Abstract: A method for providing substantial protection and insulation for submarine cable joints without utilizing costly molding and x-ray equipment. A heat shrinkable polyolefin protective covering includes an unexpanded conical transition between two expanded cylindrical portions. The unexpanded conical transition precisely locates the protective covering against a conical portion of a submarine cable jointbox. Polyamide adhesive is applied to the inside surfaces of the protective covering. During the application of heat to the protective covering, insubstantial relative movement between the conical transition portion of the protective covering and the locating portion of the jointbox allows proper alignment of the protective covering as the expanded cylindrical portions shrink and move relative to the jointbox. The diameters of the cylindrical portions of the protective covering are selected such that a nominal hoop stress is created during heating to minimize air entrapment and voids in the adhesive.

Abstract: An illumination optical apparatus of this invention is small in size as a whole and capable of illuminating a plurality of illumination areas on a mask. The illumination optical apparatus illuminates a plurality of areas on a mask to be projected/exposed. This apparatus includes at least two light sources, a focusing optical system for focusing light beams from the respective light sources to form light source images, a light guide having incident ends equal in number to the light sources and exit ends equal in number to the illumination areas and serving to guide light beams from the respective light source images incident on the incident ends to the exit ends, and an illumination optical system for irradiating the light beams from the respective light source images emerging from the exit ends of the light guide onto the corresponding areas on the mask.

Abstract: A confocal microscope including a light source; an optical fiber bundle defining a plurality of optical channels for receiving light from the light source and for transmitting the light to an object and for allowing light to return from the object through the optical fiber bundle; a switch for selectively switching selected fibers in the optical fiber bundle so as to allow light to selectively be transmitted and returned through individual optical channels until an image of the object is produced; and a detector for receiving returned light from the optical fiber bundle to enable the image of the object to be produced.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical waveguide transition and its fabrication method, enabling coupling between a buried optical waveguide and a ridged optical waveguide. The transition structure is formed during etching of a layer containing the buried optical waveguide, the transition area being formed by adiabatically increasing the lateral dimensions of the buried waveguide. Top layers are deposited on the buried waveguide and its widened structure in the transition area, and the ridged optical waveguide is fabricated with one part on top of the transition area. Coupling of the respective propagation modes in the buried and ridged waveguides is effected by mode adaptation in the region between the two waveguide structures in the transition area. The transition of the invention is made in two conventional epitaxy steps.

Abstract: A faceplate for mounting to an outlet box located behind a wall has an upper portion and a lower portion. The upper portion is pivotally attached to the lower portion so that it may be swung out from the wall to permit access to the rear thereof and to the outlet box. The front face of the faceplate has one or more openings therein into which both electrical and optical fiber type couplers may be fitted. The front face of the faceplate has tracks formed thereon for mounting a protective hood, and the rear face of the faceplate has an aperture therein for receiving and mounting a fiber or wire storage member.

Abstract: An imaging arrangement has a first lens array with a focal surface and a tapered optical fiber bundle arranged with one end face coincident with the focal surface of the lens array. Another end of the bundle is coincident an optical device. The optical device may be a second lens array, an image capture device, a photographic plate, or an electronic image capture device such as a CCD array. The fiber bundle may comprise a single graded index fiber connecting the first and second lens arrays. An integral transmission screen may be provided to project a spatially inverted integral image onto the first lens array.

Abstract: A bi-directional optical link, comprising: a light source for transmitting light at a first wavelength; a photodetector in substantially linear arrangement with the light source for detection of light of a second wavelength; and an optical fiber for carrying light of the second wavelength to the photodetector and for carrying light of the first wavelength from the light source, the optical fiber in substantially linear arrangement with the photodetector and the light source.

Abstract: An integrated opto-electronic component includes an amplifying segment coupled to a tuning segment to provide a wavelength tunable laser oscillator function insensitive to the polarization of optical waves that it receives. The amplifying segment is designed to be insensitive to polarization. The tuning segment includes a Bragg grating and a waveguide dimensioned to procure transversely monomode laser emission with rectilinear polarization. Applications include wavelength converters and stabilized gain amplifiers, in particular for optical transmission.

Abstract: A composite fiber optic and electrical cable having a core which loosely contains at least one optical fiber, one or more electrical conductors having an outer polymer insulating layer, one or more strength members and a surrounding protective jacket. The protective jacket is formed of a polymer material which forms a distinct mechanically separate phase from the polymer material forming the insulation layer surrounding the respective electrical conductors. For example, the jacket can be made of a polymer material having a melting temperature lower than the melting temperature of the insulating material of the electrical conductors. As a result, the polymer jacket does not bond with the insulating material during production of the cable. The jacket can, thus, be easily stripped from the electrical conductors during installation of the cable to facilitate the attachment of the electrical conductors to a signal repeater, or power source, or other electrical devices.

Abstract: An optical attenuator uses a segment of attenuating fiber interposed in the optical path. The attenuating fiber is produced by using a solution doping technique to introduce transition or rare earth elements into the fiber's core. The dopant reduces the transmission of the fiber. The degree of attenuation depends upon the material used as the dopant, the dopant level, and the length of the attenuation segment. In a specific embodiment, an optical attenuator is provided having a first and second signal carrying optical fibers and an attenuating fiber segment, each of which has a core, a cladding substantially coaxial with the core, and a substantially planar endface. The attenuating fiber segment is fusion spliced between the first and second signal carrying optical fibers. In a second embodiment a portion of the cladding of the attenuating fiber is chemically etched.

Abstract: For improving mechanical characteristics of an aged optical glass fiber, the segment is retained between clamps, e.g. in a conventional splicing machine. Then the segment is heated to a high temperature in the vicinity of the softening temperature or melt temperature of the glass material of the fiber by means of an infrared light beam from a carbon dioxide laser or by an electric arc generated between the welding electrodes. In particular, the tensile strength is increased considerably by this procedure, what allows that the heated segment can be handled and exposed to the operative steps required for splicing the fiber to another optical fiber. Then also old fibers arranged in the ground can be repaired and spliced, and it is not necessary to replace whole lengths of old fibers.

Abstract: An optical fiber ferrule assembly is disclosed which comprises an inner sleeve (of a metallic material, for example) including a necked-down portion for securing the fiber, and an outer housing (of a plastic material, for example) formed as a cylindrical member through which the sleeve may be inserted. A washer may be attached to a flanged end portion of the sleeve and subsequently laser welded to an associated optical submount.

Abstract: An remote fiber test system includes at least one mechanical optical switch has opposing input and output optical fiber bundles disposed within offset ferrules with at least one input fiber coupled to a measurement test instrument and each of the output fiber coupled to an optical fiber link via wavelength division multiplexers. Each ferrule of the optical switch is mounted in three-point kinematically correct V-groove holder allowing the optical fibers in each optical fiber bundle to traverse on a closed curve path during the rotation of the respective ferrules. The closed curve paths of each optical fiber in one of the optical fiber bundles intersect at least one of the closed curve paths of the optical fiber in the opposing optical fiber bundles. The intersection points of two opposing closed curve paths establish the optimum positioning locations for two opposing fibers.

Abstract: Polyimide optical waveguide structures comprising a core within a cladding wherein at least one of the core and the cladding is a polyimide containing 6FDA; and the complementary portion of the waveguide structure is a polyimide having partial replacement of the 6FDA of the core or cladding composition by BPDA, and wherein the difference in the birefringence of the core and cladding are less than the difference in the refractive index. Copolyimides containing 6FDA and BPDA moieties, and at least one diamine, which have properties useful in optical applications including adjustable refractive index and controllable birefringence, low optical losses, low optical absorbance, increased solvent resistance, and high thermal stability. A method for adjusting the refractive index to make useful copolyimide core/cladding waveguide structures by controlling the 6FDA/BPDA ratio.

Abstract: A projection display is based on a new switching technology for routing laser light among a set of optical waveguides and coupling that light toward the viewer. The switching technology is based on poled electro-optical structures. The display technology is versatile enough to cover application areas spanning the range from miniature high resolution computer displays to large screen displays for high definition television formats. The invention combines the high brightness and power efficiency inherent in visible semiconductor diode laser sources with a new waveguide electro-optical switching technology to form a dense two-dimensional addressable array of high brightness light emissive pixels. This invention provides an all solid-state, full color, high resolution projection display suitable for displaying computer generated information and full motion HDTV.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical switching system for use with an optical fiber that has a core of a prescribed refractive index and a cladding and that is configured to carry an optical signal of a prescribed bandwidth. Preferably, the optical fiber's core includes a photosensitive dopant. In a preferred embodiment, the optical switching system comprises an optical switch coupled to the optical fiber and includes a grating within the core. The optical switch has selectable non-diverting and forward-diverting modes of operation wherein the optical switch alters the prescribed refractive index: to render the grating substantially transparent to the optical signal as the optical switch operates in the non-diverting mode or, alternatively, to allow the grating to divert at least a portion of the optical signal forward and into the cladding as the optical switch operates in the forward-diverting mode.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an integrated semiconductor optical device comprises forming an optical fiber positioning groove of a main surface of a support substrate, flattening the main surface of the support substrate, positioning an optical component on the flattened main surface, again exposing the groove, and assembling and positioning an optical fiber in the exposed groove.

Abstract: A transmission system responsive to an electrical input information signal ncludes means for modulating the input signal with a microwave subcarrier signal to produce a subcarrier modulated signal. A first interferometric modulator responsive to a source light and to the subcarrier modulated signal produces a first modulated optical signal. A second interferometric modulator cascade coupled to the first modulator and being responsive to the first modulated optical signal and to a microwave local oscillator signal produces a second modulated optical signal. Means coupled between the first and second modulators transmit the first modulated optical signal from the first modulator to the second modulator. Means responsive to the second modulated optical signal produce an output signal.

Abstract: An optical fiber is releasably held in coil or skein form by a magnetized in film coating on the fiber. Adjacent convolutions are held together by a magnetic field to prevent unintended unravelling of the coil, but the fiber can be rapidly played out at high speed without rupture and with a constant release tension force. The magnetic field has a radial and axial component relative to the coil cylinder. A magnetizing apparatus is disclosed for magnetizing the film. A sensor feedback loop can dynamically adjust the reel-out drag force to dampen vibration modes during reel out which can cause tangle.

Abstract: An optical device includes a waveguide and a film or layer of a material having highly nonlinear optical characteristics, in particular a semiconductor material. The film is located so close to the waveguide core that the evanescent field of light propagating along the waveguide extends up to the film. In this optical device, the large nonlinear properties of the material influence the optical characteristics of the waveguide. When positioned along a similar D-fiber, the device can be used as a fiber-based, nonlinear coupler controlled by a relatively weak light signal. The same device can be used as an element of a laser and in a number of various other applications.