Abstract: A housing is provided for maintaining a planar lightguide circuit at a temperature within a predetermined temperature range independent of ambient temperature. The housing includes a planar heating arrangement supporting and in thermal contact with the planar lightguide circuit. Also included is a frame assembly having a first surface on which the planar heating arrangement is fixed. The frame assembly has at least one opening through which extends at least one optical fiber coupled to the planar lightguide circuit. An overmold, which is molded around the frame assembly, includes at least one strain relief member through which the optical fiber extends.

Abstract: A housing is provided for maintaining a planar lightguide circuit at a temperature within a predetermined temperature range independent of ambient temperature. The housing includes a planar heating arrangement supporting and in thermal contact with the planar lightguide circuit. Also included is a frame assembly having a first surface on which the planar heating arrangement is fixed. The frame assembly has at least one opening through which extends at least one optical fiber coupled to the planar lightguide circuit. An overmold, which is molded around the frame assembly, includes at least one strain relief member through which the optical fiber extends.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment incorporates base and cap members that are matable to each other to form, in a mated configuration, a cavity therebetween, that is sized and shaped to receive an optical integrated circuit therein. The base member includes a first latch post, with a first latching surface arranged between its proximal end and its distal end. The cap member includes a second latch post, with a second latching surface and an area of failure arranged between its proximal end and its distal end. The latching surfaces are arranged so that, as the base and cap members are urged toward the mated configuration, the latching surfaces retain the members in the mated configuration. Additionally, the second latch post is configured so that, as the members are urged apart, the second latch post structurally fails at the area of failure, thereby allowing the cap member to be removed from the base member.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment of the housing incorporates an enclosure defining an interior cavity. A thermal bed is supported within the cavity and is configured to retain an optical integrated circuit within the cavity. First and second fiber members also are provided that each include a circuit end for engaging and optically communicating with the optical integrated circuit, and a coupling end for engaging a coupling. Preferably, the couplings are mounted to the enclosure so that an external fiber member can engage a coupling and optically communicate with the optical integrated circuit.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and apparatus for interfacing optical fiber cables with an optical integrated circuit. The apparatus comprises a flexible substrate having optical fibers fixedly arranged therein in a predetermined manner such that the distal ends of the optical fibers are disposed in groups on the outer periphery of the substrate to facilitate joining of the fibers with optical fibers of the optical fiber cables or ribbons using mass joining techniques. Once the optical fibers have been arranged in the substrate, the optical integrated circuit is mounted in the substrate. The substrate has an opening formed therein for receiving the optical integrated circuit. Once the optical integrated circuit has been mounted in the substrate, the proximal ends of the fibers fixed in the substrate are optically coupled to the ports of the optical integrated circuit.

Abstract: This invention relates to apparatuses and methods for aligning optical fibers housed in an optical fiber array with optical waveguides coupled to an optical integrated circuit (OIC) housed in an OIC assembly of a related invention. An apparatus of this invention includes a first micropositoner in which the optical fiber array is mounted, and a second micropositioner in which the OIC assembly is mounted. An adhesive is applied to one or both opposing ends of the optical fiber array and the OIC assembly, and the first and second micropositioners are manipulated to move the optical fiber array end in close proximity to the OIC assembly end so that the adhesive contacts the ends of the optical fiber array and the OIC assembly to form an optical fiber/adhesive/optical waveguide interface. One optical fiber, preferably toward one side of the optical fiber array, is selected and light from a light source, preferably a laser, is generated and supplied to the selected optical fiber.

Abstract: An optical fiber splicing device includes a clip (20) which aligns and secures cylindrical rods (28, 30 and 32) utilized within a three-rod optical fiber splicing device. The clip (20) is a generally cylindrically shaped component which is made of a resilient material and is positionable so as to encase three cylindrical rods (28, 30 and 32). The clip (20) comprises a circular body portion (22) and two protruding leg portions (24 and 26) which extend from an point on the outer periphery of clip body (22). The two leg portions (24 and 26) are constructed and oriented such that they may be manipulated to controllably expand the inner diameter of clip body (22). To facilitate an optical fiber splice or connection, the clip (20) of the present invention allows the clip body (22) to be expanded to loosen the grip on rods (28, 30 and 32) held therein, thereby allowing the optical fiber ends to be inserted between the rods.

Abstract: The splice verification system of the present invention verifies the efficiency of an optical splice by measuring the scattered light escaping from the splice. Specifically, the preferred embodiment performs such scattered light measurement within a photodetection area which is substantially free of all ambient light. Furthermore, the verification system includes a reference power module which, prior to creating an optical splice, measures the level of the optical signal being transmitted out of the end of an active fiber. The present invention then provides means to correlate the level gauged as a reference signal level relative to the amount of scattered light lost from the optical splice. The ratio of these two measured light levels may then be used to determine whether the amount of scattered light lost from the optical splice is acceptable given the particular constraints of the optical system in which the splice is employed.

Abstract: An optical fiber splicing device includes a clip (20) which aligns and secures cylindrical rods (28, 30 and 32) utilized within a three-rod optical fiber splicing device. The clip (20) is a generally cylindrically shaped component which is made of a resilient material and is positionable so as to encase three cylindrical rods (28, 30 and 32). The clip (20) comprises a circular body portion (22) and two protruding leg portions (24 and 26) which extend from an point on the outer periphery of clip body (22). The two leg portions (24 and 26) are constructed and oriented such that they may be manipulated to controllably expand the inner diameter of clip body (22). To facilitate an optical fiber splice or connection, the clip (20) of the present invention allows the clip body (22) to be expanded to loosen the grip on rods (28, 30 and 32) held therein, thereby allowing the optical fiber ends to be inserted between the rods.

Abstract: An optical fiber splicing device (20) includes a glass cylindrically shaped capillary tube member (24) having a passageway formed therethrough eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of the capillary tube member. The capillary tube member is provided with a slot (86) such that a portion of the passageway in the form of a groove (88) extends across a planar surface (87) formed by the slot. The capillary tube member is mounted in a housing (22) which is made of a material and formed to provide a lens opposite to the slot to facilitate visual inspection of ends of end portions of two optical fibers which are positioned in the groove. A spring clamp (26) is mounted to the housing in a first position spaced from the planar surface to allow insertion of fiber end portions into the groove.

Abstract: In an optical fiber connector in which each of two optical fibers (21-21) is terminated by a plug (40) having a passageway (41) for receiving an end portion of the optical fiber, eccentricity of one fiber end relative to the other is reduced by causing each optical fiber to be mounted in a specified orientation with respect to its associated plug passageway.

Abstract: In a plug-type optical fiber connector low loss can be achieved, without any active alignment of the fiber cores, if the two cylindrical plugs used in the connector are "contiguous" plugs, i.e., derived from contiguous segments of the tubular stock from which the plugs are produced, and if the plugs are arranged such that the "contiguous" ends of the plugs are the mating ends, and such that the rotational relationship between the plugs is substantially the one that existed prior to sectioning. The inventive connector comprises two contiguous plugs and includes features that permit identification of the contiguous ends and of the rotational relationship. In a preferred embodiment, the tubular stock is drawn glass stock, the two contiguous segments are left joined but scored circumferentially to permit easy separation in the field, with a longitudinal groove in the outer cylinder surface of the contiguous segments identifying the original rotational relationship.

Abstract: An optical fiber connector capable of producing very low-loss single-mode fiber connections is disclosed. The connector utilizes two capillary cylinders for holding the fiber ends, and a multiplicity, preferably three, cylindrical alignment rods that provide multi-point support for the cylinders. At least one, preferably two, of the alignment rods carry a "flat" extending from one end of the rod for a substantial fraction of the length of the rod. The assembly is held together by appropriate means, e.g., a substantially triangular alignment fixture. The presence of antiparallel flat-carrying alignment rods permits simple alignment of the two fiber cores, typically by means of rotation of one or both of the capillary cylinders.

Abstract: Optical fibers are spliced by a technique that yields very low loss and accommodates fibers having different outer diameters or having nonconcentric cores. The technique is especially useful for single mode optical fibers, and splice losses of less than 0.1 db in a wavelength range of about 1.3 to 1.55 micrometers is typically obtained. The splice comprises a slotted tube surrounding abutted fiber ends, with the tube being at least partially filled with cement. An outer cylindrical sleeve is optionally provided for increased strength. In splicing the fibers, the fibers are aligned by means of a scattered light detector comprising a slotted tube surrounding a portion of the fiber, and a detector at one end of the tube. A sensitive null indication is obtained which provides for precise alignment of the fiber cores.