Abstract: The present invention provides an optical energy beam transmission path structure comprising at least one pair of optical fibers each having a connection end, and at least one fiber connector for connecting the connection ends of the paired fibers substantially coaxially. A small axial air gap is formed between the connection ends of the paired fibers, and an annular clearance is formed immediately around the connection end of the glass body of each fiber.

Abstract: A method of attaching an optical fiber to an IOC includes the step of forming an alignment groove in the waveguide surface of the IOC by utilizing a laser ablation system to remove a predetermined portion of the IOC material. Next, a dicing saw or other cutting means is used to cut into the IOC at a depth less than the thickness of the IOC, the cut forming a cut surface which is normal or at an angle with respect to both an optical axis of the waveguide and to an axis of the alignment groove, such step of cutting performing the additional function of optically polishing the cut surface. Next, an optical fiber is disposed within the alignment groove, and the fiber core is optically aligned with the optical axis of the waveguide by translational and rotational positioning of the fiber end face adjacent to the cut surface.

Abstract: An optical fiber switch in which the switching force is applied directly to the fiber. A biasing force, generated by a bending of the fiber, is exerted on the fiber in a direction tending to urge the same toward the bottom of a first groove. The switching force is applied transversely to the direction of the biasing force, and moves the fiber out of the first groove and into a second, adjacent groove. When in the second groove, the biasing force on the fiber urges the same toward the bottom of the second groove.

Abstract: A coupler (2,3) comprises, a central single mode optical fiber (5) and N number of glass fibers (4), having radii of equal dimensions, fused together along biconic tapered sections (13, 13) to couple optical power from the central fiber (5) completely and uniformly to only the fibers (4) that have optical cores (6).

Abstract: There is provided a magnetooptic device including a substrate; a semiconductor layer having a quantum well structure formed on the substrate, in which the semiconductor layer is formed by alternately laminating a well layer and a barrier layer and at least the barrier layer in those layers contains magnetic ions; and electrodes to apply an electric field to the semiconductor layer. A light which was polarized in a predetermined direction is input to the semiconductor layer. A magnetic field is applied to the semiconductor layer. An electric field is applied to the semiconductor layer by the electrodes. The light which was transmitted in the semiconductor layer is extracted. A degree of leakage of a wave function of the carrier in the well layer into the barrier layer changes. An effective magnetic field which a carrier spin feels changes by an exchange interaction between the carrier spin and a magnetic moment associated with the magnetic ions.

Abstract: In optic cable there is provided a ripcord which lies partly within the sheath and partly outside the sheath by extending between overlapped edges of the sheath. Parts of the ripcord outside the sheath and spaced along the cable and are accessible by removal of directly overlying regions of jacket. No cutting of the sheath is required to access the ripcord which, however, after access may be used for ripping along the sheath.

Abstract: A beam distributor apparatus employing an eccentrically mounted retroreflector prism is driven to revolve about a central axis by a motor/encoder to direct an input beam to a plurality of optical fibers in sequence. The retroreflector prism possesses the property of reflecting a beam in a directional parallel to the incident beam but displaced laterally therefrom. In one arrangement, a synchronously triggered laser is used as the light source. In a second embodiment, a non-laser light source is employed with a shutter coupled to be triggered in synchronism with the position of the rotating prism relative to the output optical fibers.

Abstract: An attachment structure is described that provides means for holding and for applying tensile force to an optical fiber clamped therein. Attachment to an optical fiber is accomplished by stripping the buffer layer(s) from a portion of the fiber and casting a thermosetting polymer encapsulating and compressing member thereon at elevated temperature so that, at lower than the polymer curing temperature, the cast polymer encapsulating member is in compression on the bared fiber and on a short portion of its adjacent buffer layer(s). A tension wire which provides a means for applying external force to the optical fiber has one end inserted axially in the mold for incorporation into the cast encapsulating member. The wire is also placed under compression at temperatures below that of the curing temperature of the polymer. To maintain compression over temperature elevated temperatures, a restrictive cylindrical coil spring is directly engaged around the encapsulating member.

Abstract: A optical talk set has a talk set including bending means for bending an optical fiber of an optical cable, vibration applying means for applying vibration to the optical fiber, and a light-receiving element for receiving light leaking upon bending of the optical fiber and for converting the light into electricity, a signal transmitting/receiving line having an input/output terminal, for enabling transmission of signals to be input to the bending means and the vibration applying means and a signal output from the light-receiving element, and a housing enclosing the converter, the signal transmitting/receiving line, and the light-receiving element. The input/output terminal of the signal transmitting/receiving line is provided so as to be exposed to the outside of the housing, by virtue of which a call can be made without opening the housing, facilitating maintenance, etc. of an optical fiber path.

Abstract: A fiber optic coupler and method of manufacture of same in which a single core optical fiber is twisted about a dual core optical fiber and is heated to softening while drawing the melted junction out to form a biconical taper for providing a controlled splitting ratio for light from the single optical fiber into the dual core fiber. In another embodiment two single core fibers are fused to form a dual core fiber without coupling between the cores.

Abstract: In an optical communication system with a fiber-optic amplifier (10) which includes a wavelength-selective fiber-optic coupler (12) for coupling pump light into the amplifying length of fiber (11), according to the invention, an additional optical signal from, e.g., a service channel is transmitted from the location of the fiber-optic amplifier (10) in one direction or the other by being coupled into the unused port (4 ) of the wavelength-selective fiber-optic coupler (12). Any coupler (12) suitable for coupling the pump light into the amplifying length of fiber (11) can thus be used to couple an additional optical signal into the fiber-optic link (15) of the system without any special step having to be taken.

Abstract: In an optical coupler of this invention, second and third single mode optical fibers are arranged to be parallel with each other with a first single mode optical fiber intervening therebetween, and a region in which the second and third optical fibers are linearly symmetrical with each other about the first optical fiber as the center is distribution-coupled. The coupling length of distributed coupling is set such that when the first and second light waves having a wavelength .lambda.1 and a wavelength .lambda.2 different from the wavelength .lambda.1 are incident on one port of the first optical fiber, the first light wave is emitted from the other port of the first optical fiber and the second light wave is emitted from the second and third optical fibers.

Abstract: An apparatus for aligning a plurality of single-fiber cables, comprises a base, a cover hinged to the base and forming a gap along with the base when closed, and a pair of arms inserted in the gap and movable within the gap, for aligning the single-fiber cables in the same plane. To align single-fiber cables by means of the apparatus, the cables are arranged on the base, one after another. Then, the cover is closed, whereby the cables are located in the gap between the base and the cover. The arms or the pawl members, which are inserted in the gap, are moved, thereby putting the cables together and placing them parallel to one another in the same plane, any cable not forced above so that it rides atop another. The cables, thus aligned, can easily be held by a holder designed for multi-fiber cables.

Abstract: This invention relates to organic optical waveguide devices which have improved barrier properties after having been coated with silicon monoxide, and then with silicon dioxide doped with certain metals.

Abstract: A pair of interferometers, such as Mach-Zehnders, are disposed in a series arrangement in which a signal fed to an input of the first Mach-Zehnder is modulated by an optic modulator, the modulated signal is fed to an input of the second Mach-Zehnder and is modulated by a second optic modulator, the two optic modulators effectively being connected in a series or cascade arrangement. The phase offset of both modulators and the contrast of one modulator are adjusted to minimize both second and third order harmonics inherently generated by the modulation process of each modulator, thereby providing an improved linear response in the output signal of the second Mach-Zehnder.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for optically coupling one or more electrical signals to one or more optical waveguide members. A terminating block has embedded therein a first plurality of collimating cylindrical lenses protruding from a first end of the block. A plurality of fibers, arranged longitudinally with respect to the lenses, are additionally embedded in the block and exit the block through a second end. Outside of the block, the fibers are surrounded by a protector. A redirecting assembly defines a port, sized to receive the terminating block. Also defined within the assembly is a transverse aperture having a plurality of circularly enlarged regions. The assembly has a prism secured therein. The prism is positioned so that it is aligned with the first plurality of lenses when the block is fully inserted into the port. An integrated circuit package contains a plurality of light-emitting or light-detecting devices having one or more leads.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for mode coupling a light beam into an optical cavity provide an input fiber pigtail with a fiber endface at one end of that input fiber pigtail. A cavity input aperture adapter is made integral with that input fiber pigtail at an opposite end of that input fiber pigtail for attachment to the housing of the optical cavity at its light input aperture. The input fiber pigtail is provided with a fiber input coupler integral with that input fiber pigtail at the above mentioned one end of the input fiber pigtail. That fiber input coupler has an integrated lens for focusing the light beam onto the fiber endface. The cavity input aperture adapter has a lens assembly for directing light from the above mentioned opposite end of the fiber pigtail into the input aperture of the optical cavity. Either the fiber input coupler or the cavity input aperture adapter may be omitted in different embodiments.

Abstract: An integrated optical directional coupler is formed of two strip waveguides integrated on a substrate. A strip waveguide section in a coupling section of the directional coupler is designed as a controllable strip waveguide. The strip waveguides outside of this section are passive strip waveguides. In order to guarantee a largely polarization-dependent function of this coupler and of an optical switch realized therewith, the passive waveguides comprise a defined, different strip waveguide structure than the controllable strip waveguide.

Abstract: A coupler for efficiently coupling a laser light source to a fiberoptic catheter. The coupler contains coding for determining information about the catheter, such as the size of the optical fiber catheter which it is coupling.

Abstract: A novel all-plastic optical fiber comprising core and clad components which is tough, flexible, and which has a low transmission loss, wherein the core component is composed of a homopolymer or copolymer of a monomer selected from one or more monomers represented by the general formula (I), or a copolymer of the at least one monomer represented by the general formula (I) and other copolymerizable comonomers and which has a glass transition temperature Tg.sub.1 .degree. C.; and wherein the clad component is composed of a copolymer of perfluoro[2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxol] and one other ethylenically unsaturated monomer, and which has a glass transition temperature Tg.sub.2 .degree. C.; and which meets the relationship wherein that the absolute difference of .vertline.Tg.sub.1 -Tg.sub.2 .vertline. is not greater than 30.degree. C. ##STR1## (wherein X is CH.sub.3, H, D, F, Cl, or CF.sub.3 ; Y is H or D; and Rf is a fluoroalkyl group having a linear or branched chain).