Abstract: An optical device, a method of manufacture thereof, and a system for manufacturing the optical device. The optical device, in an exemplary embodiment, includes an optical component and a reference mark system located on an outer surface of the optical component. The reference mark system provides information regarding a location of an optical path of the optical component.

Abstract: A compact light weight printhead capable of direct quasi-contact printing includes an OLED structure disposed on a fiber optic faceplate substrate. The printhead is designed for contact or quasi-contact printing printing. The printhead design ensures that the desired pixel sharpness and reduced crosstalk is achieved. Two possible different arrangements for the printhead are disclosed. One arrangement includes at least one array of OLED elements. Each OLED array in this arrangement includes at least one triplet of OLED elements, and each element in each the triplet is capable of emitting radiation in a distinct wavelength range different from the distinct wavelength range of the other two color filters in the same triplet. In the second arrangement, the printhead includes at least one triplet of arrays of individually addressable Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is a fiber optic cable trough junction cover system for providing a cover which protects, but provides better access to the interior of trough junctions. More particularly, embodiments of this invention provide a dual hinge arrangement to allow access without being required to either rotate the full one piece junction cover upward or remove it completely.

Abstract: A micro-mechanical device including a gimbaled micro-mirror position able by a one or more thermal actuators. The thermal actuators are not attached to the micro-mirror. Rather, the micro-mirror is retained to the substrate by one or more gimbals. The micrometer sized thermal actuators are capable of repeatable and rapid moving the micro-mirror out-of-plane to accurately and repeatably steer a beam of light.

Abstract: A high power expanded beam and methods for making and using the high power expanded beam connector are described herein. Basically, the high power expanded beam connector includes a first lensed optical fiber that is optically coupled to a second lensed optical fiber but physically separated from the second lensed optical fiber. The first lensed optical fiber is capable of expanding a light beam traveling therein and outputting a collimated light beam. The second lensed optical fiber is capable of receiving the collimated light beam and focusing the received light beam such that the light beam travels from the first lensed optical fiber to the second lensed optical fiber. In a similar manner, the high power expanded beam connector can transmit a light beam from the second lensed optical fiber to the first lensed optical fiber.

Abstract: The optical switch includes input optical fibers, output optical fibers, a lens, a movable mirror, and an actuator operative to move the mirror. Depending on a voltage applied to the actuator, the actuator selectively set the mirror to a first position corresponding to a first combination of optical paths, through which the light beam travels from the first set of the input optical fibers to the second set of the output optical fibers; and to a second position corresponding to a second combination of optical paths, through which the light beam travels from the first set to the second set. The first combination is different from the second combination, and a number of optical fibers of the first set and the second set is more than two.

Abstract: An explosion-proof instrument quick disconnect and seal is provided for use in hazardous (e.g., explosive) environments to quickly connect or disconnect energized or de-energized electrical circuits. The quick disconnect and seal includes mating electrical receptacle inserts positioned within a male and a female portion. The male and female portions are connected to one another by a coupling nut having threads that engage mating threads on the male portion, thereby moving the male portion relative the female portion by rotation of the coupling nut, while at the same time preventing the electrical connection of the mating receptacle inserts in the male and female portions before the explosion-proof chamber is secure.

Abstract: A fanout connector is provided for a fiber optic cable including a plurality of optical fibers. The connector includes a housing means having a passage for receiving the fiber optic cable transversely along an axis. A fanout member in the housing spreads the individual optical fibers of the cable transversely of the axis. At least one frangible mounting member is provided on the housing means for mounting the connector on an appropriate support structure. The mounting member is readily breakable from the housing when the connector is to be used as a stand-alone unit. The housing includes a base and a cover with complementary interengaging polarizing members between the base and the fanout member. The cover has a transparent window to afford visual inspection of at least a portion of the cable within the housing.

Abstract: A fiber optic cable having at least one interface being formed by a plurality of adjacent support members. Adjacent the interface is at least one retention area having an optical fiber component disposed therein. The retention area is disposed generally longitudinally and non-helically relative to an axis of the cable. The cable can also include a cable jacket substantially surrounding the support members, a cushioning zone adjacent the optical fiber component, a water-blocking component and/or an interfacial layer at least partially disposed between an outer surface of the support members and the cable jacket.

Abstract: A fiber-optic module having a housing/shielding unit and a module chassis frame having optical, electrical and electro-optical components. The housing/shielding unit functions both as a protective outer housing and an electromagnetic shield. The housing/shielding unit includes forward fingers and backward fingers. The forward fingers provide an EMI seal around an opening in a bezel, face-plate, backplate, wall, or panel of a host system and thereby can ground the housing/shielding unit to a chassis ground. The backward fingers can contact host tabs of the host system and can also thereby ground the housing/shielding unit to a chassis ground. The module chassis frame may be formed of a conductive material and can be grounded as well through a host system faceplate or otherwise to the chassis ground.

Abstract: A retainer (60) at the rear of each passage (14) that holds an optical fiber terminus (30), abuts the rear end (62) of a spring to normally retain the terminus while allowing its removal, with the retainer being rugged, easily manipulated, and of small diameter to allow numerous passages to lie close together. Each retainer has a primarily cylindrical outer surface (74) but with a pair of projections (80, 82). The rear portion of the passage has a first part (90) through which the retainer can be slid forwardly while the retainer is in an initial rotational orientation. A third passage part (94) receives the retainer and allows it to be turned from the initial orientation (60A) to a lock rotational orientation (60B). A second passage part (92) that lies between the first and third passage parts, allows the projections to move rearwardly into recesses (112) that prevent rotation of the retainer and that have forwardly-facing shoulders (114) that abut the retainer to limit its rearward movement.

Abstract: An apparatus and method integrates optical transceivers for transfer of signals between optical and electronic media with surface mount packages, such as ball grid arrays and quad flat packs. A surface mount package is positioned directly beneath a modular optical transceiver. The surface mount package provides for electrically coupling external signals to the optical transceiver, so as to allow full performance functionality of data transfer components. An electrical coupling mechanism with high performance at high frequency is positioned between the surface mount package and the optical transceiver, electrically connecting them. In one implementation, the optical transceiver module is mounted directly to said surface mount package such that it is removable. In one embodiment, heat dissipation is provided by integral components and thermal vias, in addition to heat sinks.

Abstract: A method for providing preformed optical waveguide pieces includes the steps of connecting the ends of the optical waveguide pieces to one another through the use of connecting components, thereby producing an “endless” optical waveguide which is wound onto a drum. Upon being unwound from the drum, the individual optical waveguide pieces are available for further assembly. A connector for connecting conductor pieces and a drum configuration are also provided.

Abstract: A compound optical and electrical conductor includes a fiberoptic light transmitting element (multiple fibers or single solid rod) with at least one electrical conductor therewith. The electrical conductor or conductors may be imbedded or otherwise secured within the optically conducting element or its surrounding jacket or sheath, or may be contained in a separate elongate retainer which may be provided to hold the optically conducting element in place as desired. The conductors may include a jacket or retainer which is optically open along one side thereof, allowing the optical conductor to emit light laterally therefrom subtending an angle defined by the optical gap in the jacket or retainer. One or more compound connectors may be provided, for linking two or more such compound conductors together as desired. The connectors provide for both the concentric alignment of the optical conductors, and also the electrical connection of the electrical conductors of the compound devices.

Abstract: A connector comprises a connector terminal 33 including an electric wire connecting portion 52 to which an electric wire is connected, a terminal contact 53 to which a mating terminal is brought into contact, and a connecting portion 54 for connecting the electric wire connecting portion 52 and the terminal contact 53 with each other, in which one ends of the electric wire connecting portion 52 and the terminal contact 53 are connected to the connecting portion 54, and the other end of the electric wire connecting portion 52 and the terminal contact 53 are directed to the same direction; and a connector housing having a terminal accommodating chamber 34 for accommodating and holding the connector terminal 33, wherein the connector terminal 33 is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 34 from a direction in which the mating connector is inserted into the terminal accommodating chamber 34, the terminal falling-out preventing portion 51 is engaged with the connecting portion 54 for preventing the conne

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the parallel optical processing of a plurality of optical beams within a single optical processing unit is provided. The optical processing unit may perform any of the functions associated with the following 3 port devices: a circulator, a demultiplexer, an interleaver, a multiplexer, a forward power tap, a reverse power tap, a power splitter, a polarization beam combiner and a polarization beam splitter. Access to the optical processing unit is provided by opposing bundles of optical fibers the input and output of which is directed from and to the optical function unit by lenses. Each triplet of optical fibers provides 3 ports of access to the optical processing unit. This allows multiple discrete optical beams each with unique optical parameters, e.g. wavelength, power, modulation, polarization, propagation direction, etc.

Abstract: A connector of the insulation-perforating type for a suspended electrical system comprises conductive means for cutting an insulating covering of an insulated supply cable in order to connect an electrical device electrically to an uncovered portion of the supply cable, and an insulating structure for enclosing the conductive means, in which the insulating structure includes a first insulating element which can be closed around the supply cable in a non-reversible manner in order to protect the uncovered portion from manual contact, and a second insulating element which can be connected to the electrical device and which can be joined reversibly to the first insulating element, the first insulating element comprising means for preventing sliding along the supply cable.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector adapter has a sensing mechanism for determining when the adapter has a connector plug therein and when the adapter is vacant or empty. The sensing mechanism creates an indication of the state of the adapter which is transmitted to a control circuit. The control circuit responds to the indication by activating or deactivating a laser, for example, which applies optical energy to the adapter. The laser is deactivated when the adapter has no connector plug therein and is activated when there is a connector plug in place in the adapter. In two of the embodiments of the invention, the sensing mechanism signals the impending insertion or withdrawal of the connector plug relative to the adapter.

Abstract: An optoelectronic device comprising a laser and a lens for generating collimated light, a locker including an etalon for wavelength locking the collimated light, a first thermoelectric cooler coupled to the laser, and a second thermoelectric cooler coupled to the locker, wherein the first and second thermo-electric coolers arc independently controlled and the second thermo-electric cooler provides for temperature tuning of the etalon.

Abstract: A ferrule includes a body, a first cover, and a second cover. The body includes a first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, a second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves, and a third row of optical fiber receiving apertures. Each aperture of the third row of optical fiber receiving apertures accommodates a respective optical fiber. The first cover is mounted to the body adjacent the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves. Each V-groove of the first row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves accommodates a respective optical fiber which is aligned therein by the first cover. The second cover is mounted to the body adjacent the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves. Each V-groove of the second row of optical fiber receiving V-grooves accommodates a respective optical fiber which is aligned therein by the second cover.