Abstract: A piping unit and method for efficiently arranging a plurality of optical fibers in a communication system. The piping unit includes an elongate tube having a plurality of parallel longitudinal cavities extending the length of the tube. The longitudinal cavities have a circular transverse cross-section, while the tube preferably has an approximately square transverse cross-section. Each of the longitudinal cavities is sized to mount an optical fiber within the cavity extending the length of the elongate tube. The longitudinal cavities are arranged to maximize the number of optical fibers that are mounted within the cross-section of the elongate tube. In a square tube, the cavities may be mounted in rows and columns parallel to the sides of the tube.

Abstract: A piping unit and method for efficiently arranging a plurality of optical fibers in a communication system. The piping unit includes an elongate tube having a plurality of parallel longitudinal cavities extending the length of the tube. The longitudinal cavities have a circular transverse cross-section, while the tube preferably has an approximately square transverse cross-section. Each of the longitudinal cavities is sized to mount an optical fiber within the cavity extending the length of the elongate tube. The longitudinal cavities are arranged to maximize the number of optical fibers that are mounted within the cross-section of the elongate tube. In a square tube, the cavities may be mounted in rows and columns parallel to the sides of the tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for handling optical fibers in a confined or limited space, such as connecting, reorganizing and/or cross-coupling optical fibers in a cassette without said fibers intersecting one another. By providing the cassette (4) with looping channels (17), the optical fiber cables can be organized in a controlled fashion without needing to cross. The cassette may also include elements (18, 19) which function to change the direction of the optical fibers prior to connecting said fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an arrangement for handling optical fibers in a confined space, such as connecting, reorganizing and/or cross-connecting several optical fibers contained in optical fiber cables in an insulated space. Controllable organization of the optical fiber cables can be achieved, by providing the insulated space (2, 3) with cable guiding and coiling means. The arrangement includes elastic and tight transits in openings (5, 6). The transits have a tapering centre part and will adapt to optical fiber cables of mutually different diameters and allow the cables to extend in different directions outside the insulated space.

Abstract: A method and arrangement for aligning a waveguide connector to at least one optical device is set forth. The arrangement includes a waveguide connector and a substrate carrying at least one waveguide. The waveguide connector having both guide legs and aligning elements. The method includes the step of shaking the arrangement at a frequency and amplitude sufficient to cause opposing aligning elements disposed on the waveguide connector and on the substrate to engage each other.

Abstract: Ends of optical fibers in an optical flexfoil can be located at inner and edge positions of the flexfoil. Cut-outs are formed around such fiber ends to form tabs, which can be bent laterally from the plane of the flexfoil, so that the ends of the fibers are located at the exterior edges of the tabs. This allows a connection of the optical fibers to external devices in different directions such as a connection in a direction perpendicular to the flexfoil. The flexfoil can be used as an optical supplement to an electrical backplane, the tabs extending through openings in the backplane. Also, an easy handling of the flexfoil is achieved, since no connection tabs extending beyond the edges of the flexfoil are required. This is advantageous for example in polishing the ends of the fibers at the tab ends.

Abstract: An optical fiber flexfoil includes optical fibers adhesively bonded between two flexfoils laminated to each other. A surface of a base flexible plastic sheet is coated with a pressure sensitive adhesive, and optical fibers are bonded to the sheet by the adhesive. A top foil having a similar coating is placed on top of the base foil contacting the optical fibers, air located between the foils is removed, and the foils are pressed against each other only by the adhesive coatings. The adhesive is selected to have a low glass transition temperature such as below −50° C., and to exhibit visco-elastic characteristics in the temperature range within which the flexfoil is to be used. The lamination of the foils is made at temperatures at the upper limit of the operational range using only moderate pressures. This gives low mechanical stresses on the fibers in the pressing operation.