Abstract: A device for visual inspection of narrow spaces and objects located in narrow spaces such as solder joints between a component and a printed circuit board has an image prism for deflecting light from the spaces and objects to be inspected and an image sensor that can be connected to a display. For illuminating the solder joints light sources are provided that are located at the transmission path of light from the image prism to the image sensor. The light sources are connected to light guides having outlet ends that are located to issue light at the sides of the light entrance surface of the image prism. Special illumination prisms can be provided to direct the light. The issued light is directed to the field of view, if desired in directions obliquely down into the surface at which the spaces or objects are located and in a weakly converging fashion. Extra light sources can be connected to light guides of a background illumination unit.

Abstract: A device for inspecting animal cages includes a frame and a plurality of camera and scanner modules mounted to the frame. The camera and scanner modules are for signal communication connected to a central unit including a display. The camera and scanner modules are placed at the frame so that when the inspection device is placed in front of a row of animal cages a camera and scanner module is located in front of each cage in the row. The camera is arranged to capture pictures and transfer the corresponding picture information to the central unit to shown corresponding on the display. A scanner included in each module is arranged to read identifying information placed at the animal cages and to also transfer this information to the central unit.

Abstract: A device for visual inspection of narrow spaces and objects located in narrow spaces such as solder joints between a component and a printed circuit board has an image prism for deflecting light from the spaces and objects to be inspected and an image sensor that can be connected to a display. For illuminating the solder joints light sources are provided that are located at the transmission path of light from the image prism to the image sensor. The light sources are connected to light guides having outlet ends that are located to issue light at the sides of the light entrance surface of the image prism. Special illumination prisms can be provided to direct the light. The issued light is directed to the field of view, if desired in directions obliquely down into the surface at which the spaces or objects are located and in a weakly converging fashion. Extra light sources can be connected to light guides of a background illumination unit.

Abstract: To determine the type of unknown optical fiber, an automatic fiber fusion-type splicer is used having movable clamps, electrodes, camera devices and background illumination, coupled to electronic circuits containing control, driver, and interface circuits. A fiber portion is imaged to allow the fiber core to be distinguished in the captured image, both when the fiber is cold and when it is heated. From a first fiber picture in a heated state, a first light intensity profile is determined along a line perpendicular to the fiber. The profile derivative is compared to derivatives of known light intensity profiles. Similar procedures are performed for the cold fiber. Based on the comparing operations, the type of the tested fiber is determined.

Abstract: Apparatus for splicing optical ribbon fibers or ribbonized fibers has a splicing part for splicing the optical fibers to each other and a heating part or oven for heating a protective shrinkable sleeve for applying it around spliced portions of the fibers. A transport device is provided for transferring the spliced fibers from the splicing part to the heating part. The transport device includes clamps at the sides of the frame of the apparatus, which are elastically biased to give the spliced fibers a straight condition between the clamps. The transport device is manually operated by moving a handle lifting the clamps and the fibers along a slightly curved path to allow them to move unobstructed by the components of the splicing part. Thereafter a second handle is actuated to make the clamps slide along side rails having elongated holes in a straight path to a position in which the spliced portions of the fibers are located at the heating part.

Abstract: In determining the kind to which an unknown optical fiber (1, 1′) belongs an automatic fiber fusion-type splicer is used having movable clamps (21), electrodes (3), camera devices (9) and background illumination (11), all coupled to electronic circuits (25) containing control means (33) and driver and interface circuits (29, 27, 31, 28). A portion of the fiber is imaged on the light sensitive areas of the cameras through high-resolving lens systems, allowing the core of the fiber to be distinguished in the captured image, both when the fiber is cold and when it is heated such as to temperatures used in fusion-splicing to issue light. From a first picture taken of the fiber in a heated state a first light intensity profile is determined in an image processing and analysis module (15) along a line substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the fiber.

Abstract: In welding optical fiber ribbons by means of an electric arc formed between electrodes the region heated by the electric arc is mapped on CCD-elements in a camera. In the obtained picture the light intensity of those portions of the picture is determined which correspond to the heated fiber portions. This light intensity is used for setting the electric current flowing between the electrodes, so that a desired welding temperature is obtained and so that also a desired, lower temperature is obtained in the fiber ends in a preparatory softening stage, which has a long durability and which is performed before the very welding stage. This determination of temperatures by means of measured light intensities gives reliable values also in the case where ambient conditions like the air pressure are changed, the state of the electrodes is changed owing to contamination, etc.

Abstract: Apparatus (1) for splicing optical ribbon fibers or ribbonized fibers (3) has a splicing part (7) for splicing the optical fibers to each other and a heating part (44) or oven for beating a protective shrinkable sleeve (11) for applying it around spliced portions of the fibers. A transport device is provided for transferring the spliced fibers (3) from the splicing part to the heating part. The transport device includes clamps (9) at the sides of the frame of the apparatus, which are elastically biased to give the spliced fibers a straight condition between the clamps. The transport device is manually operated by moving a handle (23) lifting the clamps (9) and the fibers along a slightly curved path to allow them to move unobstructed by the components of the splicing part. Thereafter a second handle (41) is actuated to make the clamps slide along side rails (25) having elongated holes (27) in a straight path to a position in which the spliced portions of the fibers are located at the heating part.

Abstract: Optical fibers which are disposed in parallel and at each other in a plane, are fixed in this position by pieces of tapes provided with an adhesive on their surfaces facing the fibers, so that the tape pieces are located exactly opposite each other on the two large surfaces of the parallel fiber assembly. The tape pieces can extend exactly up to the lateral edges of the assembly but can advantageously be a little longer, so that adhesives from the opposite tape pieces come in contact with each other at the lateral edges of the assembly. The tape pieces are advantageously cut off from specially designed retainer tapes having openings which are provided in pairs with the openings of each pair placed opposite each other at each of the edges, of the tapes. The assembly is placed so that it extends over the two openings of a pair of openings, crossing or perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the tapes.

Abstract: In welding optical fiber ribbons [by means of] using an electric arc formed between electrodes the region heated by the electric arc is mapped on CCD-elements in a camera. In the obtained picture the light intensity of those portions of the picture is determined which correspond to the heated fiber portions. This light intensity is used for setting the electric current flowing between the electrodes, so that a desired welding temperature is obtained and so that also a desired, lower temperature is obtained in the fiber ends in a preparatory softening stage, which has a long durability and which is performed before the very welding stage. This determination of temperatures [by means of] using measured light intensities gives reliable values also in the case where ambient conditions like the air pressure are changed, the state of the electrodes is changed owing to contamination, etc.

Abstract: A device for cleaning ends of optical fibers comprises a vessel intended to contain a rinsing fluid, in which the ends are to be inserted. A holder assembly is attached to the vessel and has a central element comprising a through-hole adapted to receive a fiber holder. The central element can be moved vertically in order to position the fiber holder at a predetermined distance from the surface of the rinsing fluid, so that only a predefined portion of an end portion of an optical fiber held by the fiber holder is emerged in the rinsing fluid. For a correct distance this will protect the primary coating of the optical fiber from being wet by the fluid. A light guide is mounted in the central element. Its lower end projects through a predetermined distance from the bottom surface of the central element.

Abstract: When imaging the end region of an optical fiber ribbon including individual optical fibers cameras are used which have lens systems and arrays of light sensitive CCD-elements which are connected through an image processing unit to a display monitor. The optical axes of the lens systems form an oblique angle, for example between 45 and 60.degree., to the plane through the optical fibers, so that the optical axes have an angle of for instance between 60 and 90.degree. to each other, in order to obtain pictures having sufficient amounts of information in regard of the positions of the fiber ends. To achieve a sharp picture of all of the fiber ends the CCD-array of a camera is located in an oblique angle to the optical axis of the lens system. This oblique angle is so selected, that the CCD-array is located in the plane, in which the pictures of the individual optical fibers are located.

Abstract: When welding optical fibers retained to form a fiber ribbon the end portions of the fibers are imaged by a lens system on a surface comprising CCD-elements in a camera. Since two such pictures must be made in approximately perpendicular directions in order to determine the positions of the fiber ends, the optical axis when capturing such a picture must be located obliquely to a plane through the end portions of the fiber ribbons. The oblique position of the object in the picture results in that the magnification of the end portions of the fibers will be different for different fibers and thereby also the background illumination will be different and the contrast in a captured image will vary in the different portions of the picture, which show different fibers.

Abstract: An optical fiber welding apparatus comprises two casing halves (33) which are rotatable about shafts (51). The casings have their movements coupled to each other by cooperating gear segments and prevent exterior dust particles from reaching the welding location and protects the operator from the welding arc and possible emissions therefrom. The casings (33) have such a shape and are so mounted that they enclose the interior of the apparatus in a space-saving way. On the frame (11) of the welding apparatus, to which the shafts (51) are attached, loose fiber retainers are placed on surfaces intended therefor which have a weak slope. In order to retain the optical fibers an elastic magnetic retainer mechanism (71) is provided in order to press inserted fibers against alignment grooves.

Abstract: When splicing optical fibres, it is necessary that the fibre ends to be spliced together are clean and that no contaminants will be enclosed in the splice after fusing the fibre ends together. The mantle surfaces and sliced surfaces of the fibre ends (2) are illuminated with coherent light (1) wherewith diffraction of the light is indicative of the presence of dirt and dust. Dirt and dust on the mantle surfaces and sliced surfaces of the fibre ends functions as irregular disturbance sources which produce secondary waves having mutually short optical wave differences whose interference forms an irregular pattern with strong contrast that can be recorded on a screen (4) placed behind the fibres. The secondary light fields that are formed when light is diffracted through clean optical fibres are homogenous and their interference forms a periodic and regular pattern.