Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the removal of foreign matter, such as oil and dust, from the end faces of optical fiber and optical fiber connectors. Cleaning is effected by bringing carbon nanotube material into contact with an end face to create a differential adhesion in the proximity of the end face that more strongly attracts foreign matter residing on the end face to the carbon nanotube material than its attraction to the end face. The carbon nanotube material is applied with cleaning swabs or tapes that are used to clean end faces with swiping actions.

Abstract: A non-kink, non-hockling optical cable comprising an optical fiber capable of propagating light along its longitudinal axis. A buffer layer made of a soft plastic material surrounds the silica core and cladding, and a supplemental layer surrounds the buffer layer. The supplemental layer consists essentially of a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material to enhance the tensile strength of the optical fiber. Finally, an encasing polymer layer with a breaking strain greater than 30%, surrounds the supplemental layer, to increase the flexibility of the optical cable.

Abstract: A non-kink, non-hockling optical cable comprising an optical fiber capable of propagating light along its longitudinal axis. A buffer layer made of a soft plastic material surrounds the silica core and cladding, and a supplemental layer surrounds the buffer layer. The supplemental layer consists essentially of a liquid crystal polymer (LCP) material to enhance the tensile strength of the optical fiber. Finally, an encasing polymer layer with a breaking strain greater than 30%, surrounds the supplemental layer, to increase the flexibility of the optical cable.

Abstract: A packaging system having a housing for providing a hermetically sealed interior space for receiving and supporting optoelectronic components. The housing has at least one section of wall comprising a layer of liquid crystal polymer (LCP). At least one hermetically sealed electrical port is formed in the LCP wall section over a predetermined area and comprises a layer of metal adhered to and overlying the predetermined area on the of the LCP wall section. An electrode passes through the metal from the exterior of the system to the interior space to provide an electrical communication path between the optoelectronic components and the exterior of said packaging system. A solder joint is formed between the electrode and the layer of metal to provide a hermetic connection between the layer of metal and the electrode to assure that the hermeticity of the housing remains unchanged with the electrical port present.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for the removal of foreign matter, such as oil and dust, from the end faces of optical fiber and optical fiber connectors. Cleaning is effected by bringing carbon nanotube material into contact with an end face to create a differential adhesion in the proximity of the end face that more strongly attracts foreign matter residing on the end face to the carbon nanotube material than its attraction to the end face. The carbon nanotube material is applied with cleaning swabs or tapes that are used to clean end faces with swiping actions.

Abstract: A packaging system having a housing for providing a hermetically sealed interior space for receiving and supporting optoelectronic components. The housing has at least one section of wall comprising a layer of liquid crystal polymer (LCP). At least one hermetically sealed electrical port is formed in the LCP wall section over a predetermined area and comprises a layer of metal adhered to and overlying the predetermined area on the of the LCP wall section. An electrode passes through the metal from the exterior of the system to the interior space to provide an electrical communication path between the optoelectronic components and the exterior of said packaging system. A solder joint is formed between the electrode and the layer of metal to provide a hermetic connection between the layer of metal and the electrode to assure that the hermeticity of the housing remains unchanged with the electrical port present.

Abstract: This invention relates to the use of liquid crystal (LCP) blends for use as buffer layers in optical fiber cables to enhance strength and flexibility so as to meet the demanding requirements imposed on such cables for use in aircraft and the like. The inventive optical fiber cable comprises one or more optical fibers having a core having a given index of refraction and a cladding layer surrounding the core and having an index of refraction lower than that of the core so that the two in combination are capable of propagating light along the length of the fiber cable. At least one exterior buffer layer surrounds the cladding, the exterior buffer layer comprising a liquid crystal polymer and thermoplastic blended coating formed as a layer around the cladding, preferably by cross-head extrusion. The thermoplastic has properties such that the blended coating has a strain at break larger than the liquid crystal polymer would otherwise have acting alone.