Abstract: A method detects incomplete coverage of hermetic coatings applied to opti fibers during in-line optical fiber fabrication procedures as well as off-line applications. A fluorescent material surrounds the core region of the optical fiber prior to the formation of the hermetic coating on the optical fiber and energy is radiated in the optical fiber to propagate in the cladding mode. This causes an excitation of the fluorescent material to fluoresce in response to the propagated energy. An appropriately disposed detector detects levels of emitted fluorescence along the length of the optical fiber to indicate where the hermetic coating is incomplete or where pinholes in the hermetic coating are located. Optionally, the fluorescent material is located outside of the cladding layer, inside of the cladding layer near its outer surface or throughout the cladding region to fluoresce when excited by the propagated energy.

Abstract: A passive, high-speed, automatic shutter for controlling the transmission light energy of known wavelengths along a predetermined optical axis is provided to protect imaging devices against sudden, undesirable optical overload which may cause damage. A large plurality of contiguously positioned micro-channel optical waveguides is axially aligned parallel with the optical axis to intercept the light energy. The large plurality of micro-channel optical waveguides provides desirable maximization of resolution for transmitting the image to the imaging device. The micro-channel optical waveguides include a saturable absorber material which is selected for its property of absorbing the known wavelengths of light energy up to a determinable level of intensity and transmitting the known wavelengths of light energy when that determinable level of intensity is exceeded.

Abstract: A method and means for coupling information or signal power into or out of iber optics for integrated optical waveguides. The coupling consists of selectively doping with impurity ions such as rare earth or transition metal ions which are excited to fluorescence within the waveguide by the frequency of the transmitted carrier wave. The fluorescent emission is then detected at right angles to the fiber using conventional photodetectors and amplifiers.