Abstract: Methods of preparing front and back facets of a diode laser include controlling an atmosphere within a first chamber, such that an oxygen content and a water vapor content are controlled to within predetermined levels and cleaving the diode laser from a wafer within the controlled atmosphere of the first chamber to form a native oxide layer hating a predetermined thickness on the front and back facets of the diode laser. After cleavage, the diode laser is transported from the first chamber to a second chamber within a controlled atmosphere, the native oxide layer on the front and back facets of the diode laser is partially removed, an amorphous surface layer is formed on the front and back facets of the diode laser, and the front and back facets of the diode laser are passivated.

Abstract: A bidirectional link for simultaneous or sequential transmission and reception of optical signals is disclosed. A simple alignment process is used in which the emitter or transmitter is disposed in a subassembly having a subhousing with a beamsplitter therein. This is then inserted into the main housing with the other device mounted therein.

Abstract: A burn-in assembly is disclosed having a substrate on which devices to be tested are die and wire bonded. Circuitry for effecting the burn-in testing is connected to the devices under test, and after testing is complete, the substrate is diced into individual optical submounts for packaging.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a lensed fiber assembly having disposed therein an optical fiber, canted at an angle to the axis of light propagation, so as to adequately reduce back reflection of light into an optically active device coupled to the optical fiber. The design of the present invention enables quick and accurate alignment of the optical fiber with the active optical device by movement of the lensed fiber assembly either on axis with and/or orthogonal to the axis of light propagation.

Abstract: A connector assembly includes an active fiber needle 1 having a passive or active optical device 6 connected to an end face 7 of a thick metallized coating 4 and a cup-shaped mount 10 for hermetically enclosing the optical device. The mount 10 hermetically encloses the optical device 6 and provides heat dissipation and electrical connections for optical device 6. The cup-shaped mount may include a ceramic tubular sleeve hermetically sealed to the metal coating 4 on the fiber needle 1 about a central bore 12A thereof. Electrical connections between the optical device 6 and devices external to the mount may preferably be provided through a spring contact 18 which is soldered to terminals on device 6 and has at least one leg 18A, 18B extending through the hermetically sealed cup-shaped housing 10. Other embodiments of electrical lead connections may be provided by wire bonds 24 between device 6 and external metallization surfaces 26A.

Abstract: An optical connection for connecting an active optical device (6,52) or a passive optical device (41,63) to an optical fiber (3), having a thick metal coating (2) deposited circumferentially around the fiber. In this optical connection the device (6,52,41,63) is bonded to the polished endface of the fiber (5), with particular use being made of the thick metal surface (7) on the endface of the fiber. In another embodiment, the optical fiber (3) is etched to form various surfaces (31,32,33) for optical coupling. This etching also allows for accurate passive alignment of an etched active device (52) or a passive device (42,63) with the optical fiber.

Abstract: A connector assembly (10) for connecting a laser diode (14) and an optical fiber (12). The assembly (10) includes an optical connector subassembly (26) having an input for collecting optical energy emitted by the laser diode (14) and an output for transmitting a beam of the collected optical energy to the optical fiber (12), and attenuation means (24) between the input and the output for reducing the power of the beam of collected optical energy at the output to be transmitted to the optical fiber (12). A connector assembly of the present invention is effective in transmitting energy from a light source to an optical fiber with the same accuracy of alignment as a coupling of an optical fiber to an optical fiber; and, at the same time, is effective in controlling the power of the transmitted energy to protect against accidental injury due to inadvertent viewing of the light source when the optical fiber is disconnected from the assembly and to control the power of the optical energy entering the optical fiber.

Abstract: A connector body 4 encircling an optical focusing element 5, a laser diode 3 having an emission axis aimed along an axis at an absorption end 6 of the focusing element 5, the focusing element 5 converting diverging optical emission of the laser diode 3 into a converging beam of radiation, and a coupler element 7 contacting the focusing element 5 without an air gap therebetween to receive the beam of radiation without backward reflection, the connector body 4 having a socket 9, and the coupler element 7 having a front end 8 in the socket 9 for physical contact with an end 10 of an optical fiber 2 disconnectably inserted in the socket 9.

Abstract: A valve for removing trapped air from a pump line, said valve having a resiliently biased valve member and a float.

Abstract: A breather valve for a tank having coaxial flat disc pressure and vacuum relief valves seated on opposite sides of a fitting threaded to a connection on the tank. The outer disc has an axial stem slidably guided by the fitting and the inner disc is slidable on the stem. The discs are commonly biased by a spring between the end of the stem and the inner disc.