Abstract: Joints for industrial fabrics are made such that the end edge of each part of the fabric is formed with projecting loops (5), which are formed by bending the warp threads of each part backwards, the return parts of these threads being woven into the fabric for a given length. The loops of one part are inserted between the loops in the opposite part for being fixed in this position. It is desirable that all warp threads in the fabric can coact in the joint, even if their collective width is greater than 100% of the fabric width. The individual loops (5) along at least some portion of the end edges (3, 4) of the parts (1, 2) are therefore formed from at least two juxtaposed threads (7, 8; 11, 12) crossing each other at least once (at 9) before the point of return into the fabric.

Abstract: A shirred fibrous casing article containing about 20% to about 30% moisture by total casing weight and composed of shirred portions spliced together and retained in an overwrap wherein a flag which identifies the splice location between the shirred portions is extended radially through the overwrap.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of joining portions of an inflation/expansion catheter. In particular, the present invention relates to an improved method of joining coaxial lumen portions to multi-lumen portions of an inflation/expansion catheter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method of joining a multi-lumen shaft to a coaxial balloon shaft of a dilatation catheter.

Abstract: A method of lining a pipeline 24 intended to carry gas, oil, water, sewage or chemicals in which a cross-linked polymeric liner pipe 10, which has been reduced from its original diameter to a lesser diameter or to a shape of reduced maximum dimension, is pulled through the pipeline 24. The lesser diameter is less than the least inner diameter of the pipeline 24. After the liner pipe 10 has been fully pulled through, the pipe liner 10 is heated by means of a source 60 of visible or infrared radiation forming part of a pig assembly 50 to cause it to revert to the pipeline. The pig assembly or assemblies are stationary at zones 70 where service connections are to be made. Subsequently, the remaining liner pipe 10 is reverted by pulling the source 60 through the liner pipe 10.

Abstract: An optical fiber reinforcing structure and method of manufacture thereof for reinforcing an optical fiber having a cladding portion removed to expose a fiber core portion. The optical fiber with the fiber core portion is placed in a longitudinal groove of a reinforcing member. The optical fiber is fixed to the reinforcing member at the ends of the longitudinal groove using an adhesive. A cover is then fixed to the reinforcing member to hermetically seal the optical fiber within the longitudinal groove. The reinforcing structure of the present invention prevents environmental conditions from adversely affecting the optical characteristics of the optical fiber.

Abstract: A method of making an optical scanner is disclosed that includes light transmitting and receiving optical fibers to illuminate and scan an image to be copied, transmitted or stored.

Abstract: Disclosed is a method and apparatus for forming diagonal splices in flexible, fusible material and the material spliced accordingly. The splice is formed by overlapping the material, tensioning the material at the area to be spliced, and heating a strip of the material under tension to its fusion temperature, thereby fusing and separating the material at the strip. The splice is nearly undetectable to the untrained eye.

Abstract: A method for assembling a light wave guide switch calls for a switch having two groups of front ends of light wave guides. Each group of front ends faces the other group of front ends and each group is disposed on opposite sides of a coupling plane running perpendicular to the longitudinal axes of the light wave guides. The switch also has centering devices that extend parallel to each other, without offset, from a first end of a base plate to a second end of the base plate. The centering devices secure a plurality of light wave guides each extending through the coupling plane when each of the wave guides forms a single component. The method includes the steps of coupling the first end of the base plate to a stationary part of the switch and coupling a second end of the base plate to a drivable part of the switch while the switch is in the given switching position.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a filament reinforced plastic pipe including an integral bell, the method comprising the steps of winding a filament bundle, in a plurality of layers, around a mandrel having a cylindrical outer surface to form a pipe including a bell portion having a cylindrical inner surface, and machining the inner surface so that the inner surface is tapered.

Abstract: A method of splicing a pair of optical fibers including, molding a base with a groove therein extending from a first inlet to a second inlet with a tapered portion at each inlet to act as a guide during the positioning of the fibers. Positioning the ends of the optical fibers in the inlets of the groove and introducing an index matching fluid into the groove. A cover having a hole therethrough may be positioned over the groove and the fluid introduced through the hole. The fluid is cured to hold the fibers fixedly in the groove and form an optical link therebetween. The cover may be molded with a perpendicular groove therein and photonic devices mounted in the cover groove.

Abstract: Optical fibers (15) are supported within a bonded support member (16) having along opposite sides first and second grooves (14) which are parallel to the central axes of the fibers being supported. A first opening (22) is formed in a holder member (21) which includes a first projection (27). A cantilever spring member (23) is formed in the holder member having a second projection (27) opposite the first projection. The bonded fiber support member (16) is inserted into the opening such that the first projection engages the first groove (14) on one side, and the second projection engages the second groove (14) on the other side of the bonded support member. Thereafter, the bonded support member is locked into position and the holder biases one end of it against a polishing wheel (29) to permit polishing along a plane which is perpendicular to the axes of the optical fibers.

Abstract: A fiber holding chuck comprising a silica glass rod having a fiber groove or fiber chuck for an optical fiber. The optical fiber lies in the fiber groove, and a clamping mechanism holds the optical fiber in place. The fiber holding chuck positions the optical fiber without damaging the fiber in order to align the fiber with another fiber. The clamping mechanism maintains the position of the aligned fiber. The fiber chuck mounts in a chuck groove of a chuck mounting fixture. The chuck mounting fixture attaches to a fiber positioning mechanism, and the positioning mechanism positions the chuck mounting fixture along with the fiber chuck and the optical fiber to align and splice two optical fibers together while reducing the risk of damage to the optical fiber.

Abstract: A composite forming tool is fabricated by securing shapeable filler blocks between composite headers and contouring the blocks to match the shape of the headers, to form a support structure with a continuous surface. Layers of uncured, composite laminates are laid up over the support structure and cured. The filler blocks may be removed after curing.

Abstract: A method for interconnecting first and second optical fiber bundles (FIG. 4 ), each bundle comprising a plurality of optical fibers, comprises the steps of accurately forming substantially identical matrix arrays of apertures in first and second thin securing plates (FIG. 1, 20, 17). The use of thin plates for the securing plate makes it possible to form apertures by masking and etching with great precision, but the plates themselves have little mechanical strength. The first and second plates are aligned (by balls 24), and a first support member (31), which is mechanically rugged, is simultaneously contacted to the first securing plate (17) and to a first alignment pin (27). The first support member (31) is bonded to the first securing plate while the first securing plate (17) is in alignment with the second securing plate (20).

Abstract: A flexible pipe connector is disclosed for connecting to a hard plastic pipe. The flexible pipe connector, preferably made of polyethylene, has a tubing member which defines a cylindrical wall with inner and outer surfaces, the cylindrical wall having a male end which has a plurality of undercuts formed on the outer surface. The male end with the undercuts is inserted into the female end of a hard plastic pipe with a solvent weld glue applied at the inner surface thereof. The solvent weld glue liquifies the inner surface of the pipe's female end to form a liquified layer of hard plastic which is received in the male end's undercuts and then hardens into a reconfigured solid layer. In this manner, the flexible pipe connector, which is inert and normally cannot be attached with glue to a hard plastic pipe, can be sealably secured to a hard plastic pipe as the liquified layer solidifies within the undercuts to prevent separation of the pipe connector and the hard plastic pipe and to provide a seal therebetween.

Abstract: For welding composite pipes together a welding ring is used, which bears against the side wall portions of elevations. It consists of thermoplastic material and is provided with an electric resistance heating. Prior to welding there is an annular gap between the front walls of the pipes to which annular gap a volume compensating groove is associated in the welding ring. A connection of the pipes in their region outside of their inner pipe is performed by an at least partial welding of the welding ring, the front walls bearing against each other in unwelded manner.

Abstract: In a process for the production of an optical coupler for polymeric optical fibers using ultrasound welding, the fibers are warmed, before the welding, to a temperature of from 50.degree. to 250.degree. C. for from 0.2 to 3 hours. The polymeric optical fibers are introduced into a plastic tube which melts with the fibers during the welding operation to form a unit. In another embodiment, a connector bar which has the same refractive index as the core material of the polymeric optical fibers can be inserted into the plastic tube, the polymeric optical fibers are brought into contact with the connector, and the plastic tube, the connector bar and the fibers are welded to one another under the action of ultrasound.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing and testing integrated optical composites in which fiber pigtails are aligned with and attached to the optical output ports of a plurality of integrated optical components on a wafer, prior to separation into individual components. The multiple pigtails are arranged at the ends opposite the wafer, to facilitate optical connections during active alignment and measurement testing.

Abstract: An improved fiber optic panel having a desired illumination pattern is assembled from at least two partial panels, each comprising a plurality of fully terminated parallel fibers. Two or more such partial arrays are combined to fabricate a optical fiber substrate having an arbitrary illumination pattern. The non-illuminated fiber lengths extending from the individual fiber terminations are removed before the two partial arrays are assembled, thus further enhancing the efficiency of the device. In a preferred embodiment the fibers of each partial array have a center-to-center spacing slightly greater than twice the fiber diameters, and the fibers of the two partial arrays are intermeshed to form a closely packed parallel array of fibers in which a fully terminated shorter fiber is located between two longer fibers.

Abstract: A device for selectively connecting and disconnecting plastic tubes includes a welder. A carriage is located in the welder for conveying a heated wafer through the welder. A pair of arms is mounted in the welder with each arm having a tube holding pocket which extends across its respective arm. The arms are movably mounted to generally align the pockets with a gap therebetween. Each of the arms has a clamp for selectively clamping a tube in its pocket. A wafer removal station is in the welder downstream from the arms. The carriage is driven to the wafer removal station so that the wafer first passes through the gap to contact the tubes and then the wafer passes into the removal station so that it may be removed from the carriage and the carriage may be returned to its starting location. The welder includes a computer for controlling the operation and synchronizing the timing of the carriage and the arms to automate the welder.

Abstract: Spliced end portions (30--30) of two optical fibers are recoated in a manner which results in the cross section of the spliced length of fiber transverse to a longitudinal axis thereof being substantially constant. This is accomplished without compromising the adhesion of a curable recoating material (51) to an adjacent original coating material (38). In order to provide such a recoated portion, original coating material which is removed to permit splicing is removed in such a manner as to leave a tapered portion (52) remaining on the end portion of each optical fiber. As a result, the interface between the recoating material and the original coating material is increased sufficiently to avoid having to overlap some of the recoating material with original coating material on adjacent portions of the fibers being spliced.

Abstract: A method for continuous processing/in-situ consolidation and curing of thermoset resin impregnated fiber tow into a composite product having minimal porosity and being relatively void free. The method provides for preconditioning a fiber, impregnating a continuous fiber tow with a low viscosity thermoset resin to complete saturation and then simultaneously outgassing and advancing the resin impregnated tow. The preconditioned tow is then applied to a substrate such as a heated rotating mandrel in a filament winding procedure where heat is applied to the nip of the touch-down of the tow to the mandrel with the simultaneous application of pressure for initial consolidation of the tow upon the substrate. Additional pressure and heat are applied to the tow as the mandrel is rotated to provide for advancing the stage of the resin and further consolidation of the material.

Abstract: Apparatus for routing optical fiber comprises an elongated manipulator (20, FIG. 2) having a vertical axis which can be controlled to move in an X-Y plane and in the .theta. direction around its vertical axis. A rotatable wheel (21) is mounted on a free end of the manipulator, and a reel (19) containing optical fiber (17) is mounted on one side of the manipulator. The fiber is threaded over a peripheral portion of the wheel and the wheel presses the fiber against an adhesive-coated surface of a substrate (18) to cause it to adhere to the coated surface. The manipulator is then moved in a direction parallel to the flat surface at an appropriate speed and direction to cause the wheel to rotate and to exert tension on the optical fiber. The tension causes additional optical fiber to unwind from the reel and to be fed to the wheel for adherence to the coated surface, thereby to form a continuous optical fiber portion extending along, and adhered to, the coated surface.

Abstract: A sterile containment welding device for plastic tubes comprises a pair of side by side spaced tube holders. Each of the tube holders includes a clamp base and a clamp lid. A pocket is provided in each clamp base extending completely across the clamp base so that a plastic tube could be inserted into the pocket and clamped in the holder when its clamp lid is moved to a closed position. Pockets of the side by side tube holders are alignable with each other to permit a plastic tube in one of the holders to be welded to the plastic tube in the other of the holders. A tube locating member is movably mounted at the end of each pocket in the space between the holders. The tube locating member has a wall disposed in the space beyond the pocket for positioning its plastic tube in the proper position for the later welding step when its tube is moved into contact with the walls.

Abstract: Methods of producing electrically fusable sleeve connectors for connecting large diameter thermoplastic pipe sections and the sleeve connectors produced by such methods are provided. Methods of sealingly connecting adjacent ends of a pair of large diameter thermoplastic pipe sections by electric fusion are also provided. The methods of producing electrically fusable thermoplastic sleeve connectors broadly include the steps of winding a tape of molten thermoplastic material onto a large diameter core drum whereby adjacent windings are fused and upon being cooled a solid sleeve is formed, embedding an electric resistance heating wire in a surface of the sleeve while the thermoplastic material is still in the molten state and removing the sleeve after cooling with electric resistance heating wire embedded therein from the core drum.

Abstract: A process for sterile entry/exit into a closed system permits safe addition of reagent/nutrient/process modules, etc., removal of biological samples or depleted process modules such as filters, etc. all without exposing the operator to possibly dangerous materials such as blood and without endangering the contents of the system such as in cell-culturing. A novel welder and process is disclosed to illustrate the process.

Abstract: A pair of hollow plastic tubes are welded together by mounting each tube in the clamp jaws of a holder in a bent condition to form the U-shape. A structural element is utilized to create a space between the bight of the U-shape and the holder. The bent tubes are disposed toward each other. A tube section separating member is moved into contact with the bent tubes and through the space between each bight and its holder to create a set of two tube sections from each bent tube. A tube section from one set is aligned with a tube section from the other set and the aligned sections are welded together. The structural element may be a weld seam resulting from a prior welding.

Abstract: Method for joining parts of ceramic high-temperature superconductor material of the composition Bi.sub.(2+a-b) (Sr.sub.1-c) Ca.sub.c) .sub.(3-a) Pb.sub.b Cu.sub.(2+d) O.sub.x, where a is 0 to 0.3, b is 0 to 0.5, c is 0.1 to 0.9 and d is 0 to 2 and x has a value depending on the state of oxidation of the metals present, the end faces of the parts located at a gap spacing apart from one another are heated by means of a fuel gas/oxygen flame to temperatures from 750.degree. to 875.degree. C. Simultaneously, a rod of the same material above the spacing gap is heated until the melt thereof drips off into the gap between the end faces of the two parts, completely filling the gap. At least the joint region between the two parts is then heat-treated for 7 to 100 hours at temperatures between 780.degree. and 850.degree. C.

Abstract: Interconnecting two insulation sheathed conductors in subsea environments is done using a subsea connector including a metal conductor splice pin arrangement and a splice insulation sleeve. A metal tube is placed over the splice insulation sleeve. The conductor insulation sheaths are molded to respective opposite sides of the metal tube.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for joining two ends of plastic optical fibers after the ends have been formed, preferably cut at a bias. The ends are pushed together within a tightly fitting quartz tube and their juncture is heated, by a resistance wire filament which surrounds the tube, to melt the ends and form a splice. The quartz tube is split into a top member and a bottom member and the spliced optical fiber is removed from the tube by opening the two tube members.

Abstract: A method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector wherein stacking portions for stacking are provided in corresponding positions of each ferrule, the individual ferrules are stacked with the corresponding individual stacking portions aligned, and a plurality of ferrules are simultaneously stacked up with stacking members which work in cooperation with those corresponding stacking portions in such a manner that the ferrules can practically float with a specific degree of freedom to allow a gap between the ferrules, and a stacked-type optical connector assembled according to this method.

Abstract: A method for preparing an optical fiber canister includes providing a length of a wire (44) having a diameter of about that of the optical fiber (60), and winding the wire (44) onto a mandrel (40) in a preselected winding pattern to form a base layer (46). A replicating strip (48) having a flexible substrate (50) with a patterning layer (52) of b-staged epoxy on one side thereof is provided, and the patterning layer (52) is pressed against the base layer (46) to form a groove pattern (62) in the patterning layer (52). The b-staged epoxy layer (52) is cured to harden it to preserve the groove pattern, and then the flexible substrate (50) is applied to an optical fiber bobbin (56) with the grooved patterning layer (52) facing outwardly. An optical fiber (60) is wound into the groove (62) of the patterning layer (52) to form an optical fiber pack (66).

Abstract: A plastic tube is cut into two sections which are sealed closed by a sterile method wherein the tube is loaded into two clamping jaws which flatten the tube. The tube is cut through the flattened section and the cut ends are heated to their molten state. A wafer having wings is located between the cut ends with the wings penetrating the lumens to create an internal plug as the wings force the molten material inwardly. The plugs add to the strength of the resultant seal. If desired, the molten ends are pressed into a cavity which is cooled to a temperature below the molten temperature to seal the ends. The tubes are then removed from the cavity. When it is desired to connect individual tube sections the two tube sections are placed in clamp members in axial alignment slightly spaced from each other. The ends of the tube sections are melted by a melt/wipe process and the tube sections are then pressed into contact with each other to be welded into an integral tube.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing flexible tubes of desired length from several strips of rubber and/or fiber reinforced rubber. The apparatus comprises a wrapping machine and a vulcanizer arranged in series on a common axis along which a core can move.

Abstract: Substrates for supporting optical fibers in an optical coupler are made by, first, making grooves in a glass preform which are about ten times the desired size, and then using glass drawing techniques to draw from the preform a substrate of the proper size. Optical fibers are arranged in ribbon form and placed in a fixture which allows the ends to be cut and polished at the angle required for proper coupler operation. Fibers are stripped from the end of the ribbon that has been cut and polished and placed in the grooves for proper alignment with abutting fibers. The ends of the fibers that remain fixed to the ribbon prevent unwanted rotation of the fibers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for joining a plurality of tubular thermoplastic workpieces by causing the workpieces to be stacked with their internal surfaces axially aligned. High frequency vibrations are applied to the respective inner surfaces of the stacked workpieces, the motion of the vibrations being predominantly along the axial alignment of the workpieces. Responsive to the dissipation of the vibratory energy, thermoplastic material from the inner surfaces of the workpieces becomes molten and flows and, upon the cessation of the vibrations, the molten and flowed material rigidifies to cause the workpieces to be joined. The high frequency vibrations, most suitably, are provided by a horn adapted to be resonant as a half wavelength resonator at an ultrasonic frequency in the range between 16 and 25 kHz.

Abstract: Device for joining of tubular parts (10, 11) made from plastic, especially polyvinylidene fluoride, polypropylene or polyethylene, in which aligned parts (10, 11) exhibiting about the same diameter are pushed together and are welded on abutting surfaces (12, 13) by effect of heat. Abutting surfaces (12, 13) of tubular parts (10, 11) in the direction of the inside pipe space are undercut or recessed so that the edge formed by inside surface (15) of tubular part (10, 11) and the abutting surface springs back opposite the edge formed by outside surface (18) of tubular part (10, 11) and abutting surface (12, 13), and so that parts (10, 11) in the area of abutting surfaces (12, 13) in the axial direction essentially are softened equally deeply, then pushed together and, as a result, are welded together. Especially wherein the heating element (20) consists of a fixed disk (23') and a heating ring (23") of metal with a PTFE-ring (21') which may be additionally fixed.

Abstract: A circuit arrangement is provided for allowing the bidirectional exchange of received and transmitted signals over a single monomodal optical fiber. The light transmitter (usually a laser or a LED), the receiver of optical signals and an optical system suitable for directing the optical signal to be transmitted to the monomodal optical fiber ad for directing the optical signal from the monomodal optical fiber to the receiver collects the signals in one passage. The optical system uses an optical transceiver employing a light transmitter and a light receiver. This optical transceiver is formed in a unitary housing. The optical system includes first and second lenses which may be graded-index waveguide sections and a planar filter disposed therebetween, the planar filter typically being an interferential filter. The optical system is formed on a support which allows the light transmitter which is typically a laser to be disposed directly adjacent one of the lenses.

Abstract: In a method of preventing twisting of a fusion-spliced optical fiber in the process of encasing the optical fiber in a casing, one of a pair of optical fibers is wound N turns in one direction to form a first coil. Another of the pair of optical fibers is wound N turns in another direction opposite to the direction to form a second coil. Ends of remainder portions of the optical fibers which are not wound are fusion-spliced to each other to form a fusion-spliced portion. The fusion-spliced portion is fixed within a casing. The remainder portions of the optical fibers are pushed into the casing to expand the first and second coils.

Abstract: Plastic tubes are welded by placing a pair of tubes in a pair of aligned holders with each tube folded toward itself. A wafer is movably mounted in the gap between the tubes and is heated to cause the ends of the tubes to melt without actually cutting through the tubes. The melted ends of opposed tubes can be pressed into contact with each other to form a welded connection. In a variation a pair of cutting blades cut the folded ends of the tubes and the cut ends are then melted by a wafer and subsequently pressed into contact with each other.

Abstract: Plastic tubes are welded together by placing each tube in a nest which includes a pair of grooves and an anvil centrally located between the grooves. Each tube is positioned in the grooves around the anvil for being juxtaposed the other tube. A wafer of movably mounted to move to the gap between the anvils so as to heat the ends of the tubes and melt the tubes without actually cutting through the tubes. The melted ends are then joined together so that the two tubes are thereby connected with one section of each tube being in flow communication with a corresponding section of the other tube.

Abstract: A substantially parallel array of printed wiring boards (11A-E) each support a light source element (13A-E) and a light detector element (14A-E). Each light source element is connected to all of the light detector elements of the other printed wiring boards by optical fibers (18) supported in arcuate grooves (16) of an optical backplane member (12). Each source element is also connected to a source terminal (26) and each detector element is connected to a detector terminal (27), which permit bypass interconnections between selective source elements and detector elements. In another embodiment (FIGS. 10 and 11) a broad surface (33) of the optical backplane member (32) contacts edges of the printed wiring boards (31A-C).

Abstract: A process for sterile entry/exit into a closed system permits safe addition of reagent/nutrient/process modules, etc., removal of biological samples or depleted process modules such as filters, etc. all without exposing the operator to possibly dangerous materials such as blood and without endangering the contents of the system such as in cell-culturing. A novel welder and process is disclosed to illustrate the process.

Abstract: A method of splicing optical fibres is described in which at least one of the fibers has a high numerical aperture (NA) and the two fibres have different mode spot sizes. The method comprises fusing the ends of the fibres together with their cores in alignment and heating the fused junction between the fibres so as to cause dopant to migrate out of the core. The heating step is carried out for a time sufficient to achieve a predetermined level of matching between propagation modes in the two fibres.

Abstract: The invention relates to a connection component equipped with an electrical resistor for the welding of elements made of heat-fusing plastic. According to the invention, the resistor takes the form of a single wire coated with an electrically insulating layer and having points of intersection, the coating layer fusing at a temperature between the fusion temperature of the components to be joined together and their temperature of thermal damage, so that short-circuits are generated on the wire and so that the stopping of the supply of current to the latter is commanded. The invention is used particularly for the thermal welding of polyethylene pipes used in the gas industry.

Abstract: A method and article for joining two substrates or repairing a substrate comprising positioning in thermal contact with and surrounding the substrate(s) a tubular article comprising conductive polymeric material. Two electrodes extending along the whole or part of the article as connected to a source of electrical power to cause current to pass through and heat the article. The conductive polymeric material is urged radially inwards towards the substrate(s). The radially inward movement may be caused by recovery of the conductive polymeric material, or by the use of elastomeric material.

Abstract: Optical interconnectors and methods for optically interconnecting structures, such as printed circuit boards. The optical interconnectors comprise at least two optical fibers having one end embedded in a structure such as a printed circuit board and at least one sleeve for housing termination portions of two optical fibers. The termination portions of the fibers are positioned and secured within the sleeve so that end surfaces of the optical fibers are abutted together. The resulting optical interconnectors have low loss and occupy a small amount of space while maintaining a flat profile.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in terminating an optical fibre F in the bore of a tubular connector body C comprises a movable support 1 having first gripping means 5 for holding a tubular connector body in a fixed position on the support, second gripping means 7 for holding an optical fibre in a predetermined position in which the fibre extends through and protrudes from the bore of the connector body when so held, and a handle of thermally insulating material. A first mounting 10 for temporarily supporting the movable support 1 is of such a form that it facilitates ready positioning of the connector body C and optical fibre F. A second mounting 20, to which the movable support 1 is transferred from the first mounting 10, incorporates heating means for hardening of heat-hardenable adhesive employed to secure the optical fibre in the connector body. Reduction in the level of manual dexterity needed to ensure consistent satisfactory terminations can be achieved.

Abstract: A precision glass jig is formed to properly position ribbons of optical fibers for the area end of a fiber optic bundle forming the entrance field of an optical subsystem for an electronic printer. The opposite ends of the ribbons are aligned side-by-side and coupled against an electrostatic drum. The ribbons are inserted into slots in the glass jig, each ribbon providing a bearing surface for guiding the adjacent ribbon into the respective slot. A spacing tool may be used to temporarily separate adjacent ribbons for ensuring initial alignment and also for guiding insertion of the ribbons into the slots.

Abstract: Optical waveguides are used to bridge between integrated circuits on different die. The waveguide is suspended on polyamid or some other material. An optional waveguide is built which can have both active components or passive components and beam dumps. The optical waveguides allow the signal from one integrated circuit to another to travel at the speed of light. Such waveguides can be direct deposited to better than 0.2 micron accuracy to connect submicron waveguides on the integrated circuit. The use of conductive waveguides or conductive coatings to encapsulate the waveguide allows electrical signals to be passed along with the optical signal.