Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for manufacturing a cladded optical fiber. The cladding and core are halide materials. An interface for inhibiting radiation scatter is provided at the boundary between the halide cladding and the halide core. The process steps include extruding a first halide or halide core from a first chamber, and extruding a second halide or halide cladding from a second chamber into contact with the halide core. The halide cladding is joined to the halide core at the boundary.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a cladded optical fiber and a process for manufacturing the same. The cladding and core are halide materials. An interface for inhibiting radiation scatter is provided at the boundary between the halide cladding and the halide core. The process steps include extruding a first halide or halide core from a first chamber, and extruding a second halide or halide cladding from a second chamber into contact with the halide core. The halide cladding is joined to the halide core at the boundary.

Abstract: The method comprises inserting an optical detector into a movable holder, illuminating the optical detector by a source of optical energy to cause the detector to generate an output representative of intensity of illumination incident on the detector, moving a selected one of the source and holder to a position in which the output of the detector corresponds to maximum intensity of illumination, maintaining the moved one of the source and holder in said position and replacing the optical detector by a fiber optic to be aligned. The apparatus comprises a holder, a light source, and optical detector removably mounted in the holder for illumination by the light source, a circuit connected to output of the optical detector for determining when the output of the optical detector corresponds to maximum intensity of illumination, and means for moving a selected one of the holder and light source to a position in which the output of the detector corresponds to maximum intensity of illumination.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a break in an optical fiber adapted for carrying optical energy such laser energy. The optical fiber has a core, a cladding concentric with and surrounding the core and a sheath concentric with and surrounding the cladding. A detector is located within the sheath and has a portion thereof contiguous with the cladding. The detector is adapted to detect both a break in the portion contiguous to cladding as a result of a break in the fiber and a change in transmission of optical energy resulting from a break in the fiber without a concomitant break in the contiguous portion, and to provide a signal indicative of a break in the fiber.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining the usage of an optical conductor. The apparatus comprises a non-volatile memory operatively associated with the conductor for storing a cumulative usage value representative of the cumulative usage of the conductor. A device responsive to a parameter of use generates a signal representative of usage of the conductor. A circuit is provided which is responsive to the signal and is operatively associated with the memory for generating from the signal a usage value and then generating from the usage value and cumulative usage value stored in the memory an updated cumulative usage value representative of the total cumulative usage of the conductor, and for replacing the cumulative usage value in the memory with the updated cumulative usage value. The circuit may in addition compare the cumulative usage value to a predetermined value representative of maximum usage.

Abstract: A low loss cladded halide fiber for transmission of infrared energy is provided, and a process for making the same by growing a single crystal ingot from a powder of a core halide, extruding or machining the ingot to provide a cylindrical billet core, assembling the billet core, preferably wrapped in a polymer film, within a sleeve member of a second halide of lower refractive index than the core, prepared in the same fashion as the core, and coaxially core drilled to accept the billet core. The assembled composite billet is covered with a polymer film, heated, and extruded to form a polymer coated fiber having a diameter in the range of 75 to 2,000 microns. The extruded fiber may be rapidly cooled as it leaves the extrusion die to minimize grain size and scattering loss and may be contained in a coaxial outer strength member.