Abstract: A method for fabricating flexible optical fiber circuits, including routing optical fiber on a flexible substrate according to a predetermined pattern using an optical fiber routing head, wherein routing the optical fiber includes routing at least one non-disposable optical fiber portion and least one disposable test pattern. A cutting head is aligned to cut adjacent at least one segment of the non-disposable optical fiber portion based upon the accuracy with which the cutting head cuts adjacent to the test pattern. Using the test patterns avoids alignment errors that may otherwise occur during the cutting of the optical fiber circuit which can result in a total loss of the optical fiber substrate.

Abstract: A method for fabricating flexible optical fiber circuits, including routing optical fiber on a flexible substrate according to a predetermined pattern using an optical fiber routing head, wherein routing the optical fiber includes routing at least one non-disposable optical fiber portion and least one disposable test pattern. A cutting head is aligned to cut adjacent at least one segment of the non-disposable optical fiber portion based upon the accuracy with which the cutting head cuts adjacent to the test pattern. Using the test patterns avoids alignment errors that may otherwise occur during the cutting of the optical fiber circuit which can result in a total loss of the optical fiber substrate.

Abstract: An assembly for fabricating an optical fiber ribbon from optical fibers that extend in a longitudinal direction includes a spacing device. The spacing device is operative to vary the spacing between the optical fibers in the lateral direction. The spacing device can be a rotatable cylinder having diverging external grooves that respectively receive the optical fibers. A bonding device applies bonding material to the optical fibers to form an optical fiber ribbon, after the spacing between the optical fibers has been varied by the spacing device. In accordance with a method of manufacturing an optical fiber ribbon, optical fibers that extend in a longitudinal are advanced along travel paths defined by the grooves of the spacing guide. The travel paths diverge from one another in a lateral direction that is generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction so that as the optical fibers are advanced the optical fibers become further spaced apart from one another in the lateral direction.

Abstract: A flexible optical circuit includes a plurality of optical fibers mounted to a flexible porous substrate. The optical fibers and flexible porous substrate are thereafter encapsulated with a protective encapsulating material. The encapsulating material can be a liquid which surrounds the optical fibers and flows through pores in the porous substrate to achieve a structurally sound and protected flexible optical circuit. Because the encapsulating material surrounds and protects the optical fibers, heat and pressure are not required in forming the optical circuit, resulting in minimal optical fiber breakage. Additionally, optical fibers may be positioned between two porous substrates, and the fibers and both of the porous substrates then encapsulated by an encapsulating material.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module that can be coupled to a multimode optical fiber to achieve offset launch of optical signals into a multimode optical fiber without the use of specialized components or equipment is disclosed. An optoelectronic module in accordance with the present invention achieves this by offsetting the center of the core of the optical fiber pigtail that is coupled to the optoelectronic transmitter device. Thus, the optical fiber pigtail comprises a predetermined offset of the center of the core with respect to the center of the optical fiber. Such an offset can be readily manufactured in an optical fiber using rod-in-tube technology. The precise offset can be designed to correspond to the offset launch zone of the multimode optical fiber to which the optoelectronic module may be coupled.

Abstract: A receptacle-like or plug-like optical connector has a body with a rear end and an end face that is opposite from and forward of the rear end. A longitudinal direction is defined between the rear end and the end face, and the end face extends generally perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The end face has opposite first and second edges, and opposite third and fourth edges that extend between the first and second edges in a lateral direction. A plurality of arrays of optical terminuses are positioned at the end face and, and each array extends in the lateral direction across the end face. The optical connector includes one or more relatively large alignment members. A first alignment member is proximate to the third edge of the end face and extends in the longitudinal direction and a second alignment member is proximate to the fourth edge of the end face and extends in the longitudinal direction.

Abstract: A multipitch optical fiber ribbon includes optical fibers that extend longitudinally and are laterally adjacent. The optical fibers are bonded together by bonding material having opposite first and second ends. A lateral first spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the first end of the bonding material and a lateral second spacing is defined between adjacent optical fibers at the second end of the bonding material, and the first spacing is different from the second spacing. The bonding material includes a first segment at the first end of the bonding material and a second segment at the second end of the bonding material. The composition of the first segment of the bonding material can be the same as the composition of the second segment of the bonding material, or the first and second segments of the bonding material can have different compositions.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical communications system including an apparatus and method for laterally displacing or otherwise steering optical signals passing therethrough. The system comprises a launching device for launching or transmitting an optical signal, a receiving device for receiving an optical signal, and at least one optical guiding element. The optical guiding element is a transmission medium that captures and transmits optical information therethrough and is configured, e.g., via end geometries, to redirect a portion of light propagating in a first direction and entering the first end substantially along its transmission axis and to redirect light propagating along the transmission axis out of the second end in a desired direction, e.g., a second direction laterally displaced from the first direction. Embodiments include angled faces with or without reflective coatings and attached lenses opposing the angled faces.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention include an optical fiber connector that supports a linear array or ribbon array of optical fibers. The connector includes a pair of intermatable housing members that, when mated, define a connector having a front end suitable for butt coupling to other connectors or compatible connections, a back end for terminating an array of optical fibers, and a plurality of waveguides or optical fiber support grooves extending from the front end to the back end. According to embodiments of the invention, the back end has at least one feature that increases the opening formed by the housing members at the back end of the connector, thus making it easier to terminate an optical fiber or array of optical fibers therein that optically couples to the waveguide or optical fibers terminated in the front end. For example, one or both housing members include a beveled or curvelinear portion, both of which increase the opening between the housing members at the back end of the connector.

Abstract: The present invention is an optical harness and method for an optical cross-connect. The optical harness is defined primarily by a first portion and a second portion. The first portion of the optical harness comprises a number M of fiber optic row cables where each fiber optic row cable comprises an array of a number N of fiber optics arranged on a first plane. The first plane on which each fiber optic row cable is disposed is substantially parallel to each of the other first planes on which a fiber optic row cable is disposed. The second portion of the optical harness comprises a number N of fiber optic column cables where each fiber optic column cable comprises an array of a number M of fiber optics arranged on a second plane. Each fiber optic column cable is disposed on a second plane being substantially parallel to each of the other second planes on which each other fiber optic column cable is disposed.

Abstract: The present invention is an apparatus and method for assembling a multifiber interconnection circuit where the circuit includes at least one elongated member disposed between a first cover member and a second cover member. The apparatus includes a template, a receiving member, and a transfer member. The template has a first end and a second end and a means for routing an elongated member, such as an optical fiber, from the first end of the template to the second end of the template. The receiving member is arranged and configured to receive the optical fiber engaged by the template. The transfer member is configured to support the receiving member for reception of the optical fiber. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, an alignment guide aligns and orients the template with the transfer member.

Abstract: An optical module is packaged using one or more internal fiber connections which are arranged to minimize the likelihood of internal connection damage when the module is installed on a circuit board. The module includes at least one external connector arranged on a side of the package, and a submount within the package for supporting a component such as an optical source or an optical detector. An optical fiber is connected within the package from the submount to a connector interface of the external connector. The end of the fiber at the connector interface has a preformed connector thereon which engages a ferrule associated with the interface. The other end of the fiber is attached to the submount for optimal coupling efficiency. The fiber may undergo a bend of about 90.degree. or 180.degree. from its first end to its second end. In order to accommodate the fiber bend, the component submount is positioned within the package in a location remote from the external connector.

Abstract: A connector for optical fibers comprises a rigid plug formed from material molded around end portions of the fibers and a pair of hollow tubes. All the fibers and tubes extend along parallel straight lines and all the tubes and fibers terminate in a common external surface of the plug. Alignment pins disposed within and extending outwardly from the tubes are used to align the plug with an optical component also aligned by the guide pins. A method of fabrication uses an alignment block for precisely relatively positioning first portions of the fibers and tubes, but with second portions of the fibers and tubes extending beyond an end of the block. The extending second portions of the fibers and tubes, but not the first portions thereof, are encapsulated within a molded plug which is then severed from the fiber and tube first portions for forming the plug common external surface.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for measuring the misorientation of a polished surface of a single crystal wafer with respect to a set of low index crystal planes utilizes both an optical beam and an X-ray beam that are directed along the same axis at the wafer. The optical beam is reflected by the polished surface of the wafer, but the X-ray beam penetrates the surface and is diffracted by the low index crystal planes located below the surface. The separation between the diffracted and reflected beams is measured with a detection device. The separation between the reflected and diffracted beams is an indication of the magnitude and sense of the misorientation between the surface and the crystal planes.

Abstract: A connector for optical fibers comprises a rigid plug formed from material molded around end portions of the fibers and a pair of hollow tubes. All the fibers and tubes extend along parallel straight lines and all the tubes and fibers terminate in a common external surface of the plug. Alignment pins disposed within and extending outwardly from the tubes are used to align the plug with an optical component also aligned by the guide pins. A method of fabrication uses an alignment block for precisely relatively positioning first portions of the fibers and tubes, but with second portions of the fibers and tubes extending beyond an end of the block. The extending second portions of the fibers and tubes, but not the first portions thereof, are encapsulated within a molded plug which is then severed from the fiber and tube first portions for forming the plug common external surface.

Abstract: A set of features, such as a pattern of V-grooves (20--20), can be precisely etched in a wafer (18) by patterning the V-grooves so that their axis of symmetry has a prescribed relationship with the axis of tilt (27) of the wafer surface (22).