Abstract: An optical setup to detect fluorescence in samples is described, taking advantage of the geometry of sample vials to optimize both the excitation of fluorescence within said sample vials and the detection of fluorescence from the sample as it is emitted. Said optical geometry can be adapted for different sample containers and can be used in a variety of optical setup, both in single sample test systems as well as sample arrays.

Abstract: Current laboratory procedures for detection of a virus using the specimens collected from upper respiratory systems involve RNA isolation from the specimen, cDNA synthesis via reverse transcription, amplification of the target region via LAMP reaction, and detection. The present invention performs alternative ways of LAMP reactions in which every single key component in the traditional system is reorganized to achieve operational LAMP protocols. The present invention skips the RNA isolation and purification steps which decrease the overall cost, and the test time by more than 20 minutes. This method can also be applicable for analysis of other viruses and some pathogens in several fields.

Abstract: A device including an optical tap and waveguide in the core and cladding of an optical fiber together with a glass ferrule that is angle polished to provide a reflection surface (with or without total internal reflection) that produces a reflection of the light tapped from the optical fiber to reach the bottom of the glass ferrule and propagate in a direction that is perpendicular to (or at least different than the direction of propagation close to) the axis of the optical fiber. The fiber waveguide may be created using an ultrafast fabrication method and the glass ferrule can itself be modified by the same ultrafast laser technique to further manipulate the light traveling inside.

Abstract: A device including an optical tap and waveguide in the core and cladding of an optical fiber together with a glass ferrule that is angle polished to provide a reflection surface (with or without total internal reflection) that produces a reflection of the light tapped from the optical fiber to reach the bottom of the glass ferrule and propagate in a direction that is perpendicular to (or at least different than the direction of propagation close to) the axis of the optical fiber. The fiber waveguide may be created using an ultrafast fabrication method and the glass ferrule can itself be modified by the same ultrafast laser technique to further manipulate the light traveling inside.

Abstract: There is provided a method to fabricate optical taps and waveguide devices in photonic crystal fibers and other fibers with hollow structures. The method involves a preparation step, where the hollow holes inside the fiber are collapsed or partially modified locally; and a waveguide fabrication step, where a femtosecond laser is focused inside the fiber and used to produce optical waveguides that interact in the region that was previously modified in the preparation step.

Abstract: There is provided a system for measuring temperature and strain simultaneously utilizing Brillouin Scattering within an optical fiber. The system has a cladding, a first optical core within the cladding and a second optical core within the cladding and having a different refractive index profile and/or composition than the first core. Means to couple light into and out of said individual optical cores and/or from one optical core to the other within the fiber is provided along with means for calculating strain and temperature characteristics based on measured Brillouin frequencies for said optical cores.

Abstract: There is provided a system for measuring temperature and strain simultaneously utilizing Brillouin Scattering within an optical fiber. The system has a cladding, a first optical core within the cladding and a second optical core within the cladding and having a different refractive index profile and/or composition than the first core. Means to couple light into and out of said individual optical cores and/or from one optical core to the other within the fiber is provided along with means for calculating strain and temperature characteristics based on measured Brillouin frequencies for said optical cores.

Abstract: There is provided a method to fabricate optical taps and waveguide devices in photonic crystal fibers and other fibers with hollow structures. The method involves a preparation step, where the hollow holes inside the fiber are collapsed or partially modified locally; and a waveguide fabrication step, where a femtosecond laser is focused inside the fiber and used to produce optical waveguides that interact in the region that was previously modified in the preparation step.

Abstract: There is provided a system for measuring temperature and strain simultaneously utilizing Brillouin Scattering within an optical fiber. The system has a cladding, a first optical core within the cladding and a second optical core within the cladding and having a different refractive index profile and/or composition than the first core. Means to couple light into and out of said individual optical cores and/or from one optical core to the other within the fiber is provided along with means for calculating strain and temperature characteristics based on measured Brillouin frequencies for said optical cores.

Abstract: There is provided a system for measuring temperature and strain simultaneously utilizing Brillouin Scattering within an optical fiber. The system has a cladding, a first optical core within the cladding and a second optical core within the cladding and having a different refractive index profile and/or composition than the first core. Means to couple light into and out of said individual optical cores and/or from one optical core to the other within the fiber is provided along with means for calculating strain and temperature characteristics based on measured Brillouin frequencies for said optical cores.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the creation of optical waveguiding devices from standard optical fibers by the creation of zones of permanently altered refractive index characteristics therein. A high intensity femtosecond laser beam is focused at a predetermined target region in the fiber so as to soften the glass material at the target region. After aligning the focal region with the target region in the fiber there will be relative movement between the focal region and the fiber, which has the effect of sweeping the focal region across the fiber in a predetermined path, so as to create a secondary waveguide path. A portion of the light traveling along the core is removed from the core along the secondary waveguide path such that the device can be utilized as an attenuator, an optical tap, or a polarimeter.

Abstract: A distributed Brillouin sensor system is provided. The system has two distributed feedback (DFB) lasers, which are locked at the Brillouin frequency of the optical fiber through offset locking method by coupler splitting into two parts. The split parts are sent to two photodiodes, the outputs of which are sent to a mixer. A PID controller means follows the mixer and a current controller follows the PID controller. The lasers have a wavelength of 1550 nm. The PID controller locks the frequency difference. An optical delay line is used to produce the frequency tuning of the two DFB lasers around the Brillouin frequency of the optical fibers. The lock-in amplifier is used to keep the DC level of the optical modulator at minimum.

Abstract: An adjustable focus connector with spring action is especially adapted for use with common FC or SMA fiber optic receptacles. The connector includes a ferrule holder which mounts a fiber-carrying ferrule at a distal end thereof. At its proximal end the ferrule holder is threadedly connected to a lead screw member. A thrust collar surrounds the ferrule holder and traps a compression spring in the cavity between the thrust collar and the ferrule holder. Because of appropriate interengagement between the components the ferrule holder cannot rotate relative to the trust collar. A traveler is threadedly connected to the lead screw and abuts against the thrust collar. A connection nut is provided at the distal end of the connector to connect it to the fiber optic receptacle.

Abstract: A system and method for remotely detecting and reporting faults in optical fibers is provided. Using a device similar to an Optical Time Domain Reflectometer (OTDR), breaks or sharp bends in an optical fiber can be detected, and the location of such events precisely determined, based on the time required for an optical pulse to travel from the device to the bend or break, and back to the device again. The location of reflections caused by breaks or poor connections may be identified, as well as the locations of attenuating events due to bends or other losses in the fiber. Unlike a conventional OTDR, the location of the event can be transmitted to a technician or central office via a radio link, allowing real-time reporting of the operational status of a fiber. Large numbers of fibers may be continuously monitored in real-time by permanently installing such monitoring systems in a network.

Abstract: An optical fiber monitoring arrangement includes a monitoring fiber formed from an optical fiber having a core and a cladding and suitably modified to include a zone of altered refractive index defining an optical channel extending from the core to the outer surface of the fiber. The channel is capable of diverting therealong a portion of light traveling along the core. A detector positioned adjacent the monitoring fiber receives light diverted along the channel and transforms the diverted light into an electrical signal. The electrical signal can then be conveyed, preferably wirelessly, to an appropriate receiver for further processing and analysis. The arrangement is particularly useful in monitoring optical networks at remote locations and signaling service personnel of problems detected in the network, as determined by changes in, for example, the strength of the light diverted to the detector.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to the creation of zones of permanently altered refractive index characteristics in glass waveguiding devices, including optical fibers and optical waveguides pre-existed in a glass substrate. Such zones in which the refractive index has been permanently altered are created in glass using a very high intensity laser beam which is produced by focusing the light output from an ultrafast pulsed laser at a predetermined target region in the glass. The preferred laser is a Ti:Sapphire amplified, frequency-doubled Erbium-doped fiber laser system, providing light pulses of approximately 100 femtosecond duration, each with an energy of between about 1 nanojoule and 1 millijoule, and preferably at a pulse repetition rate of between 500 Hz and 1 GHz. The repetition rate is chosen to deliver pulses faster than the thermal diffusion time over the dimensions of the volume element being modified.

Abstract: A mechanism for achieving symmetrical stress loads on operating optical fibers (16) held in fiber optic arrays includes, in one embodiment, the provision of a pair of non-operating or dummy fibers(26), each located outboard of the outermost or curb fibers(16?) of the array. All of the fibers, whether operating or dummy, are held in corresponding grooves (18, 24) in a substrate (12). A cover plate (14) may be positioned thereover while a low stress glue or potting compound (22) is introduced or applied so as to completely encapsulate the fibers. The glue or potting compound will symmetrically surround all of the operating fibers whereby not only any inboard operating fibers (16?), but also the outboard operating curb fibers (16?), are symmetrically encapsulated. In this manner all of the operating fibers are subject to the same stresses and consequently will exhibit essentially the same polarization maintaining behavior.

Abstract: A mechanism for achieving symmetrical stress loads on operating optical fibers (16) held in fibre optic arrays includes, in one embodiment, the provision of a pair of non-operating or dummy fibres(26), each located outboard of the outermost or curb fibres(16?) of the array. All of the fibres, whether operating or dummy, are held in corresponding grooves (18, 24) in a substrate (12). A cover plate (14) may be positioned thereover while a low stress glue or potting compound (22) is introduced or applied so as to completely encapsulate the fibres. The glue or potting compound will symmetrically surround all of the operating fibres whereby not only any inboard operating fibres (16?), but also the outboard operating curb fibres (16?), are symmetrically encapsulated. In this manner all of the operating fibres are subject to the same stresses and consequently will exhibit essentially the same polarization maintaining behavior.