Abstract: A biconic connector (40) includes two plugs (44-44) each of which terminates a single fiber optical cable (55) and each of which includes a truncated conically shaped end portion (50). The connector also includes an alignment sleeve having back-to-back conically shaped cavities each of which is adapted to receive an end portion of a plug. In order to minimize loss through the connection, it becomes important for the centroid of the cross-sectional area of a light beam in the end face of the plug to be coincident with the axis of revolution of the conically shaped surface of plug. This is accomplished by holding the plug in a fixture such that its end portion is exposed and the fixture adapted to be turned about an axis of rotation. Images of a light beam launched into the optical fiber are acquired in a plane through the end face of the plug.

Abstract: A biconic connector includes two plugs (44--44) each of which terminates a single fiber optical cable (55) and each of which includes a conically shaped end portion (50). The connector also includes an alignment sleeve having back-to-back conically shaped cavities each of which is adapted to receive an end portion of a plug. In order to minimize loss through a connection, it becomes important for the axis of the end portion of the core of the optical fiber in the conically shaped end portion of the plug to be coincident with the axis of revolution of the conically shaped end portion. This is accomplished by holding the plug in a fixture such that its conically shaped end portion is exposed and the fixture adapted to be turned about an axis of rotation. Images of light launched into the optical fiber are acquired in two planes at a plurality of positions spaced apart along a reference axis.

Abstract: An ultrasonic technique for remotely inspecting a body is described. A transducer (14), capable of generating and detecting ultrasonic signals, is coupled to the body. An ultrasonic signal (A.sub.o) is launched by the transducer (14) into the body (e.g. 10, 11) and is reflected by any imperfection (e.g. 12) therein. The effects of variations of the transmission coefficient between the transducer and the body are substantially eliminated by intentionally cutting a predetermined calibration notch (22) into the body under test. The analysis of the reflected ultrasonic signals at the notch (22) and at any imperfection (e.g. 12) within the body gives an indication of the quality of the body independently of the transducer/body transmission coefficient.