Abstract: Methods, apparatus and manufacturing processes are set forth which reduce the affects of scattered light in electro-optical devices, fiber optic links, etc., through the use of radiation sensitive compounds which, for example, can be easily applied to a semiconductor wafer when fabricating a solid state integrated receiver. According to the invention, a given radiation sensitive compound is transformed into a light blocking material (i.e., a material that will not transmit light) as a result of a lithographic (and in some cases a photolithographic) process. The resultant blocking material may be easily removed from any regions which is designed to receive transmitted light (for example, detector regions); while any other light sensitive regions remain covered (i.e., are protected) by the blocking material at the conclusion of the process.

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

Abstract: An optical waveguide, a dielectric device and method for fabricating such devices in which a substrate is polarized in a first direction and a dielectric thin film is formed on the surface of the substrate and polarized in the opposite direction to the substrate. Parallel grooves may be formed in the substrate. In one embodiment, a first dielectric thin film is formed on the substrate and is formed with grooves and is polarized in the same direction as the substrate. Then, a second dielectric thin film is formed over the first dielectric thin film and it is polarized in a direction which is opposite to the substrate and the first thin film.

Abstract: A cable for data transmission comprising a core comprising at least one energy transmission line; a jacket enclosing the core; armor strands wound around the jacket; and an embedding elastic structure, surrounding the jacket and designed to receive the armor strands. The cable may be manufactured as follows: (1) surrounding the core with a jacket; (2) surrounding the jacket with an embedding layer of curable but non cured thermosetting material; (3) enclosing the thermosetting layer with helically wound armor strands, in such a way that complementary grooves are generated in the embedding layer; and (4) subjecting the cable to heat in order to cure the thermosetting material of the embedding structure.

Abstract: Optical integrated circuitry, performing various of the functions associated with electronic integrated circuitry, is disclosed. Fabrication, importantly to achieve high circuit chip density--typically in the range of 10.sup.6 as including both devices and interconnecting guides--is dependent upon device/spacing dimension miniaturization resulting from fabrication in very thin layers. Typical layer thickness as retained in fabricated devices and guides, of a maximum of the order of a 1/2 wavelength for relevant photon flux, results in limitation in cross-talk to permit device design rules of one or a few wavelengths.

Abstract: A light-transmitting plastic fiber comprising, as a core component, a methacrylimide group-containing polymer prepared by polymerizing methyl methacrylate in the absence of a chain transfer agent and then imidizing the methyl methacrylate polymer thus prepared, and another polymer as a sheath component.

Abstract: A cable (K) comprises at least one lead (A) and at least one insulating layer (I). In communication technology, communications are transmitted between two apparatuses by cables of various types. In order to reduce to a minimum the number of cables and cable connections necessary, cables with a high transmission capacity are preferred. In order to substantially increase the transmission capacity of a cable (K) with at least one lead (A) and at least one insulating layer (I), the insulating layer (I) is made for optical transmission purposes of an optically conductive material. Optical transmission channels can be obtained using optically conductive materials for the insulating layers of all cables with one or more insulating layers, for example flat cables, coaxial cables, mains cables, etc., without having to increase the cross-section of the cable or to provide separate connections for additional cables in the appliances to be connected.

Abstract: There is disclosed an optical waveguide comprising a K.sub.1-x Rb.sub.x TiOMO.sub.4 single crystal substrate, wherein x is from 0 to 1 and M is P or As, having at least one optically smooth surface wherein sufficient K.sup.+ and/or Rb.sup.+ have been replaced by ions selected from at least one of H.sup.+ and NH.sub.4.sup.+ and, optionally, at least one monovalent ion selected from Rb.sup.+, Cs.sup.+, Tl.sup.+, and/or at least one divalent ion selected from Ba.sup.+2, Sr.sup.+2, Ca.sup.+2 and Pb.sup.+2 change the surface index of refraction at least about 0.00025 with respect to the index of refraction of the single crystal substrate. One process disclosed for producing an optical waveguide comprises the steps of contacting at least one optically smooth surface of a single crystal of K.sub.1-x Rb.sub.x TiOMO.sub.4 with an ion exchange medium capable of supplying said replacement ions for sufficient time at a temperature of from about 100.degree. C. to about 600.degree. C., and cooling the resulting crystal.

Abstract: A method of forming low loss splices between single-mode optical fiber ends involves taking prepared fiber ends and aligning the one with the other by inserting them into opposite ends of the bore of a ferrule, and fusing the fiber ends together by applying thermal energy thereto by means of an aperture in the wall of the ferrule. Splices prepared in this way have losses of less than 0.5 dB. The use of a precisely dimensioned ceramic ferrule enables the use of splicing apparatus which does not incorporate means for 3-dimensional micromanipulation.

Abstract: An optical backplane interconnects logic assemblies in a computer system using optical fibers. The logic assembly is connected to a laser or LED for converting electrical signals from the logic assembly into the equivalent optical signals. The optical signals are transmitted along the optical fibers to another logic assembly. The optical backplane comprises a mainframe rail for mounting to one end of the logic assembly, a connector attached to the mainframe rail, and an optical coupler mated with the connector. The optical coupler and connector having matching vee grooves for supporting and aligning the optical fibers.

Abstract: A coupling mechanism for a non-identical dual core optical fiber. The fiber is sensitized along selected portions of its length by coating the fiber in a pattern of bands of specified spacing with material that is sensitive to the presence of a predetermined parameter or environmental field. By virtue of inequality of propagation properties and mismatch of optical phase of the fields of the two cores, evanescent wave coupling is largely or wholly suppressed except in those portions of length coated in the specified spatially periodic manner. Optical power launched into one of the two cores remains propagating within that core alone over an extended length of the fiber, except for that period of time when the predetermined parameter or environmental field is sensed. The specific spatial periodicity of the pattern of coating bands on the outside of the fiber acts in concert with the nonidentical propagation parameters of the two cores to effect intercore coupling of optical energy.

Abstract: This invention discloses an optical fiber connect/disconnect for power lasers. The connect/disconnect should allow a laser/fiber user to quickly interface fiber injection input and fiber output couplers while providing an audible and visual optical alignment. The connect/disconnect also offers fiber end protection against dust and mechanical damage.

Abstract: An optical connector comprises an optical fiber cable including a nylon-coated fiber, a tension member thereon, a sheath covering the nylon-coated fiber and the tension member, a ferrule provided at the distal end of the optical fiber cable so as to be attached to the distal end of the nylon-coated fiber, and a holder having a distal end restricted in position by the ferrule when mounted on the nylon-coated fiber. The optical connector is constructed so that the holder is mounted on the nylon-coated fiber by after-attachment. A method for assembling the optical connector comprises providing an urging spring fitted on the nylon-coated fiber so as to be interposed between the ferrule and the holder so as to urge the ferrule forward, and providing a gripper attached to the rear portion of the holder.

Abstract: An isolated core cable for isolating a crush-sensitive core contained therein against a harsh environment, such as a fiber optic cable, a coaxial electric cable, a hydraulic line, or a pneumatic gas line, the cores therein being supported by a helically slit hard polymer tube inside a preferably braided fiber strength member. A resilient material may be wrapped around the cores inside the slit tube to further protect the cores from elongation and bending stresses.

Abstract: An excellent optical fiber built-in type composite insulator including at least two insulator bodies each having a penetration bore, at least one optical fiber inserted in the penetration bores, and sealing structures for the penetration bores of the insulator bodies and for a joining layer of opposing end surfaces of adjacent insulator bodies, is provided, which effectively prevents leakage of inner silicone grease, bending and breakage of the optical fiber, leakage of electric current along the penetration bores, short circuited trouble, and destruction of the insulator bodies, improves joining strength of the opposing end surfaces of the insulator bodies, and maintains the joining strength for a long period, affords a change of numbers of the insulator bodies, and facilitates the production. A method of producing such composite insulator is also provided.

Abstract: The flame-retardant cable of this invention is a single-core or multiple-core cable comprising a plastic optical fiber and at least one covering material covering this plastic optical fiber, and this flame-retardant cable is characterized in that at least one covering material is a highly flame-retardant resin, for example, a highly flame-retardant resin having an oxygen index (OI) of at least 32, preferably from 40 to 45, such as chlorinated polyethylene. This flame-retardant cable has an excellent flame retardancy with no lowering of the performances of the optical fiber. Moreover, the cable has an excellent flame resistance.

Abstract: In a fiber optic communication system, an acoustooptic modulator operates to provide a coherent light beam that is data encoded in the beam's time domain, for example by intensity modulation of the beam. A spatial light modulator then operates to address encode the beam by modulating the beam in the space domain. The resulting data and address modulated beam possesses the property of orthogonality. This beam is now transmitted to the input of a multimode optical fiber. The speckle pattern that exits the output of the optical fiber also exhibits orthogonality. This output beam is presented to a beam splitter in order to produce two spatially modulated speckle light patterns therefrom. These two beams are then focused onto photorefractive means whereat a hologram is produced. This hologram operates to address decode the beam output of the optical fiber. Detector means now operates to detect the data by receiving the beam as it is diffracted by the hologram. Ring and star interconnect networks are described.

Abstract: Efficient, simple, miniature and economical piezoelectric and ultrasonic devices employing optical fibers coated with lead-zirconate-titanate (PZT) thin piezoelectric and ferroelectric films are described. The PZT thin films are fabricated chemically by a sol-gel method. Optical fibers can be dipped into the PZT solution, and followed by an annealing and an electric poling process in order to achieve good piezoelectricity in the coated PZT films. This coating process can be devised as an on-line method and thus coating length can be larger than meters. Due to the long coating length, high piezoelectricity, miniature and flexible nature, devices using optical fibers may be used for medical, telecommunication and sensor applications.

Abstract: An optic waveguide includes a buffer layer with an index n1, a strip with a high index n2 and a guiding layer with an index n3. The refraction indices correspond to the relationship: n2>n3>n1. The thickness of the strip is chosen to be very small so as to induce no optic losses. The device can be applied to the making of optic and electrooptical components.

Abstract: An optical fibre coupling device comprises a mount 11 supporting an optical fibre waveguide having at a fibre end a surface of the fibre core 2 material which is surrounded by a body 3 of cladding material. At the core end a circular symmetric phase plate 7 is centered about the core 2 such that the light from a laser 1 entering or leaving the waveguide experiences a predetermined phase change. The phase change can act to reduce an optical coupling loss which occurs when the device is in use.