Abstract: The invention relates to a process and an apparatus for monitoring the hermeticity of filled containers closed by sealed-on or welded-on covers, or the like. The air or gas cushion present between the cover and the material with which the container is filled, is heated, and the change caused in the position of the cover, by the resulting increase in the volume of air or gas, is monitored, after which the containers which have been indicated as having missing or faulty covers, are removed.

Abstract: An optical waveguide includes a core of high purity fused silica, a cladding of high purity fused silica and a protective coating of metallic glass. The protective coating is applied as a liquid which contracts more than the glass after it solidifies to place the surface of the glass cladding under compression. Because the waveguide will break only under tension, the force of compression must be overcome before the waveguide can be fractured thereby strengthening the waveguide considerably. The metallic glass coating provides further advantages of abrasion protection and the prevention of fatigue.

Abstract: A device for producing an array of point sources of light. A number of parallel optical fibers or strips are positioned on a substrate. One end of the fibers or strips is illuminated by a light source. Light passing through and along each fiber or strip is reflected at spaced longitudinal reflecting faces integral with the fiber or strip. The device exhibits particular utility in illuminating microimages carried by a fiche.

Abstract: A fiber optic interface for combined signal transmission and detection is provided. The interface enables transmission in two directions over a single optic fiber and includes a housing having an elongated channel extending therethrough. The housing is comprised of a transparent material. A first optic fiber is secured in one end of the channel with the outermost end of the first optic fiber being aligned with a light source. A second optic fiber is secured in the other end of the channel with the innermost end of the second fiber being disposed adjacent the innermost end of the first fiber. The ends of the fibers are mismatched so that there is a loss of light passed from at least the second fiber to the first fiber during a light transmission from the second to the first fiber. A light sensitive device is secured to the housing and is responsive to light escaping at the junction between the first and the second fiber ends. The mismatching of the fiber ends is accomplished in two ways.

Abstract: A laser mounting package includes a ferrule containing an optical fiber held in it by jewels at each end of the fiber, the laser being mounted adjacent one end of the fiber. The laser is enclosed by an outer housing and the ferrule is mateable with a ferrule ended optical fiber transmission line.

Abstract: An oversized connector providing an optical fiber bonded in a bore hole is machined about the center axis of the optical fiber to properly center the optical fiber in relation to the centerline of a receptacle for the connector containing another optical fiber whose central axis is also in line with the centerline of the receptacle.

Abstract: An improved connector is disclosed for interconnecting a plurality of fiber optic cables with a like plurality of fiber optic cables or optical devices, the fibers of the cables being accurately positioned within the respective connectors. The subject connector can be used for either splicing or terminating individual cables, each cable including at least one fiber, as well as connecting a plurality of light transmitting fiber bundles in a single connector assembly to transmitting and receiving devices. The subject connector includes a housing with at least one cable receiving bore therein; an assembly including an annular crimping ring, a profiled ferrule member, and a helical spring member secured to an end of each cable; and a cap member securing the ferrule members in the housing member in a spring loaded condition.

Abstract: A planar semiconductor optical waveguide, modulator, variable coupler and switch are described. The waveguide has an epitaxial layer on a semiconductor substrate. Two spaced strips of opposite conductivity type are implanted in the layer to form an optical waveguide channel in the space. By closely spacing two waveguide channels so that they have a common strip and a strip outside each channel, coupling is obtained between the channels. For a switch, the coupling length is such that substantially all the optical energy in the input channel is coupled to and emerges from the other channel. Reverse biasing one of the outside strips causes the optical energy to divide between the input channel and the output channel to provide output power modulation or variable coupling, and substantially complete transfer of power (switching) for a particular value of reverse bias.

Abstract: A semiproduct for use in the manufacture of light conducting fibers comprising a core of synthetic quartz glass having a thickness of 6 to 400 mm, the quartz glass containing less than 10 ppm hydroxyl ions and having, in the near infrared spectral range, an optical loss totaling less than 4 dB/km, measured in the mass, the core being fused with a jacket having a wall thickness of 2 to 20 mm and consisting essentially of synthetic quartz glass containing more than 4,000 ppm of fluorine, the jacket having a length of at least 200 mm; a method of producing the same and light conducting fibers derived therefrom.

Abstract: A process for producing an optical transmission fiber is provided which comprises feeding highly pure halides, hydrides or organic compounds of Si and B by way of carrier gas on the outer surface of a fused silica rod or a fused silica pipe, or inner surface of a fused silica pipe, oxidizing them and depositing the products to form a pure fused silica layer or a doped fused silica layer containing B.sub.2 O.sub.3, melting the pipe and the deposited layer followed by a spinning. The SiO.sub.2 layer can alternatively contain fluorine instead of B.sub.2 O.sub.3. A further SiO.sub.2 layer can be deposited thereon to improve the spinning processability and lower the index of refraction of the B.sub.2 O.sub.3 containing layer.

Abstract: A waveguide system includes a unitary elastomer waveguide means having radiation propagating therethrough. The unitary waveguide means is shaped to have at one end a coupling means and at the other end a plurality of individual waveguide means with field means for selectively attenuating the radiation in selected ones of the individual waveguide means. The system is positioned with respect to an imaging surface so that radiation emanating from the individual waveguide means strikes the imaging surface to form a line pattern of radiated and non-radiated bits.

Abstract: A fiber optic device for providing a visual indication when a subassembly, such as an electronic "ATR box", is in place in a rack mounting arrangement with its electrical connections firmly mated with the corresponding rack connections within a small predetermined tolerance. A special fiber optic connector has first and second parts, one of which is attached to the ATR box and the other mounting in the rack for mating concurrently with the mating of the electrical connections. A number of such devices may be provided in a rack of equipment, each fixed rack mounted connector being supplied with a light signal via a length of fiber optic conductor, preferably from a common light source. Within the ATR box unit itself, another length of fiber optic conductor connects the fiber optic connector to the front panel or some other location for convenient observation.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a security device which detects tampering with secured closure. A fiber optic bundle is looped through a closure and secured at opposite ends of the bundle to a snap-together connector. An intermediate length of the fiber optic bundle surrounds the snap-together connector preventing access to its locking mechanism unless fibers are severed. After installation, light is passed through the fiber optics and a particular pattern is generated at a viewing end of the connector. Tampering with the closure will cause individual fiber optics to be disturbed or cut so that subsequent viewing of the fiber optics will generate a different viewing pattern than originally observed.

Abstract: The end of a glass fibre of the graded or at least stepped, index type, or in the case of a clad fibre, the end of its core, is etched with an etchant which varies in etching power according to the composition, and thus in a graded or stepped - index fibre according to the index, of the fibre - core material, thereby producing at the end of the fibre a recess or "well" whose depth increases from the edge towards the axis of the fibre.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice is formed by means of a pair of watch jewels concentrically aligned within a cylindrical ferrule. The plastic is stripped back from a pair of fibers to expose their cores and each core is inserted into one of the jewels for precise alignment.

Abstract: A gradient optical fiber has an index of refraction profile according ton.sup.2.sub.(r) =n.sub.0.sup.2 (1-2.DELTA.((r/a).sup..alpha. -A((r/a).sup..alpha. -(r/a).sup.2.alpha.)))and has decreased differences for transit times of different modes.

Abstract: The subject device is a connector for flexible elastically deformable elongate members having two mating halves, portions of which overlie one another. Within such overlying portions extend passages for receiving and holding the elongate members, the passages made up of a V-notch groove and a confronting flat surface or a rectangular recess which deforms the elongate member at three points, centering the members and bringing them to an end-to-end relationship. Additional elements are added for strain relief, centering, latching and position control.

Abstract: An interleaving device for processing energy signals between various logic devices having a first plurality of spaced energy carrying layer materials. Each of the first layer materials has a plurality of juxtaposed conduits for passing energy signals therethrough. Each of the conduits has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a diagonal of each of the first layers. A second plurality of energy carrying materials is arranged between adjacent ones of the spaced first layer materials. Each of the second layer materials has a plurality of juxtaposed conduits for passing the energy signals therethrough. Each of the conduits in the second layer has a longitudinal axis substantially parallel to a diagonal of each of the second layer materials and substantially perpendicular to the axes of the conduits of the first layer materials.

Abstract: A fiber optic interface junction assembly in which an unsheathed end portion of a floating buffer optical fiber is held in perpendicular biased abutment with an optical interface surface by a constrained terminator for such end portion and a continuous coiled portion of the buffered fiber. The interface surface may be active, as in light transmission to the abutting fiber end, or passive, as in reflection of light backwardly into the fiber at such end, according to the particular function needed to be served by the assembly. The end of the optical fiber abutting the interface surface is made square to the fiber axis by cleaving, for efficient optical coupling with such surface, and chamber means are provided for retention of index matching fluid in encirclement of such end, for added assurance of coupling efficiency and protection against contamination by light-obstructing foreign substances that may be present in the surrounding environment.

Abstract: An electrical optical fiber switch includes first, second and third optical fibers located so that a lateral movement of the first optical fiber breaks optical connection with the second and makes optical connection with the third. The first optical fiber is coated with an electrically conductive substance which is electrically switched to a positive or negative side of a DC voltage source. Electrodes disposed adjacent to the first fiber are connected across the voltage source. Depending on the resulting polarity of the first fiber coating, the first fiber is electrostatically moved between the electrodes so as to accomplish optical switching. A dielectric coating or barrier is provided on the first fiber coating or on the electrodes so as to prevent electrical contact. Many such optical fiber switches can be provided on a planar optical switch board for optical test terminations in an optical fiber communications system.