Abstract: An apparatus includes an all-fiber side-pump combiner fabrication system and a control unit coupled to control operations of the all-fiber side-pump combiner fabrication system to produce a (N+1)×1 combiner with N side pump fibers.

Abstract: An adapter for converting the field of view (FOV) of a connector endface inspector includes a housing with a front end for connecting with a fitting tip for interfacing with a fiber-optic connector, a rear end for connecting to a front portion of the inspector, and an internal light passage. A relay lens system including a front lens group and a rear lens group is embedded inside the housing across the light passage. To achieve a converted FOV, the optical working distance of the relay lens system is made the same as the optical working distance of the connector inspector's microscope objective, and the front focal length is made larger or smaller than the rear focal length of the relay lens system. The rear lens group may be embedded in a portion of the housing that may be detached and replaced to vary the size of the converted FOV.

Abstract: An optical fiber coating stripper includes a pair of electrodes, each of which having a discharge head portion and an electrode portion, and a gliding plasma (GP) head housing the electrodes therein. The GP head includes internal airflow channels. The pair of electrodes are disposed at a front end of the GP head and form an air gap therebetween. Each of the discharge head portion includes a curved portion with a rib-shaped protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction of the discharge head portion. In operation, the electrodes are connected to non-alternating electrically positive and negative polarities. When a gas flows through the internal airflow channels in a direction a back end of the GP head toward the front end, a tongue-shaped GP flow is formed in the air gap between the rib-shaped protrusions of the discharge head portions.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector endface inspection probe includes a microscope system, a camera module, and an image processing system. While the objective lens of the microscope system is being moved towards and past the focused position for the endface of a mated connector, either by manually turning a focusing knob in one direction or via an automatic transmission mechanism, the camera module continuously takes and sends endface images to the image processing system, wherein a microprocessor continuously monitors the sharpness of the endface images to acquire a focused image and analyze it to make an endface inspection pass/fail judgment, without using an external display to monitor the endface images. The microprocessor further comprises an embedded web server for converting endface images and inspection report into web pages to be transmitted by a wireless transmitter of the image processing system to external devices for optional monitoring or manual inspection.

Abstract: A connector inspector includes a microscope assembly, a supporting tray, a main frame, and a fitting tip. The microscope assembly is placed within the supporting tray with a bottom cylindrical protrusion inserted into a base plate of the supporting tray, and the supporting tray is coupled with the main frame with a pair of pivoting joints. The microscope assembly is horizontally biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. The microscope assembly is vertically biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. Thus, the microscope assembly may be swung to shift the imaging axis in two dimensions. The design of enables the inspector to be used with just one hand. See-through windows are formed on the sides of the fitting tip for monitoring the shifting of the imaging axis.

Abstract: A connector inspector includes a microscope assembly, a supporting tray, a main frame, and a fitting tip. The microscope assembly is placed within the supporting tray with a bottom cylindrical protrusion inserted into a base plate of the supporting tray, and the supporting tray is coupled with the main frame with a pair of pivoting joints. The microscope assembly is horizontally biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. The microscope assembly is vertically biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. Thus, the microscope assembly may be swung to shift the imaging axis in two dimensions. The design of enables the inspector to be used with just one hand. See-through windows are formed on the sides of the fitting tip for monitoring the shifting of the imaging axis.

Abstract: An optical fiber coating stripper includes a pair of electrodes, each of which having a discharge head portion and an electrode portion, and a gliding plasma (GP) head housing the electrodes therein. The GP head includes internal airflow channels. The pair of electrodes are disposed at a front end of the GP head and form an air gap therebetween. Each of the discharge head portion includes a curved portion with a rib-shaped protrusion extending in a longitudinal direction of the discharge head portion. In operation, the electrodes are connected to non-alternating electrically positive and negative polarities. When a gas flows through the internal airflow channels in a direction a back end of the GP head toward the front end, a tongue-shaped GP flow is formed in the air gap between the rib-shaped protrusions of the discharge head portions.

Abstract: A connector inspector includes a microscope assembly, a supporting tray, and a main frame. The microscope assembly is placed within the supporting tray with a bottom cylindrical protrusion inserted into a base plate of the supporting tray, and the supporting tray is coupled with the main frame with a pair of pivoting joints. The microscope assembly is horizontally biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, both set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. The microscope assembly is vertically biased by a spring and an adjusting knob, both set between the main frame and the microscope assembly. Thus, the microscope assembly is able to swing to shift the imaging axis of the microscope assembly in two dimensions using the two adjusting knobs respectively. Because the biasing means for the imaging axis are built inside the inspector, the inspector may be used with just one hand.

Abstract: An optical scanning adapter for shifting the imaging axis of an inspection probe for inspecting fiber endfaces of a multiple-fiber connector includes a housing, a fitting tip having a mating interface for interfacing with the connector, an imaging assembly, an x-direction driving mechanism, a y-direction driving mechanism, and a connecting portion for connecting an inspection probe. The imaging assembly includes a first lens, a first reflective surface, a second reflective surface, and a second lens. The connector endfaces are placed on the front focal plane of the first lens. The x-direction driving mechanism shifts the imaging axis of the imaging assembly along a first direction by translating the first lens and the first reflective surface together, whereas the y-direction driving mechanism shifts the imaging axis along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction by turning the second reflective surface about the optical axis of the second lens.

Abstract: A fiber optic connector endface inspection probe includes a microscope system, a camera module, and an image processing system. While the objective lens of the microscope system is being moved towards and past the focused position for the endface of a mated connector, either by manually turning a focusing knob in one direction or via an automatic transmission mechanism, the camera module continuously takes and sends endface images to the image processing system, wherein a microprocessor continuously monitors the sharpness of the endface images to acquire a focused image and analyze it to make an endface inspection pass/fail judgment, without using an external display to monitor the endface images. The microprocessor further comprises an embedded web browser for converting endface images and inspection report into web pages to be transmitted by a wireless transmitter of the image processing system to external devices for optional monitoring or manual inspection.

Abstract: A wireless fiber optic endface inspector includes a video microscope capable of wirelessly transmitting video streaming signal of endface image in real-time to a display device. The video microscope includes a microscope optical system, an adapting tip for interfacing an endface, an LED light source, a camera module for receiving and converting the endface image into video streaming signal, a Wi-Fi AP board, and a battery for supplying power. The video microscope may be constructed by adding a Wi-Fi AP board and a battery to a conventional inspector microscope. The display device has software for detecting when the endface is focused. Once the endface is focused, the display device emits an audio signal to alert the operator, who may then trigger the display device to analyze the endface image using an endface analysis software or save it to a folder, or transmit the image to a remote server.

Abstract: The MT ferrule adapter for adapting an MT ferrule assembly into an MPO connector-type structure for endface inspection includes an upper jaw and a lower jaw rotatable relative to each other between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the MT ferrule of the MT ferrule assembly can pass through the rear end of the MT ferrule adapter to be received in upper recesses of the lower jaw. In the closed position, the MT ferrule is fixedly held between lower recesses of the upper jaw and the upper recesses of the lower jaw with the front surface of the MT ferrule protruding out in front of the MT ferrule adapter. The MT ferrule adapter in the closed position has the same outer contour as MPO connectors so that the MT ferrule held in the MT ferrule adapter may be inspected by conventional MPO connector inspectors.

Abstract: A device for shifting the imaging axis of a microscope for inspecting endfaces of a fiber-optic connector having multiple rows of endfaces has a supporting body for receiving a microscope; a first swinging lever mounted on top of the supporting body and rotatable about a first swinging axis perpendicular to the imaging axis of the microscope; a first connecting piece extending from the first swinging lever towards the imaging axis; a second swinging lever pivoted on the first connecting piece and rotatable about a second swinging axis perpendicular to the first swinging axis; and a fitting tip connected to the second swinging lever for interfacing with the fiber-optic connector. Using two sets of biasing means and adjustment drivers, the imaging axis passing through the supporting body and the fitting tip can be shifted in two mutually perpendicular directions to selectively align with any endface of the fiber-optic connector.

Abstract: The fiberscope for inspecting and cleaning a fiber connector simultaneously includes a housing with a front panel, a microscope system, a connector holder mounted at a distance from the front panel for receiving a connector ferrule of a fiber connector, and a translation stage for moving the microscope system transversely to align its optical axis with the connector ferrule. The fiberscope further includes a hand knob attached to a fine screw through the connector holder for adjusting the vertical position of the connector ferrule, a mirror pivotally mounted between the connector holder and the front panel, an LED lamp, air nozzles attached to the front panel, and a cleaning air tube for supplying compressed air to the air nozzles. The cleaning air from the air nozzles spray sideways onto the fiber endfaces so that the cleaning air bounces off sideways to avoid secondary contamination.

Abstract: A fitting tip of fiber-optic connector endface inspection microscope for inspecting angled connector endfaces includes a relay lens fixed inside its internal channel and is designed such that when it is received in an intended connector adapter and mounted to the inspection microscope, the normal line to the connector endface forms an acute angle ? with the optical axis of the relay lens; the ray exiting from the relay lens and conjugate to the ray along the normal line is aligned with the optical axis of the inspection microscope; and as a result the connector endface is imaged on an imaging plane within the focusing adjustment range of the inspection microscope. The best image of the connector endface is obtained when the angle ? is half of the inclined angle of the angled connector endface.

Abstract: A fitting tip of fiber-optic connector endface inspection microscope for inspecting angled connector endfaces includes a relay lens fixed inside its internal channel and is designed such that when it is received in an intended connector adapter and mounted to the inspection microscope, the normal line to the connector endface forms an acute angle ? with the optical axis of the relay lens; the ray exiting from the relay lens and conjugate to the ray along the normal line is aligned with the optical axis of the inspection microscope; and as a result the connector endface is imaged on an imaging plane within the focusing adjustment range of the inspection microscope. The best image of the connector endface is obtained when the angle ? is half of the inclined angle of the angled connector endface.

Abstract: A wireless fiber optic endface inspector includes a video microscope capable of wirelessly transmitting video streaming signal of endface image in real-time to a display device. The video microscope includes a microscope optical system, an adapting tip for interfacing an endface, an LED light source, a camera module for receiving and converting the endface image into video streaming signal, a Wi-Fi AP board, and a battery for supplying power. The video microscope may be constructed by adding a Wi-Fi AP board and a battery to a conventional inspector microscope. The display device has software for detecting when the endface is focused. Once the endface is focused, the display device emits an audio signal to alert the operator, who may then trigger the display device to analyze the endface image using an endface analysis software or save it to a folder, or transmit the image to a remote server.

Abstract: The fiberscope for inspecting and cleaning a fiber connector simultaneously includes a housing with a front panel, a microscope system, a connector holder mounted at a distance from the front panel for receiving a connector ferrule of a fiber connector, and a translation stage for moving the microscope system transversely to align its optical axis with the connector ferrule. The fiberscope further includes a hand knob attached to a fine screw through the connector holder for adjusting the vertical position of the connector ferrule, a mirror pivotally mounted between the connector holder and the front panel, an LED lamp, air nozzles attached to the front panel, and a cleaning air tube for supplying compressed air to the air nozzles. The cleaning air from the air nozzles spray sideways onto the fiber endfaces so that the cleaning air bounces off sideways to avoid secondary contamination.

Abstract: A device for shifting the imaging axis of a microscope for inspecting endfaces of a fiber-optic connector having multiple rows of endfaces has a supporting body for receiving a microscope; a first swinging lever mounted on top of the supporting body and rotatable about a first swinging axis perpendicular to the imaging axis of the microscope; a first connecting piece extending from the first swinging lever towards the imaging axis; a second swinging lever pivoted on the first connecting piece and rotatable about a second swinging axis perpendicular to the first swinging axis; and a fitting tip connected to the second swinging lever for interfacing with the fiber-optic connector. Using two sets of biasing means and adjustment drivers, the imaging axis passing through the supporting body and the fitting tip can be shifted in two mutually perpendicular directions to selectively align with any endface of the fiber-optic connector.

Abstract: A device for shifting the imaging axis of a microscope across the endfaces of a multi-fiber connector for inspecting the endfaces comprises: a supporting body attached to the optical tube of a microscope and having an extended portion; a swinging lever mounted at one end to the extended portion of the supporting body and rotatable on an axis perpendicular to the imaging axis of the microscope; a connection piece connecting between the swinging lever and a fitting tip; a bevel wheel fastened to the supporting body; and a torsion spring for pushing the swinging lever against a slanted surface of the bevel wheel. The bevel wheel is adapted to swing the swinging lever relative to the supporting body so that the imaging axis of the microscope is moved relative to the fitting tip to selectively align the imaging axis across the endfaces for inspection.