Abstract: A housing for a device has first and second segments with opposed adjacent surfaces fixedly connected to each other. The first segment fixedly carries a semiconductor optical source for emitting a linearly polarized optical beam in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing. The second segment fixedly carries an optical fiber element having an end face positioned along the longitudinal axis to intercept the optical beam and a linear optical polarizer. The first and second segments are fixedly positioned relative to each other along the longitudinal axis and in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so the optical beam, as incident on the end face, has a predetermined geometry and position. The second segment is fixedly positioned about the longitudinal axis so the optical beam, as incident on the end face, is in a predetermined power range.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fibre connector, and in particular to an optical port having a connector receptacle for receiving an optical fibre plug, and to an optical fibre connector assembly for transmitting and/or receiving an optical signal formed by an optical fibre connector and an optical fibre plug when these are joined together. The optical fibre connector assembly comprises an optical fibre connector and an optical fibre plug. The optical fibre plug includes a projecting ferrule and along an axis of this ferrule a first optical fibre. The optical connector including a hollow sleeve and within the sleeve a recessed ferrule and along an axis of this ferrule a second optical fibre.

Abstract: An optical device has a photodiode placed on a substrate. A guide is formed on the substrate so that it surrounds the photodiode with concentric positioning to an accuracy better than 5 ?m. A ferrule of a ferrule assembly engages within the guide for automatic alignment with the photodiode without need for active alignment with monitoring of light signals.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fibre connector, and in particular to an optical port having a connector receptacle for receiving an optical fibre plug, and to an optical fibre connector assembly for transmitting and/or receiving an optical signal formed by an optical fibre connector and an optical fibre plug when these are joined together. The optical fibre connector assembly comprises an optical fibre connector and an optical fibre plug. The optical fibre plug includes a projecting ferrule and along an axis of this ferrule a first optical fibre. The optical connector including a hollow sleeve and within the sleeve a recessed ferrule and along an axis of this ferrule a second optical fibre.

Abstract: A subassembly apparatus includes a substantially shieldable interior chamber for housing at least one source of electromagnetic radiation, a connector plane external to the interior chamber for locating an end surface of a connector, and a launch window for locating an end surface of a waveguide, where the launch window is in or adjacent the connector plane. The apparatus also includes an internal propagation path extending from the interior chamber to the launch plane including a barrier of electrically conductive material disposed in the propagation path, the barrier being arranged to shield a planar region from electromagnetic radiation emitted from within the interior chamber, the planar region including substantially the connector plane substantially excluding the launch window.

Abstract: An optical device has a photodiode placed on a substrate. A guide is formed on the substrate so that it surrounds the photodiode with concentric positioning to an accuracy better than 5 ?m. A ferrule of a ferrule assembly engages within the guide for automatic alignment with the photodiode without need for active alignment with monitoring of light signals.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for providing diagnostic features for an optical transceiver, in which the optical transceiver uses electronic dispersion compensation (EDC) in order to alleviate distortion of a signal caused by dispersion. The invention provides a method and apparatus for monitoring the performance of an electronic dispersion compensator by monitoring one or more signals from the electronic dispersion compensator and generating an alarm in the event that the performance of the electronic dispersion compensator falls below a certain threshold.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fiber communication component (1), and particularly a connector receptacle (10) for connecting to a connector plug (20) having an optical fiber (6) mounted within a projecting cylindrical ferrule. The connector receptacle (10) comprises a housing (2) that has a passageway (3) with an entrance for receiving the ferrule (7). A split sleeve clamp (27) is seated within the passageway (3) and has an opening oriented towards the entrance for receiving the projecting ferrule (7). A hollow sleeve (23) having a cylindrical outer surface (36) and an axially extending open channel (37), is gripped by the split sleeve clamp to define the diameter of the opening to the clamp. The open channel (37) extends along the longitudinal axis (5) of the passageway (3) to allow optical radiation (50) to be transmitted through the channel (37) to/from said connector plug (20).

Abstract: A housing for a device has first and second segments with opposed adjacent surfaces fixedly connected to each other. The first segment fixedly carries a semiconductor optical source for emitting a linearly polarized optical beam in the general direction of the longitudinal axis of the housing. The second segment fixedly carries an optical fiber element having an end face positioned along the longitudinal axis to intercept the optical beam and a linear optical polarizer. The first and second segments are fixedly positioned relative to each other along the longitudinal axis and in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis so the optical beam, as incident on the end face, has a predetermined geometry and position. The second segment is fixedly positioned about the longitudinal axis so the optical beam, as incident on the end face, is in a predetermined power range.

Abstract: Distortion of an optical signal transmitted over a fibre optic link is characterized by a receiver including a photodetector for converting optical radiation into an electrical signal. A delay line delays the electrical signal. At least two delay line taps drive a register that stores plural values corresponding with different delayed replicas of the electrical signal. Signals commensurate with the values are externally provided to a signal distortion analyser for analysis of the values to determine the optical signal distortion.

Abstract: There is provided a surgical material formed using water soluble glass fibres, optionally together with a binding material such as polycaprolactone. One or more layers of non-woven glass fibre material may be present. The material, which is usually in sheet form, can be folded around a defective area of tissue to promote healing, or may be used to prevent adhesion formation following surgery. A method of forming the surgical material is also described.

Abstract: A subassembly apparatus includes a substantially shieldable interior chamber for housing at least one source of electromagnetic radiation, a connector plane external to the interior chamber for locating an end surface of a connector, and a launch window for locating an end surface of a waveguide, where the launch window is in or adjacent the connector plane. The apparatus also includes an internal propagation path extending from the interior chamber to the launch plane including a barrier of electrically conductive material disposed in the propagation path, the barrier being arranged to shield a planar region from electromagnetic radiation emitted from within the interior chamber, the planar region including substantially the connector plane substantially excluding the launch window.

Abstract: An eye-safe optical fiber transmitter unit comprises a laser, an optical port, an optical fiber stub with a fiber core carrying optical radiation emitted by the laser to the optical port. The core is an index-guided core surrounded by cladding. Laser radiation is focussed to a spot on a fiber stub entrance face to increase the coupling efficiency of optical radiation into the fiber core and decrease the radiation coupling efficiency of radiation into the surrounding cladding. The coupling efficiency into the core is a maximum at a particular orientation of the entrance face with respect to a focus axis when the focus spot is on the entrance face. The entrance face is not oriented at this particular orientation, but is angled and/or rotated away from the particular orientation to reduce optical coupling efficiency into the fiber core and cladding.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical fibre communication component (1), and particularly a connector receptacle (10) for connecting to a connector plug (20) having an optical fibre (6) mounted within a projecting cylindrical ferrule. The connector receptacle (10) comprises a housing (2) that has a passageway (3) with an entrance for receiving the ferrule (7). A split sleeve clamp (27) is seated within the passageway (3) and has an opening oriented towards the entrance for receiving the projecting ferrule (7). A hollow sleeve (23) having a cylindrical outer surface (36) and an axially extending open channel (37), is gripped by the split sleeve clamp to define the diameter of the opening to the clamp. The open channel (37) extends along the longitudinal axis (5) of the passageway (3) to allow optical radiation (50) to be transmitted through the channel (37) to/from said connector plug (20).

Abstract: The present invention relates to an eye-safe optical fibre transmitter unit (1), and to a method of producing such an unit. The unit (1) comprises a laser diode (9), an optical port (24), an optical fibre stub (18) with a fibre core (31) for carrying optical radiation (51) emitted by the laser (9) to the optical port (24). The core (31) is an index-guided core (31) surrounded by cladding (29). Focussing optics (12) focussing laser optical radiation (36) to a focus spot (50) on an entrance face (17) of the fibre stub (18) in order to increase the coupling efficiency of optical radiation (36,51) into the fibre core (31) and to decrease the coupling efficiency of optical radiation (36,52) into the surrounding cladding (29). The coupling efficiency into the core (31) is a maximum at a particular orientation of the entrance face (17) with respect to a focus axis (35) when the focus spot (50) is on the entrance face (17).