Abstract: Fiber-optic connectors and methods for coupling optical fibers via the fiber-optic connectors are disclosed. Once such fiber-optic connector includes: 1) a socket having a tunnel extending through a portion of the socket, the tunnel having first opening through a first socket surface and a second opening through a second socket surface, the first surface being opposed to the second surface, 2) a first plug having a first prong that is configured to support a portion of a first optical fiber, and that is configured to be inserted with the portion of the first optical fiber into the first opening, and 3) a second plug having a second prong that is configured to support a portion of a second optical fiber, and that is configured to be inserted with the portion of the second optical fiber into the second opening.

Abstract: Fiber-optic connectors and methods for coupling optical fibers via the fiber-optic connectors are disclosed. Once such fiber-optic connector includes: 1) a socket having a tunnel extending through a portion of the socket, the tunnel having first opening through a first socket surface and a second opening through a second socket surface, the first surface being opposed to the second surface, 2) a first plug having a first prong that is configured to support a portion of a first optical fiber, and that is configured to be inserted with the portion of the first optical fiber into the first opening, and 3) a second plug having a second prong that is configured to support a portion of a second optical fiber, and that is configured to be inserted with the portion of the second optical fiber into the second opening.

Abstract: The present invention provides a fiber optic connector and a method for installing a fiber optic connector including a barrel assembly disposed within a housing. The barrel assembly includes a barrel being formed of deformable material and having a barrel body and a barrel extension extending from an end of the barrel body. An opposing end of the barrel body supports a ferrule having a pre-polished fiber stub disposed therein. An insert is disposed within the barrel, the insert being deformable and is arranged and configured to receive at least one fiber. An extender cap engages a portion of the housing fixing the barrel assembly within the housing. The housing includes at least one aperture disposed in a side portion for accessing the barrel assembly. In one aspect of the invention a method for installing a fiber optic connector is provided including the steps of, first, forming a barrel assembly.

Abstract: A low loss, tunable optical filter (20) comprises two ferrules (24-24) which are aligned axially with each of two adjacent end faces being provided with a wafer (30). A mirror (40) is embedded between each end face and its associated wafer, the wafer being bonded to the end face of its associated wafer. Optical fiber is disposed in a passageway which extends through each ferrule and through the associated wafer. The ferrules and associated wafers are supported to cause adjacent exposed faces of the wafers to be in predetermined spatial relation to each other. Any gap therebetween may be fixed or may be adjusted by a piezoelectric transducer system (44). The disclosed filter provides rejection ratios which are sufficiently high for frequency discrimination in frequency shift keying systems and for channel selection or switching in wave division multiplexer applications.

Abstract: In order to restore quickly service which has been interrupted by damage in at least a portion of a cable, ends of optical fibers on one side of a damage location are spliced to optical fiber end portions of a restoration cable (70) within first and second closures (22,23) of a restoration kit (20). The first closure is attached to a foamed polymeric mounting pad attached to one flange of a deployment reel (100) mounted rotably on a payout spindle (135) which extends normally from one portion of a carrying case (21). Optical fibers of each end of the restoration cable are connected to splicing devices mounted in splicing modules (40,40) in the first and second closures. The second closure is moved from the case toward an opposite side of the damage location whereat fibers of the damaged cable on the other side of the damage location are extended into the second closure and spliced to the restoration cable therein.

Abstract: Optical fiber repair splices are effected by mating two fiber ends in an elongate open-sided housing containing a fiber-receiving capillary tube. The tube may be factory-inserted to achieve a predetermined alignment of the tube with the fiber guide-way axis of the housing. A stepping fiber passage in the housing guides the fiber end into the tube. The fiber progresses to a point in the tube's interior where the capillary track is visible through a slot in the tube. The splicer visually observes mating of the fiber ends through the slot. The tube slot also permits application of index-matching material and adhesive to the mated fiber ends. During splicing, a mounting jig holds the underside of the housing, freeing the splicer to manipulate and view the fibers.

Abstract: High-strength, low-loss splices of optical fiber can be produced by fusion splicing the fiber with a D.sub.2 -O.sub.2 flame. According to the invention, the deuterium concentration in the gas mixture used to produce the flame is at least 10% by volume of the reducing gas present in the mixture. Preferably, substantially all of the reducing gas in the mixture is deuterium, with oxygen the oxidizing gas species.