Abstract: An optical connector attached to an optical fiber embedded in a structure, such as a composite laminate part. The connector is attached by trimming the structure across the path of the fiber, exposing an end of the fiber that lies flush with the surface of the structure. The fiber end and the surrounding surface are then polished. The connector is placed in a micropositioner and the micropositioner is attached to the structure with the connector roughly in alignment with the fiber end. A light source is then placed at the other end of the fiber, which transmits light to the connector, and a light meter is attached to the connector. The micropositioner is adjusted to refine the alignment by moving the connector to a position where the light meter indicates a maximum intensity. When the light meter indicates a maximum intensity, the connector is secured in place on the structure using an adhesive. The micropositioner may be removed after the adhesive has hardened.

Abstract: An amplifier having an amplifying optical fiber, the amplifier including means for reducing the optical noise due to amplified spontaneous emission, said means being inserted in the length of the amplifying optical fiber, wherein said means comprise an optical isolator.

Abstract: The invention features a fiber optic coupler package including a rigid substrate and at least two side-by-side optical fibers joined in a coupler region. The substrate has a coefficient of thermal expansion substantially matched to that of the fibers. Each fiber extends axially to opposite sides of the coupler region to a primary and secondary regions of fixation, at each side of the coupler region. In the primary region of fixation, each fiber is separately bonded in close proximity to a rigid mounting surface of the substrate using a small amount of adhesive contiguously disposed on opposite sides of the line of tangency formed by the fiber and the mounting surface. The adhesive is distributed to form a pair of substantially identical masses with mirror symmetry relative to a plane defined by the central fiber axis and the line of tangency.

Abstract: A compact adaptor for holding two individual fiber optic connectors in flexible side-by-side positions for future alignment within a common connector housing. The adaptor comprises two clamp members for engaging the connectors on opposite sides thereof. The clamp members each comprise two shallow U-shaped sections, with each section having a base portion and leg portions integral therewith. A bridge member extends outwardly from the bases and is outwardly bowed such that it can be manipulated by the user of the connectors and adaptor. Such manipulation of the bridge member permits relative movement of the U-shaped sections and thus relative movement of the side-by-side fiber optic connectors in a direction perpendicular to their longitudinal axes.

Abstract: A method for fabricating single-mode and multi-mode attenuators characterized by a high level of wavelength insensitivity. A light source is connected to one end of a fiber and the other end is connected to an optical power meter. The optical power meter is set to a 0 dB reference. The fiber is then cut and the cut ends cleaved to define first and second segments. The ends of the segments are offset and overlapped by an axial distance that is large relative to the fiber diameter. The overlapping ends are heated so that they assume a fused state, and the relative axial positioning of the fiber ends while they are in the plastic state is adjusted to achieve the desired degree of attenuation, as indicated on the meter.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector comprises a deformable sleeve (5) for receiving the fiber(s) in a rigid connector body (13) to hold the fibers (20) in position relative to the body. After compression, the front end of the sleeve remains set back inside the body.

Abstract: Throughput between two objects of light or another physical quantity having a substantially unimodal throughput profile in terms of relative orientation of said objects, is maximized. To this end, the physical quantity is initially transmitted between the objects at other than optimum throughput in the substantially unimodal throughput profile, and relative movement in loops in the substantially unimodal throughput profile is imposed on the objects. Throughput intensities are detected at different specific points along the loops, and detected throughput intensities are arranged at corresponding different specific points in an array, from which the relative orientation of the objects at which a maximum throughput has occurred is identified. A discrepancy may be displayed or the objects are moved unto that optimum relative orientation. The process may be reiterated until maximum throughput has been achieved, at least within an acceptable tolerance.

Abstract: An integrated electro-optic waveguide device has a substrate, an optically transparent lower buffer layer positioned atop the substrate, an optically transparent nonlinear optic (NLO) organic poled polymer waveguide positioned atop the lower buffer layer, and a GaAs laser diode optically coupled to the waveguide. The NLO material has a higher refractive index than the buffer layer. A ridge waveguide section forms an extended resonator cavity for the laser diode and combines a modulation function and an in-cavity quasi-phase matched second harmonic generation function. A grating coupled ridge-to-planar waveguide section combines a beam expansion function, a TE-TM conversion function, and a beam turning function. A planar surface prism electrode section provides electro-optic waveguide beam deflection. A dual linear grating coupler section performs the output/input coupling. Beam turning is accomplished by a planar waveguide mirror section.

Abstract: An optical reflective star device having a number of ports for distributing each signal fed to a port over the other ports. Said optical reflective star device is made up a number of star elements and comprises a number of reflectors provided at reflection points in the reflective star device. At least one of the reflectors is an orthogonal polarisation reflector.

Abstract: A cryogenic signal coupling apparatus includes a laser which launches optical power into an integrated optical waveguide (IOW) within a cryogenic region via an imaging lens. This optical power is then equally split by a passive optical splitter, and fed to one or more 1.times.2 IOW devices. Within the cryogenic region, a plurality of infrared sensing photodiodes provide electrical signal outputs in response to optical stimuli, which signal outputs are amplified and selected by a multiplexing arrangement for application as the modulating signal to one of the 1.times.2 IOW's. Control electronics also within the cryogenic region supply timing and control information to the other electronics therein. The IOW's modulate their input optical power in accordance with their respective modulating electrical input signals, and provide differential optical outputs which are directed across the thermal barrier to individual differential optical receivers.

Abstract: An active optical coupler for use in an optical data link communication system includes a multi channel coupler having a plurality of input channel fibers for receiving an original optical signal, an optical branch separating the original optical signal into a predetermined number of separated optical signals, and a plurality of output channel fibers for distributing the separated optical signals. An amplification circuit is connected to one of the output channel fibers which distributes the separated optical signal having a lowest power for amplifying this separated optical signal to produce an amplified optical signal. This amplified optical signal is supplied to any other of the input channels other than that which the original optical signal is input to and then distributed to the output channels again.

Abstract: An optical backplane is made by making an aperture (15) at each of a plurality of output ports (13). The optical fiber (12) is adhered to the substrate such that all of the optical fiber segments of each output port traverse the aperture of that port. Next, the optical fiber segments traversing each aperture are contained between a pair of first (18, 19) optical fiber support members on opposite sides. The support members are next encapsulated in a plastic encapsulation (24), preferably by injection molding. The encapsulation, support members and substrate are cut transversely to the optical fiber segments, and the exposed ends (27) of the optical fiber segments are polished. This provides a connector for the output port to which a matching array of optical fibers (32) contained between opposite second support members can be abutted and aligned so as to transmit light from the output port the second optical fibers.

Abstract: A switching system for selectively distributing a laser beam from a laser source to one of a plurality of welding stations for laser welding thereat. The system includes a first optical fiber directing the laser beam therethrough, and a pair of second optical fibers leading to the welding stations, respectively. A switching device connects the first optical fiber selectively to one of the second optical fibers so as to pass the laser beam to the corresponding welding station for enabling the laser welding thereat. The switching device comprises a housing having a longitudinal axis and holding input ends of the second optical fibers in parallel relation with the longitudinal axis, a carrier supporting an output end of the first optical fiber and linearly movable together therewith within the housing in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis such that the output end of the first optical fiber comes into and out of closely end-to-end facing relation to the input ends of the second optical fibers.

Abstract: A low profile cable housing a multiplicity of electrical, mechanical, or optical fiber components or a mixture thereof which has component breakouts within the length of the cable at any point or points between the ends of the cable which do not add to the profile or mass of the cable and processes for its manufacture and for sizing a cable to constant cross-section.

Abstract: Electrical and optical couplings are provided in a common housing for electrically and optically interconnecting respective cable ends. Such cables have a central optical conductor surrounded by an electrical conductor, preferably a wire mesh conductor. The coupling components cooperate with each other for providing a secure electrical connection and a precise optical coupling, while simultaneously protecting the optical conductor against damage and against excessive bending. The electrical connection and the optical coupling are separate and do not interfere with each other.

Abstract: A method of fabricating composite optical channel waveguides in electro-ocal polymers. An electrically conductive substrate is coated with an ultraviolet epoxy resin which is cured by subjecting the composite to an ultraviolet light. Another layer of ultraviolet epoxy resin is applied and developed into a predetermined waveguide configuration by selective curing. The uncured epoxy is removed with a solvent which does not effect the cured ultraviolet epoxy resin. A non-linear polymer is coated over the composite and a gold electrode is deposited on its upper surface for poling purposes. After poling, the gold electrode is removed and an upper cladding is applied along with the device electrode. The invention also provides a novel waveguide as produced by the method. Where a simple waveguide is desired, the steps of applying the gold film, poling, heating, and acid etching the gold film may be omitted.

Abstract: Disclosed is an optical fiber distribution apparatus where the fibers are organized in a horizontal position above or below vertically mounted circuit packs and recessed from the circuit pack faceplates. A fiber termination on a top or bottom edge of each circuit pack mates with connectors to the fibers in the horizontal position.

Abstract: A system and method for data communications using a multiplicity of modulators, each of which accept a data input signal and modulate an optical carrier generated by a single optical energy source and propagated along a fiber optic waveguide. The carrier is modulated by the use of a doped polymer contained in the modulators and maintained in contact with the fiber optic waveguide.

Abstract: An Infrared Fiber Optic Distribution Sensor (IFODS) and control system is ed in a non-contact method for ensuring that a fiber optic cable is unwound from a supply spool at a nominal angle to thereby reduce the twist and stress imparted to the cable. The system is mounted to a fiber optic winding machine platform for an automatic fiber winding system (AFWS). The AFWS is used to precision wind fiber optic dispensers for the Non-Line of Sight (NLOS) weapon system as well as the Naval Weapons Center's SKYRAY program. The IFODS uses pairs of infrared sources and receivers mounted directly across from each other and perpendicular to the plane of the fiber to sense the position of the fiber. Three pairs of sources/receivers are utilized. They are arranged so that the axis of each pair is offset from the center pair by 0.06 inches. If the fiber optic cable breaks the beam of the top pair the distribution motor will drive the supply spool down until he fiber breaks the beam of the middle pair.

Abstract: A cable, which may be a fiber optic cable, includes a plurality of conductors which are twisted together. A tape with a layer of superabsorbent powder thereon, is wrapped around the conductors. A sheath is formed around the outside of the tape. If a leak should occur, the superabsorbent powder absorbs moisture and expands to block further entry of moisture into the cable. The tape is formed by applying a layer of adhesive to a strip of flexible material. The adhesive is advantageously applied in a helical pattern which is spaced from longitudinal edges of the tape. The superabsorbent powder is then applied to the adhesive. A suction head removes excess superabsorbent powder from the tape. The tape is then wrapped around the conductors of the cable. The adhesive may be a sealant material which is applied to the conductors before they are wrapped with the tape.