Abstract: A conduit bundle includes an inner bundle of first-type conduits extending between inner-bundle first and second ends. The first-type conduits are mutually and adjacently bonded along coinciding portions of their lengths in order to define an inner-bundle rigid region that, as view into a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the inner-bundle rigid region, exhibits an inner-bundle periphery. A separation structure including a structure wall having structure-wall inside and outside surfaces is provided and the inside surface thereof is bonded to the periphery of the inner-bundle rigid region. The conduit bundle further includes a plurality of second-type conduits. Each second-type conduit includes a rigidly bonded region along at least a portion of the length thereof that is bonded to at least one of (i) the structure-wall outside surface and (ii) the bonded region of another second-type conduit of the plurality of second-type conduits.

Abstract: Well plates adaptable for specimen sampling in the biological, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences are fabricated by dissolving fusedly-retained cores from the cladding material of a fused fiber plate to define a capillary plate including first and second faces and a plurality of through-voids into which fluidic samples may be deposited for analysis. Closed-bottom wells are defined by bonding one of the first and second faces to a base plate or by securing into well-sealing positions over the open ends of selected through-voids optical elements, each of which optical elements exhibits a predetermined optical property. Cladding material including reducible ions is exposed to a reducing atmosphere in order to blacken selected regions of a well plate, thereby enhancing sample analysis by reducing such disadvantageous phenomena as autofluorescence.

Abstract: A mesh (36) is placed around a bundle (32) of fused glass fibers. The bundle is then immersed in a leaching bath (44). The ends of the bundle are protected from the bath fluid by furrules (34). Some of the glass of the bundle is leached out, so as to provide a flexible fiber bundle.

Abstract: Well plates adaptable for specimen sampling in the biological, chemical and pharmaceutical sciences are fabricated by dissolving fusedly-retained cores from the cladding material of a fused fiber plate to define a capillary plate including first and second faces and a plurality of through-voids into which fluidic samples may be deposited for analysis. Closed-bottom wells are defined by bonding one of the first and second faces to a base plate or by securing into well-sealing positions over the open ends of selected through-voids optical elements, each of which optical elements exhibits a predetermined optical property. Cladding material including reducible ions is exposed to a reduction atmosphere in order to blacken selected regions of a well plate, thereby enhancing sample analysis by reducing such disadvantageous phenomena as autofluorescence.

Abstract: A leached fiber bundle with the light outlet points positioned as accurately as possible is provided, in which the end faces are not completely fused together, but rather are only fused together at their contact surfaces. The interstices formed are permanently filled with adhesives with the aid of a pressure reduction. To protect the optical fibers from mechanical load, adhesives are introduced into the transition region between the fixed end region and a flexible region. This allows the leached fiber bundles to be produced more economically and also improves their service life.

Abstract: A conduit bundle includes an inner bundle of first-type conduits extending between inner-bundle first and second ends. The first-type conduits are mutually and adjacently bonded along coinciding portions of their lengths in order to define an inner-bundle rigid region that, as view into a plane orthogonal to the longitudinal axis of the inner-bundle rigid region, exhibits an inner-bundle periphery. A separation structure including a structure wall having structure-wall inside and outside surfaces is provided and the inside surface thereof is bonded to the periphery of the inner-bundle rigid region. The conduit bundle further includes a plurality of second-type conduits. Each second-type conduit includes a rigidly bonded region along at least a portion of the length thereof that is bonded to at least one of (i) the structure-wall outside surface and (ii) the bonded region of another second-type conduit of the plurality of second-type conduits.

Abstract: Methods of fabricating extra-mural absorption elements adapted for incorporation in an image-conducting optical fiber array include fabricating various constituent components to be included in an optical fiber bundle from one or more reducible-ion-containing glasses. Various components fabricated from a reducible-ion-containing glass are selectively exposed to a reducing atmosphere such that they are reduction-blackened prior to at least one heating and drawing step relative to the bundle into which they are to be fusedly incorporated. Such “pre-blackened” components function as extra-mural absorption media throughout the length of an image-conducting optical fiber array and alternatively include fiber claddings and substitutional and interstitial extra-mural absorption elements.

Abstract: A method of mounting electro-optical devices on an optical element using an auxiliary substrate is provided herein. Electro-optical fiber optic assemblies are also described herein.

Abstract: A leached fiber bundle with the light outlet points positioned as accurately as possible is provided, in which the end faces are not completely fused together, but rather are only fused together at their contact surfaces. The interstices formed are permanently filled with adhesives with the aid of a pressure reduction. To protect the optical fibers from mechanical load, adhesives are introduced into the transition region between the fixed end region and a flexible region. This allows the leached fiber bundles to be produced more economically and also improves their service life.

Abstract: A leached fiber bundle with the light outlet points positioned as accurately as possible is provided, in which the end faces are not completely fused together, but rather are only fused together at their contact surfaces. The interstices formed are permanently filled with adhesives with the aid of a pressure reduction. To protect the optical fibers from mechanical load, adhesives are introduced into the transition region between the fixed end region and a flexible region. This allows the leached fiber bundles to be produced more economically and also improves their service life.

Abstract: A graded index fiber formed of a plurality of fused graded index fibers is provided. Each fiber is formed from a preform comprising a plurality of fused low index rods with at least one high index rod arranged in a pre-determined pattern which have been drawn and fused. An array may be made utilizing such fibers, with each fiber having a center located at a specified position. A method of forming the GRIN fibers and the GRIN fiber array is also provided.

Abstract: A method of mounting electro-optical devices on an optical element using an auxiliary substrate is provided herein. Electro-optical fiber optic assemblies are also described herein.

Abstract: A leached fiber bundle with the light outlet points positioned as accurately as possible is provided, in which the end faces are not completely fused together, but rather are only fused together at their contact surfaces. The interstices formed are permanently filled with adhesives with the aid of a pressure reduction. To protect the optical fibers from mechanical load, adhesives are introduced into the transition region between the fixed end region and a flexible region. This allows the leached fiber bundles to be produced more economically and also improves their service life.

Abstract: A mesh (36) is placed around a bundle (32) of fused glass fibers. The bundle is then immersed in a leaching bath (44). The ends of the bundle are protected from the bath fluid by furrules (34). Some of the glass of the bundle is leached out, so as to provide a flexible fiber bundle.

Abstract: A method of producing an all glass, non-porous, multi-component photonic band-gap fiber is provided. The fiber is formed by creating a preform having a plurality of low refractive index glass rods and a plurality of high refractive index glass rods arranged in a pre-determined pattern between the low refractive index glass rods. The preform is heated and drawn to form the non-porous photonic band-gap fiber.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical interconnection device whereby arrays of fibers or waveguides arranged in a given orientation at an input side are rearranged in a three-dimensional rearrangement area within the device and exit at an output side arranged in a different orientation from the input side. Distinct arrays are created at the output side via manual or automated placement based on a roadmap.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical interconnection device whereby arrays of fibers or wave guides arranged in a given orientation at an input side are rearranged in a three-dimensional rearrangement area within the device and exit at an output side arranged in a different orientation from the input side. Distinct arrays are created at the output side via manual or automated placement based on a roadmap.

Abstract: A graded index fiber formed of a plurality of fused graded index fibers is provided. Each fiber is formed from a preform comprising a plurality of fused low index rods with at least one high index rod arranged in a pre-determined pattern which have been drawn and fused. An array may be made utilizing such fibers, with each fiber having a center located at a specified position. A method of forming the GRIN fibers and the GRIN fiber array is also provided.

Abstract: A fiber optic faceplate for coupling with optical sources or detectors. The optical sources or detectors are arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each of the sources or detectors has a pixel area precisely located at a predetermined coordinate. The faceplate includes a plurality of drawn and fused optic fibers. Each of the optic fibers is positioned at a corresponding position to the pixel areas of the optical sources or detectors. Interstitial fillers are located at each interstitial space between optic fibers and have an outside diameter corresponding to the space between the optic fibers to maintain the optic fibers in an aligned position as they are drawn.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical interconnection device whereby arrays of fibers or waveguides arranged in a given orientation at an input side are rearranged within the device and exit at an output side arranged in a different orientation from the input side. The method of accomplishing the rearrangement is to first arrange a plurality of ribbon fibers each containing a plurality of individual fibers. This arrangement is then fixed or secured at the output side to form a bundle. The output side bundle is then sliced in a different orientation, for example, in a direction orthogonal to each ribbon fiber at the input. As a result of the slicing, distinct arrays are created at the output side. Alternatively, distinct arrays are created at the output side via manual or automated placement based on a roadmap.