Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fiber and a fiber termination which provide an output of laser light propagating through the fiber in a required direction while focusing it into a small spot. In one embodiment of the invention the termination includes a tapered fiber rod with an angled ball formed at the end of the rod. A corresponding method of manufacturing of the termination is provided. In another embodiment the termination includes a fiber rod having an angled end and a GRIN lens disposed so as to receive light reflected from the angled end, the lens being an integral part of the termination. In other embodiments the lens is replaced with a cylindrical or tapered multimode stub which provide similar function.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for the aligning of ceramic carrier substrates on base substrates. The apparatus is a gripper having angled faces lined with soft metallic pads embedded with diamonds that engage in a vertical direction with microfeatures in the ceramic carrier of a semiconductor, providing a secure grip throughout alignment and bonding to a base substrate and providing a gentle release upon disengagement. The gripper is typically detachably affixed to a micromanipulator to provide controlled motion and is spring mounted to provide self adjustment to variations in ceramic carrier substrate thickness and angle.

Abstract: The invention relates to an optical fiber and a fiber termination which provide an output of laser light propagating through the fiber in a required direction while focusing it into a small spot. In one embodiment of the invention the termination includes a tapered fiber rod with an angled ball formed at the end of the rod. A corresponding method of manufacturing of the termination is provided. In another embodiment the termination includes a fiber rod having an angled end and a GRIN lens disposed so as to receive light reflected from the angled end, the lens being an integral part of the termination. In other embodiments the lens is replaced with a cylindrical or tapered multimode stub which provide similar function.

Abstract: To mount two semiconductor optical devices together such that a coupling face of one is aligned with and close to the coupling face of the other the devices are mounted on two different carriers. One of the carriers is flat and has a vertical edge and carries the optical device such that its coupling face is flush with the vertical edge. The other carrier is wedge-shaped and has a vertical edge and carries the other optical device such that its coupling face is flush with that vertical edge. A flat baseplate supports the flat carrier. The wedged carrier is supported on an inclined plane which may be formed on a separate wedge supported on the baseplate or which may be formed as an inclined surface portion on the baseplate. By sliding the flat carrier relative to the wedged carrier and sliding the wedged carrier up or down the inclined plane the coupling faces may be aligned. The application of liquid adhesive facilitates the sliding action and permits easy securing after alignment by curing the adhesive.

Abstract: Mounting for holding a planar electronic device, e.g. a printed circuit board in electronic slots to receive edges of the electronic device and a clamp is inserted into each slot to clamp an edge of the device in heat conductive engagement with a side surface of the slot. The clamp has a rigid elongate clamp element inserted along the slot, springs to urge the clamp element towards the side surface of the clamp to provide a clamping action and a lever to move the clamp element out of a clamping position to release the electronic device.

Abstract: An environmental protection housing for an optical fiber connector having two housing parts to define an environmentally protected chamber to house the connector. The housing is for use for housing a connector upon suspended cable. So as to prevent the weight of the cable being taken by the connector when the housing parts are separated, a movement limiting device is provided an which extends between the housing members. This movement limiting device comprises an elongate rigid member which is capable of preventing relative rotation or change in relative orientation of the housing parts while the rigid member extends between the housing parts. With the connector uncoupled and thus the danger of the loading of the cable being taken upon the connector in coupled condition, the connector is releasable from one or both of the housing parts.

Abstract: A sheet metal member with a securing arrangement to securely attach the member to another sheet member. The securing arrangement is an elongate structure with two ends integral with an edge of a body of the sheet metal member. The elongate structure extends between its ends around a spatial area and has a specific width. The elongate structure is flexible to a greater width in which a locking part securely grips the other sheet member between the body and the locking part of the structure.

Abstract: An electronic device with an EMI shield surrounding an electronic component on a substrate. A heat sink extends through an opening in the shield from heat conductive contact with the component to a position outside the shield. The heat sink operates also in an EMI shield capacity. The shield is stressed to hold the heat sink positively in heat conducting contact with the components. The shield preferably has cutting teeth which cut into the heat sink as the latter is passed into the aperture. With the inserted part of the heat sink being cylindrical, rotation of the heat sink causes the teeth to move up the inserted part to stress the shield and urge the heat sink against the component.

Abstract: An optical fiber interface includes a detector assembly, which may include an integral fiber, for detecting an optical signal carried on a single fiber in an outbound direction and a piezo electric transducer or the like for providing relative movement between the fiber and the detector assembly to produce a modulated return optical signal in reflections of the outbound signal. The return optical signal has a lower frequency or data rate than the outbound signal. Several embodiments modulate the return signal by relative movement either perpendicular to or parallel to the fiber. The perpendicular movement modulates the reflected signal by varying alignment of the fiber and detector assembly, while the parallel movement modulates by varying a Fabry-Perot gap formed between the fiber and the detector assembly. One embodiment includes a cantilever beam of semiconductor material attached to the detector surface. The beam providing an integrated transducer and reflecting surface.

Abstract: A fiber optic coupler has a cylindrical rod protruding along the apex of an angled block. An optical waveguide is mounted to extend around part of the circumferential of the rod. A transparent body is located on the side of the fiber remote from the rod, and the rod and the body are biased together to bend the fiber around the rod surface and to form an intimate contact between the transparent body and the curved part of the fiber. A light input or output device is positioned to direct light at or receive light from the curved fiber part through the transparent body.

Abstract: An optical fiber having a core and a cladding has its cladding interrupted and an electro-optic crystal disposed at the interruption, a modulating electric field being applied via electrodes to the crystal to control its refractive index and thereby modulate an optical signal carried by the fiber. In one embodiment the interruption in the cladding extends all around the core. In another embodiment the fiber is embedded in a curved position in epoxy material, and the epoxy material and fiber are ground down on the outside of the curve to interrupt the cladding and expose the core, the electro-optic crystal being provided on the ground surface. A second fiber can be inverted on the crystal to provide an optical coupler. The electro-optic crystal is for example a single crystal of a tetragonal phosphate.

Abstract: An order wire system which can be used during installation and maintenance of an optical fiber communication system comprises an optical fiber order wire to which engineers can connect at remote sites communication sets each of which includes a microphone and earphone allowing the engineers to communicate with each other. Full duplex and multi-party operation can be achieved with the sets according to the invention and, because the signals are regenerated, the range of operation is considerable. Both analog and digital communication is contemplated and different specific circuits are proposed. In a typical analog configuration, the microphone output is fed to first and second frequency modulators operating respectively at first f.sub.1 and second f.sub.2 center frequencies. The outputs of the modulators are summed and passed to a laser driver and laser which is optically coupled both to the upstream and the downstream side of the order wire.

Abstract: In the formation of a splice between two optical fibers, the splice loss is determined by locally supplying an optical signal to each fiber, in a direction towards the end to be spliced, and measuring the signal level at the end of the fiber before making the splice, and using a symmetric detector to measure in one of the fibers the signal level passing in one direction towards the splice and in the opposite direction after passing through the splice, the splice loss being calculated from differences between the measurements. Alternative forms of symmetric detector, which is substantially equally responsive to optical signals in either direction in a fiber, are also described.

Abstract: An attenuator for an optical fiber has a tapered screw around which the fiber is looped, the fiber engaging within the screw thread. The fiber is held fixed in position by a spring so that as the screw is rotated the radius of curvature of that part of the fiber held against the screw is altered. Light propagating along the fiber is radiated out at the fiber bend, the level of radiation loss depending on the bend radius of curvature. The attentuator elements are mounted within a light-tight box with the fiber terminating at optical connector components mounted within a wall of the housing. The connector components enable rapid insertion of the attenuator into an optical transmission line to provide an accurate reproducible level of attenuation.

Abstract: A battery powered portable test instrument for detecting whether light is propagating in an optical fiber has a jaw into which the fiber is placed, the jaw being closable to press a section of the fiber into a bend having predetermined radius of curvature. If light is propagating through the fiber it is scattered and detected in a detection circuit. If the detected light is greater than the predetermined threshold, an indicator circuit is energized.