Abstract: A variable attenuator has first and second substantially identical ferrules or capillaries, each being mounted in a barrel or splice housing and extending toward each other, with their distal ends being separated by a gap of a first width. The width of the gap is controlled by a sleeve into which the ferrules are inserted, the ends of the sleeve butting against the front faces of the barrels. The ferrules are made by producing a glass rod mounted between the barrels and having a bore offset from and parallel to the centerline of the rod and breaking or cleaving the rod at its longitudinal center. The broken ends are then polished. The barrels are keyed to a housing member so that the offset bores are coincident in the zero position as defined by the keys.

Abstract: A variable attenuator has first and second substantially identical ferrules or capillaries, each being mounted in a barrel or splice housing and extending toward each other, with their distal ends being separated by a gap of a first width. The width of the gap is controlled by a sleeve into which the ferrules are inserted, the ends of the sleeve butting against the front faces of the barrels. The ferrules are made by producing a glass rod mounted between the barrels and having a bore offset from and parallel to the centerline of the rod and breaking or cleaving the rod at its longitudinal center. The broken ends are then polished. The barrels are keyed to a housing member so that the offset bores are coincident in the zero position as defined by the keys.

Abstract: The inventive optical fiber connector comprises a glass ferrule that is strengthened by etching of the outer surface of the ferrule, followed by deposition thereon of a protective layer. Exemplarily, the ferrule is a vitreous silica ferrule drawn from a preform that was made by a sol-gel process. The ferrule is etched in buffered HF, and the protective layer is electroless deposited Ni, with a thin layer of Au thereon. Significant strength increases, exceeding 200%, are obtainable, with the strength being relatively unchanged after even a severe abrasion test.

Abstract: Optical fiber repair splices are effected by mating two fiber ends in an elongate open-sided housing containing a fiber-receiving capillary tube. The tube may be factory-inserted to achieve a predetermined alignment of the tube with the fiber guide-way axis of the housing. A stepping fiber passage in the housing guides the fiber end into the tube. The fiber progresses to a point in the tube's interior where the capillary track is visible through a slot in the tube. The splicer visually observes mating of the fiber ends through the slot. The tube slot also permits application of index-matching material and adhesive to the mated fiber ends. During splicing, a mounting jig holds the underside of the housing, freeing the splicer to manipulate and view the fibers.

Abstract: A mechanical connection arrangement for two polarization-maintaining optical fibers (20--20) includes two ferrules (40--40). Each of the optical fibers to be connected includes an outer cladding layer (23) having a hybrid cross section transverse to a longitudinal axis of the fiber. The hybrid cross section is defined by two parallel sides and by two generally arcuate end portions. One of the polarization axes of the fiber is parallel to the parallel sides of the fiber. The ferrules were adjacent portions in a length (110) of stock material and are positioned in support means such that end faces of the ferrules which were contiguous to each other prior to the ferrules being separated from the length of material are adjacent to each other in the connection arrangement. Each ferrule prior to separation has a tab (126) associated therewith such that the tab of the adjacent portions are aligned longitudinally.

Abstract: Optical fibers are cleaved with high precision by a technique that yields flat endfaces that are perpendicular to the axis of the fiber within 1 degree, and typically within 0.5 degree. This is very advantageous for obtaining low loss splices of fibers, especially single mode fibers. In the present technique, a fiber is secured in two linearly aligned chucks in a sequence that allows one end to rotate unconstrained to minimize tortion. An axial tension is then applied in the fiber, which is next scored. The fiber then typically breaks, but cleaving can be promoted by applying further tension, or introducing moisture, if necessary.