Abstract: Method for manufacturing an electro-optic polymer waveguide device including the step of electrode poling an electro-optic polymer material of the device in an oxygen-free environment. In a preferred embodiment, the electrode poling is performed at a temperature close to a glass transition temperature of the electro-optic polymer material.

Abstract: An optical fiber recoater for recoating a portion of an optical fiber, such as an optical fiber splice, that has been stripped of or otherwise lacks a protective coating. The recoater may be configured to accommodate optical fibers of varying diameters without the need to reconfigure the device each time the size of the fiber to be recoated increases or decreases. The recoater may be configured to progressively cure coating material within the mold about the optical fiber in a controlled manner. The recoater may be provided with an ejector arrangement that is configured to dislodge the cured material from the mold prior to its removal. The recoater may also be provided with the capability to proof test the integrity of an optical fiber splice. The recoater may be computer controlled and provide for automatic recoating of an exposed fiber portion.

Abstract: In a method for producing graded-index profiles in polymeric optical fibers, ionizing radiation is used to cause an increase in the refractive index, for example in PMMA. Polymeric optical fibers, preforms or fiber-core preforms are irradiated with ionizing radiation of predetermined wavelength and dose while being moved past the radiation source in the longitudinal direction at a given speed and are subsequently tempered for a defined length of time. Through the control of the spatial distribution of the ionizing radiation with the aid of mirrors, lenses or aperture systems, a uniform, radial graded-index profile is produced over the entire fiber length, so that the polymeric fiber, used as an optical waveguide, has improved transmission characteristics for optical signals.

Abstract: A cavity-preventing type reactor and a method for fabricating a preform for a plastic optical fiber using the same, wherein post-process charging of additional monomer or prepolymer into rotationally-induced central cavities is avoided by forming void-free plastic fibers using special geometric flow controllers combined with special materials combinations, pressures, and rotational techniques.

Abstract: A production method of a light guide and a stamper, combining anisotropic etching and isotropic etching. First a plurality of microstructures is formed on a back surface and a front surface of the substrate. By electroforming, rear and front stampers are made from the back and front surfaces of the substrate. Light guides are produced using the rear and front stampers. Anisotropic etching is performed on the front surface of the substrate, forming V-shaped, U-shaped or pyramid like microstructures. Isotropic etching is performed on the back surface of the substrate, forming quadratic, bowl like, oval or semicircular microstructures. If a transparent substrate is used, then after finishing the etching of microstructures, a light source, a reflector, a diffusion sheet and a prism sheet are added, simulating a back light module for performing a test of luminosity, uniformity of light intensity and light emission angle, so that optical properties are known before proceeding with inverse-forming of the stampers.

Abstract: A method for shaping an optical fiber with various geometries while minimizing unwanted artifacts in the core of the optical fiber. The method facilitates control of sag in the region of the core that is exposed to a beam of optical energy. The sag is reduced, if not eliminated, by maintaining the cross-sectional area of the core that is exposed to the beam at thermal equilibrium.

Abstract: A polymer optical waveguide includes a lower cladding layer of a polymer resin which has a recess and projection transferred from a mold provided with a recess and projection for forming a core portion of the optical waveguide by applying a polymer in molten state or in solution on the mold, and curing the polymer by ultraviolet rays or by heat, and stripping the cured polymer from the mold in a liquid. The cured polymer can be easily stripped from the mold, which allows the mass manufacturing of polymer optical waveguides having various film thicknesses.

Abstract: A method and system for curing reactive material. The system includes an inlet port adapted to receive radiation from a source, a plurality of emitter ports and transmission means operatively coupling the inlet port to each emitter port. The transmission means is adapted to conduct radiation from the inlet port to the emitter ports and preferably includes a plurality of optical fibre strands. Additionally, the system also preferably includes a housing defining a substantially tubular irradiation chamber. In one embodiment, a method is disclosed for joining the ends of a first optical cable and a second optical cable together. The method includes the steps of abutting the end of the first optical cable to the end of the second optical cable, applying reactive adhesive to the abutted ends, and directing radiation within the absorption spectrum of the reactive adhesive onto the adhesive until the adhesive is sufficiently cured.

Abstract: A method for shaping an optical fiber with various geometries while minimizing unwanted artifacts in the core of the optical fiber. The method facilitates control of sag in the region of the core that is exposed to a beam of optical energy. The sag is reduced, if not eliminated, by maintaining the cross-sectional area of the core that is exposed to the beam at thermal equilibrium.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for manufacturing plastic optical transmission medium. The subject method and apparatus can produce a variety of optical transmission medium, including for example, graded refractive index polymer optical fiber, graded refractive index rod lens, and step index polymer optical fiber. The subject optical transmission medium have improved characteristics and efficiency, due, at least in part, to better control of the profile of the refractive index distribution and stable high temperature operation of the medium. High efficiency of manufacturing can be achieved by the subject method and apparatus which can permit continuous extrusion at high speed.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing a plastic optical fiber by heating and drawing either one end portion of a transparent plastic rod, a plastic optical fiber having a cross sectional form approximately similar to the cross sectional form of the transparent plastic rod, the transparent plastic rod is heated by exposing near infrared ray which is radiated from a near infrared ray source. This can prevent the plastic optical fiber from causing to blow many bubbles on the surface and heat degradation to allow the plastic optical fiber to be obtained with a high quality.

Abstract: A method of forming a coating and an apparatus for forming a coating on an optical fiber capable of improving the work speed in recoating a coating forming portion of the optical fiber are provided. A coating removed part of a coated optical fiber, which is the portion where a coating of the optical fiber is formed, is set in a mold. A light-curing resin is provided on the coating removed part. Then, with the light-curing resin heated to the glass transition temperature thereof by a Peltier element, a heater and a temperature control unit, a light for curing is irradiates from a light source to cure the light-curing resin.

Abstract: A fabrication method and forming mold for multi-fiber optical connector ferrules uses X-ray LIGA technology to integrally form a plurality of fiber bores and guide bores in an aligning mold in an array manner with great precision of bores size and alignment positions. Then a plurality of fiber pins and guide pins are engaged with the fiber bores and guide bores to form the mold core. The mold core is then housed between a pair of side walls and an upper mold and a lower mold for injection molding process. The ferrules thus may be produced with great precision.

Abstract: A collectively coating die device (2) is provided for applying coating resin in a lump to coated optical fibers (1) arranged in parallel on one and the same plane so as to form a plurality of optical fiber ribbons (16) at the same time. The collectively coating die device (2) has a nipple portion (9) and a die portion (10), a resin accumulation space (8) formed between the nipple portion (9) and the die portion (10). The nipple portion (9) has two parallel planes and having a plurality of optical fiber passageways (13) shaped like ellipses in section and provided in the direction perpendicular to the planes. The die portion (10) has two parallel planes and has a plurality of optical fiber passageways (14) shaped like ellipses in section and is provided in the direction perpendicular to the planes. Each of the optical fiber passageways (13) of the nipple portion (9) has a tapered portion.

Abstract: The present invention is an improved method involving microwaves for making polymer optical fiber cable and graded index optical fibers. The polymer can be any shape including, but not limited to, sheets, films or cable. The present invention also includes improved polymer optical fibers that incorporate quinine and quinone based compositions that shift the wavelength of radiation from ultraviolet radiation to visible radiation.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the fabrication of an optical component with at least one fiber taper receptacle and a coupled fiber taper For this, a microstructure body is first made by coating a substrate with resist, the height of the resist diminishing essentially continuously across one region of the substrate. Next, the resist is exposed to synchrotron radiation through a mask and then developed. By electroforming and molding methods, such as micro injection molding, replicas of the microstructure body are created in plastic, for example. The invention further concerns an optical component, which has at least one fiber taper receptacle and one coupled fiber taper. The fiber taper receptacle is configured as a trough with essentially rectangular cross section. The trough height and width decrease essentially continuously across at least one region.

Abstract: An apparatus and method used in manufacturing a long period grating filter are provided. The apparatus used in manufacturing a long period grating filter includes an upper body including a plurality of teeth spaced from each other by a predetermined distance and a lower body having teeth spaced from each other by the same distance as the teeth of the upper body and a plurality of grooves in a direction perpendicular to the teeth in which an optical fiber is loaded, wherein the upper and lower bodies are engaged with each other, and a plurality of grooves are formed in the loaded optical fiber by abrading the loaded optical fiber by moving the upper body in a direction parallel to the teeth. According to the present invention, an excimer laser, various other expensive equipment, and an optical fiber sensitive to ultraviolet rays are not required for manufacturing the long period grating filter. Accordingly, complicated hydrogen processing is not necessary.