Abstract: A device comprising a planar optical waveguide, consisting of a transparent carrier (40) and a wave-guiding layer (41), wherein the waveguide at least has a diffractive element (42) for coupling excitation radiation into the wave-guiding layer, and there is located on the wave-guiding layer a further, tightly sealing layer (43) made from a material which, at least at the support surface, is transparent both to the excitation radiation and to the evanescently excited radiation at least to the penetration depth of the evanescent field, and which, for an analysis sample, has, at least in a partial region of the guided excitation radiation, a cavity (45) which is open to the upper side or a cavity (6) which is closed to the upper side and connected by means of an inflow channel (2) and an outflow channel (3), the depth of the cavity corresponding at least to the penetration depth of the evanescent field, and wherein the diffractive element (42) is fully covered by the material of the layer (43) at least in the co

Abstract: A programmed illuminated display is provided. The display includes a panel having a plurality of apertures extending therethrough. An optical fiber is provided for each aperture. Each optical fiber has an emitting end aligned with the front face of the panel and a receiving end extending beyond the rear face of the panel. The optical fibers are grouped in a selected manner, and each group of the optical fibers is connected to an LED. The LED's are connected to a control circuit that includes a programmable chip. The chip is programmed to generate a selected firing order for the LED's which in turn direct light through the associated optical fibers for providing a programmed illumination for the display.

Abstract: A short optical fiber 2 is incorporated in a ferrule 1 having a polished front end, so as to be projected from the rear end of the ferrule. In a base member 3 in which the short optical fiber is to be fitted into a hole 3b, a V-groove 3d to which the glass portion of an optical fiber is to be fixed, and a V-groove 3e to which the coated portion is to be fixed are formed. A cover member 4 is placed on the base member. The base member 3 and the cover member 4 are clamped by clamp members 5a and 5b and the base member 3 presses to V-grooves. Wedges which are not shown are pressingly inserted between recessed 3g and 4c, and 3h and 4d, and an optical fiber 10 is inserted from the rear portion. Thereafter, the wedges are detached and the optical connector is attached to the terminal of the optical fiber 10.

Abstract: There is provided an optical fiber composite ground wire (OPGW). The optical fiber composite ground wire (OPGW) includes a central wire at the center of the optical fiber composite ground wire (OPGW), a steel tube disposed around the central wire, at least one optical fiber ribbon inserted into the steel tube and containing a plurality of optical fibers arranged in coplanar alignment, a filling material filled in the steel tube, at least one inner layer wire surrounding the central wire, and at least one outer layer wire surrounding the steel tube and the inner layer wire.

Abstract: A multiple-wavelength light source has a plurality of semiconductor laser devices, a plurality of optical waveguides for leading laser beams from the semiconductor laser devices to respective desired paths, and a plurality of diffraction gratings as external cavities for the semiconductor laser devices. The multiple-wavelength light source can output laser beams of respective wavelengths determined by structural details of the diffraction gratings.

Abstract: At least one filter may be employed between two input channels and two output channels to selectively switch wavelengths of radiation between the input and output channels. In one configuration, a switch member having two different filters thereon is moved between two positions. In the first position, all of the wavelengths carried by a first input channel are reflected or transmitted through a first filter at the switch member to one of two output channels, and radiation of an additional wavelength is conveyed from a second input channel to the remaining output channel.

Abstract: The invention is an optical assembly which includes at least two optical fibers, each having a coated portion and a bare portion at one end. A spacer is placed between coated portions of the fibers so as to produce a gradual bending of the bare portions and thereby reducing stress on the bare portions.

Abstract: A transparent radiation delivery waveguide and a guided radiation receiver assembly using the same, which assembly comprises a first transparent medium with a first refractive index n1, a receiver chamber having an aperture and holding a second transparent medium having a second refractive index n2, and the transparent radiation delivery waveguide having a third refractive index n3 substantially equal or greater than n1. The radiation delivery waveguide n3 consists of a transparent vessel holding a transparent liquid medium and has a first radiation intake portion in optical contact with the first transparent medium and held tightly within the aperture of the receiver chamber, and a second, tapered radiation delivery portion of non-circular cross-sectional shape, projecting into the receiver chamber.

Abstract: This invention relates to optical fiber communication systems where data light is launched into a very small set of the lowest order propagation modes of multimode graded-index fibers, resulting in very high data rate transmission capability. We have determined, experimentally and theoretically, that light launched into a small set of a few lowest order propagation modes, or launched only into the fundamental propagation mode of multimode graded-index fiber, converts into and within a limited small set of lowest order modes due to severe bending perturbations that may occur in deployed multimode graded-index fiber transmission cable. Low modal time dispersion of the limited small set of lowest order modes is much less than when all modes of the multimode graded-index fiber are launched, yielding a much higher data rate transmission capability. Added advantages are: low transmission loss, low modal noise, and data security.

Abstract: A protective cover for protecting a lighting device from direct contact with contaminants or components which may interfere with proper operation thereof. The contaminant (e.g., blood, body tissue, dirt, oil, grease, paint, etc.) or other component (e.g., adhesive pad) can interfere with the desired internal reflection of the light propogating through a light transmitting member, by changing the angle of reflection of the propagating light. The result is that optical energy is absorbed by the contaminant or component and converted to heat, thus causing the contaminant or component to quickly rise to an undesirable temperature. The present invention protects a lighting device from such interference, while maintaining its versatility.

Abstract: An optical module including a plurality of leads, a substrate having a first groove and a plurality of conductor patterns electrically connected to the leads, a ferrule having a center hole in which an optical fiber is inserted and fixed, the ferrule being mounted in the first groove of the substrate so that one end of the ferrule projects from an end surface of the substrate, and an optical element mounted on the substrate for making conversion between light and electricity. The optical module further includes a transparent first resin for covering at least the optical element and the other end of the ferrule, and a second resin for enclosing all of the leads, the substrate, the ferrule, the optical element, and the first resin except the one end of the ferrule and a part of each of the leads.

Abstract: The present invention provides an indoor/outdoor cable having an optical fiber, a dry-loose tube, a fiberglass yarn matrix and a jacket, with water swellable powder. The dry-loose tube has the optical fiber arranged therein. The fiberglass yarn matrix has fiberglass yarns and is arranged about the dry-loose tube. The jacket is arranged about the fiberglass yarn matrix. Either the jacket, dry-loose tube, fiberglass yarn matrix or a combination thereof, is made from an optimum blend of FRPVC and PVDF in a ratio of 50% PVDF and 50% FRPVC. The ratio is in a range of 30-60% PVDF to 70-40% FRPVC. The diameter of the water swellable powder particles sprinkled on the optical fiber are less than 50 microns, are in a range of 10-50 microns, and are applied on the optical fiber with about 0.10-1.0 grams per meter. The indoor/outdoor flame-retardant cable also may have a cyclically-placed low viscosity elastomer for connecting the one or more optical fibers to the dry-loose buffer tube.

Abstract: The invention relates to a dispersion compensating optical fiber which is connected to a single-mode optical fiber having zero dispersion in the wavelength of 1.31 &mgr;m and has both a dispersion compensating function and a function serving as an optical transmission line, wherein the distribution of refractive indexes of dispersion compensating optical fiber is of W-type profile, the dispersion value in the wavelength of 1.55 &mgr;m is in a range from −20 ms/nm/km or more to −10 ps/nm/km or less, the ratio of dispersion slope to the dispersion value in the wavelength of 1.55 &mgr;m is set to almost the same as the absolute value of the ratio of dispersion slope with the dispersion value in the same wavelength of 1.55 &mgr;m of the single-mode optical fiber while the positive and negative codes thereof are inversed, the specific refractive index difference &Dgr;+ of center core 1 to clad 3 is in the range from 1.0% or more to 1.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a gas cooled fiber-optic cable apparatus for use in a hostile environment, for instance adjacent a metallurgical furnace, and a method using the apparatus to determine carbon content of molten steel. The fiber-optic cable includes a radiation collection end comprising a manifold chamber that surrounds the fiber-optic cable filaments used to collect radiant energy emitted from the furnace flame. The manifold includes a tip portion having an orifice to expose the filaments to the radiant energy, and a gas supply attached to the manifold to inject a cooling gas into the chamber. The orifice provides a discharge for expelling the cooling gas from the manifold chamber at a high velocity purge to prevent foreign matter from entering the chamber. The gas cooled fiber-optic cable transmits collected radiant energy to a radiation sensor.

Abstract: An optical fiber multi-ribbon and method for making the same is disclosed. The optical fiber multi-ribbon comprises N, where N is an integer greater than one, optical fiber ribbon members arranged in a common plane. Each of the N optical fiber ribbon members further comprise a plurality of optical fibers arranged in a planar array and an ultraviolet light curable primary matrix ribbonizing layer enveloping the plurality of optical fibers. The material forming the primary matrix ribbonizing layer of at least one of the N optical fiber ribbon members has a surface cure of at least about 80 percent. An ultraviolet light curable secondary matrix ribbonizing layer envelopes the primary matrix ribbonizing layers of the N optical fiber ribbon members. The secondary matrix ribbonizing layer material has a percent elongation to break greater than about 20 percent.

Abstract: An apparatus for performing spatial and spectral analysis comprising a bundle of a plurality of chalcogenide glass fiber, an optical system for transmitting light received from the bundle, and a detector for receiving the light signal from the optical system for providing spatial and spectral analysis of the bundle image; maximum diameter of the fibers is about the size of the pixels on the detector.

Abstract: A method of, and system for, controlling one or more wavelength channels added to an optical fiber trunk of a WDM system from a branch terminal via a saturated amplifier in which an additional wavelength signal different from the wavelength of wanted channels is introduced to the input of the saturated amplifier to reduce the level of the added wanted channel(s).

Abstract: The split open dead end cable connector includes two hinged halves with half circular serrated channels which align when the halves are in a closed position to form a serrated aperture for engaging the fiber optical cable. Lateral taper rail segments are likewise formed on the sides of the hinged halves which align when the halves are in a closed position to form tapered rails. Sliding wedges with internal channels complementary to the tapered rails are used to urge the halves together into a closed position. Prongs of a U-bail pass through loops formed on the sides of the halves of the body and the sliding wedges. Nuts threadably attached to the prongs of the U-bail secure the connector together and urge the sliding wedges to a position urging the halve to a closed position.

Abstract: A transmission line, such as an optical fiber (or wire) transmission line, is installed by first installing a conduit having one or more bores and subsequently inserting flexible, lightweight optical fiber members containing the optical fibers into the bores. The optical fiber members are propelled by employing the fluid drag of air, or another suitable gas, passed at high velocity through the bores.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a manufacturing method for an opto-mechanical connector (10) and to the connector itself. The invention includes that a fixture (1) is manufactured with straight and parallel grooves (2,3) running on the upper side of the fixture (1) from a first fixture side (1a) to a second fixture side (1b), and which grooves (2,3) are intended partly for optical fibers and partly for guide pins. A lid (4) is attached above the fixture (1), whereafter optical fibers (8) from, for example, a fiber ribbon cable (6) are introduced into the grooves (2) intended for the fibers from the first fixture side (1a) so that the fiber ends (8) extend out through the second fixture side (1b). Guide pins (9) are furthermore introduced into the grooves (3) intended for the guide pins. The structure obtained (fixture (1), lid (4), fiber ends (8) and guide pins (9)) is completely or partially enclosed by a plastic capsule (11).