22 is mounted on a top-side of the housing that is adapted to engage a mating jack receptacle 440 in a locking relationship. A conductor-holding apparatus is molded into the bottom side of the housing where it holds a number of insulated electrical conductors and metallic blade terminals 36 that pierce the insulation and make electrical contact with each of the conductors.

Abstract: The present invention is an optical spectrum analyzer (OSA) comprising a tree-structure of N-stage wavelength filters or “wavelength slicer” which “slice” the incident optical signal into desired groupings of individual sliced spectral components, each along a different output optical fiber. Cascaded fiber Bragg gratings and delay lines coupled to each output optical fiber then uniquely map the “sliced” spectral components into the time domain such that each spectral component is allocated a unique time slot.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber minicord cable and a communication system employing the minicord cable. The optical fiber minicord cable includes a buffered optical fiber having a first strength layer formed around the buffered optical fiber, a first fire resistant jacket formed around the first strength layer, a second strength layer formed around the first fire resistant jacket, and a second fire resistant jacket formed around the second strength layer. The first and/or second fire resistant jackets are made of a fluoropolymer such as poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) or poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC), including PVDF Solef® 32008 and low smoke poly(vinyl chloride) (LSPVC) Apex® 910. The first and/or second strength layers are made of, e.g., polyaramid yarns such as Kevlar® and Nomex®. The buffered optical fibers typically have conventional structure, with the buffer region made of a suitable material such as nylon (e.g.

Abstract: An improved technique for assembling and drawing fiber from preforms is provided. In one embodiment, the technique involves providing a core rod assembly comprising a core rod and a bushing attached at an end of the assembly. The core rod assembly is inserted into an unsintered overcladding tube, and secured to the tube such that the core rod assembly is suspended within. The overcladding tube and the core rod assembly are heated to sinter the overcladding tube and thereby form a preform assembly. During the heating step, the bushing comes into contact with the interior of the overcladding tube, and, because the bushing has a larger diameter than the core rod, an annular gap is maintained between the core rod assembly and the interior of the overcladding tube. It is then possible to attach a draw handle to the preform assembly, place the preform assembly into a draw tower, and draw fiber from the preform assembly by an overclad during draw technique.

Abstract: An improved sleeve holder for use in an optical fiber buildout is disclosed. The sleeve holder comprises an elongate tubular body formed about a longitudinal axis, the body having a first end and a spaced second end. At least a first slot is defined in the first end of the body and extends longitudinally from the first end of the body toward the second end thereof. A first annular shoulder is defined within the first end of the body about the longitudinal axis, and a second annular shoulder, spaced from the first shoulder is defined within the second end of the body about the longitudinal axis. An annular mounting flange is formed on the exterior surface of the tubular body, intermediate the ends thereof, and extends outwardly and away therefrom.

Abstract: A sol-gel process for fabricating bulk, germanium-doped silica bodies useful for a variety of applications, including core rods, substrate tubes, immediate overcladding, pumped fiber lasers, and planar waveguides, is provided. The process involves the steps of providing a dispersion of silica particles in an aqueous quaternary ammonium germanate solution—typically tetramethylammonium germanate, gelling the dispersion to provide a gel body, and drying, heat treating, and sintering the body to provide the germanium-doped silica glass.

Abstract: A high density optical connecting block 100 is mounted in a relatively thin, flat panel 10, and is constructed as an array of identical cells 110 that are linked together as a one-piece unit. The cells have a front-to-back depth that is greater than ten millimeters for imparting flexural rigidity to the panel. The array includes at least twelve cells that are arranged in two or more rows and two or more columns. Each cell has a front side that is shaped to receive and interlock with a duplex optical connector 50, and a back side that is shaped to receive and interlock with two simplex optical plugs 20. The duplex connector is a unifying structure that yokes a pair of simplex optical plugs 20-1, 20-2 into a duplex configuration.

Abstract: In accordance with the invention, a thermally tunable optical waveguide device is stabilized against ambient changes. Specifically, a feedback signal derived from a temperature-dependent resistance is used to stabilize the device with respect to ambient changes that could otherwise alter the temperature. Specific embodiments include resistance-heated tunable gratings.

Abstract: An assembly for use in a fiber administration system that retroactively adds a fiber location trace ability to the fiber administration system. The assembly includes an improved connector module that has a receptacle formed near a plurality of optical connector ports. An upgrade tracing module is provided that fits into the receptacle and attaches to the connector module. The upgrade tracing module contains a plurality of lights. When the upgrade tracing module is connected to the connector module, the lights of the upgrade tracing module or oriented near each of the optical connector ports. The upgrade tracing module connects to the systems controller of the fiber administration system through the connector module. As such, the systems controller of the fiber administration system is capable of selectively lighting the lights and identifying a specific optical connector port.

Abstract: A fiber administration system and improved components for use in a fiber administration system. The fiber administration system includes at least one fiber distribution shelve that supports a plurality of optical connection ports. Each of the optical connection ports contains a sensor for detecting the presence of an optical coupling in that optical connection port. A systems controller is coupled to the sensor of each of the optical connection ports. Accordingly, the systems controller can automatically determine from the sensors whether or not an optical coupling is present in each of the optical connection ports.

Abstract: A pressure monitoring system for use in monitoring gas pressure within a rotating tube has a chemical delivery tube which projects into the rotating tube and whose distal end is sealed to the interior wall of the tube. A coaxial tube surrounds the delivery tube and forms a passageway between the two tubes which is in communication with the rotating tube interior through the seal mounting means. The gas pressure within the passageway is an indication of the pressure within the rotating tube, and is measured within a pressure monitoring unit which can control the pressure through the gas supply or through a low pressure device. In a second embodiment of the invention, a buffer gas supply coupling member is mounted to the coaxial tube and sealed to the exterior of the rotating tube to create a buffer zone. In a third embodiment of the invention, the buffer zone arrangement is modified to produce a more complete flow of buffer gases within the buffer zone.

Abstract: The disclosed fiber Raman device comprises means for coupling pump radiation of a first wavelength &lgr;1 and a second wavelength &lgr;2 into a length of silica-based fiber, with &lgr;1 being different from &lgr;2, and with both of &lgr;1 and &lgr;2 being less than an output radiation &lgr;0 of the fiber Raman device. The Raman device further comprises at least a first and a second wavelength-selective element disposed to provide one or more optical cavities for Raman shifting of light in the fiber. At least one of the optical cavities is selected such that at least one of &lgr;1 and &lgr;2 is off resonance. Exemplarily, the Raman device is a topologically linear or circular Raman laser or amplifier, and the wavelength selective element is a fiber Bragg grating or a WDM. The Raman device is advantageously used in an optical fiber communication system.

Abstract: An optical connector assembly includes a connector body having an inner wall defining a bore extending longitudinally through the connector body and shaped to receive an optical fiber. A fiber-retaining mechanism is disposed in the connector body for retention of the optical fiber received in the bore by frictionally engaging an outer circumferential surface of the optical fiber to thereby restrain unintended longitudinal displacement of the optical fiber relative to the bore.