Abstract: A optical fiber alignment device with a collimating lens, includes a ferrule for receiving the optical fiber; a ball having an axial hole for receiving the ferrule; a housing having a socket in one end for receiving the ball; and a lens barrel in the opposite end for receiving a lens sleeve. A compression ring for urging the ball into the socket is forced by a first spring located to apply a compression force to the compression ring by an end cap. A channel in the housing allows for the introduction of a bonding agent to bond the ball in the socket to maintain a desired position after adjustment. A lens fixed in a lens sleeve is located in the lens tube at a position to collimate light exiting from the optical fiber. A second spring located between the lens sleeve and the lens barrel urges the lens sleeve out of the barrel and a channel in the housing is provided for introducing a bonding agent to bond the lens sleeve in the lens barrel to maintain the desired position.

Abstract: A diversion connector is disclosed for mating with an optical fiber of an associated fiber optic transmission means. The connector includes a body having an end face for mating with the associated fiber optic transmission means, the end face traversing the optic axis. A fiber section is mounted in the body and includes a front fiber end and a rear fiber end. The front fiber end is adapted for mating with an end of the optical fiber of the associated fiber optic transmission means. The rear fiber end is at an angle to the optic axis to prevent light energy transmitted by the optical fiber from being reflected back toward the fiber and to protect an operator's eyes from the transmitted light energy.

Abstract: A submersible fiber optic lens assembly for use with a fiber optic cable having an end. The assembly includes a lens cap having a lens plate, a seal nut threadedly received within the lens cap, an O-ring radially sealing between the lens cap and the seal nut, a grommet received within the seal nut, and a compression nut received within the seal nut adjacent the grommet such that the grommet may be axially compressed between the seal nut and the compression nut to form a seal between the jacket and the seal nut. The fiber optic cable has a jacket, the jacket being received within the grommet prior to compression of the grommet. The lens plate has a reservoir formed on an inside surface, with a globule of gel located in the reservoir. Upon assembly, the end of the fiber optic cable is received within the gel. The O-ring seal and the grommet seal form an water tight cavity which is further defined by the reservoir and the seal nut. The cavity is filled by the gel.

Abstract: A polarized light variable lens holder including a lens at one end, a ferrule including a polarization plane conserving fiber at another end, a .lambda./2 plate positioned between the lens and the ferrule. The holder includes a hole corresponding to the .lambda./2 plate position so that the .lambda./2 plate may be rotated in a direction perpendicular to an optical axis through the hole.

Abstract: A light transmission device, comprising in combination a longitudinally axially extending light pipe; and a lens unit having a light transmitting end wall and structure extending away from the end wall generally axially and sidewardly of the light pipe, the light pipe and the lens unit retained in assembled relation, whereby light is transmitted from the light pipe to the end wall.

Abstract: An optical device having at least one slant optical connecting interface is disclosed. The optical device comprises a ferrule assembly, a GRIN rod lens assembly and a means for aligning the interface. The ferrule assembly comprises a pair of optical fibers with the distal ends thereof inserted symmetrically with respect to a reference line in a main body thereof, an aligning reference surface constituted by two surfaces which are provided on the outer periphery of the main body, and an end surface composed of the optical fibers and a main body end surface which have been polished to a slant surface. The GRIN rod lens assembly comprises of a GRIN rod lens, an aligning sleeve supporting the GRIN rod lens, an aligning reference surface which is constituted by two surfaces which are provided on the outer periphery of the aligning sleeve, and an end surface which has been formed by polishing the GRIN rod lens to a slant surface.

Abstract: A device for optical connection of an optical element, for example an end portion of an optical fiber (2), with a spherical lens (4) comprises a connector element (14). The connector element has a surface for defining the position of the spherical lens and a surface for defining the position of the optical element in relation thereto. A surface of the connector element for defining the position of the spherical lens (4) are constituted by a circular edge surface (18) formed with a radius.

Abstract: An optical coupling device includes a ferrule that holds an optical fiber; a ball lens that focuses light from the optical fiber upon a point; and a housing that aligns the ferrule and the ball lens. A method for manufacturing such an optical coupling device includes the steps of fabricating a ferrule to support and hold a single-core optical fiber; inserting and fitting the single-core optical fiber into the center of the ferrule; grinding the face of the ferrule holding the single-core optical fiber; fabricating a ball lens whose surface is coated with an anti-reflection film to focus light from the single-core optical fiber on a point; fabricating an integral housing on the basis of a calculation of an offset distance for aligning the ferrule and the ball lens; fixing the ferrule to the inside of the housing; and pushing the ball lens into the housing with a predetermined pressure to fix the ball lens to the inside of the housing.

Abstract: An optical connector ferrule includes a ferrule body which is cylindrical and has a transition portion extending from a cylindrical body to a terminal end of the ferrule body. The terminal end is provided with an inclined convex end face defining a plane of inclination inclined relative to the bore axis. The transition portion has an outer surface shaped for the transition portion to have a circular cross section taken perpendicular to a center line extending orthogonal to the plane of inclination.

Abstract: A method of oblique spherical polishing of an optical connector by which a desired contact surface angle on an axis of the optical connector is obtained easily and securely without requiring additional processing. In order to form a dome of a radius R, which is oblique with the contact surface angle .theta.', at the end surface of the optical connector 20, which has ferrule 22 of which a tip 24 is beveled, the tip of the optical connector 20 is polished by tilting it with the angle .theta. which fulfills the relationsin .theta.=sin .theta.'+S/Rwhere S is the amount of the deviation of the dome.

Abstract: An optical connector ferrule is provided having an standard single mode optical fiber therein whose mode field diameter is approximately 10 .mu.m along its length. An end portion and the end face of the optical fiber are heated to thermally expanded the mode field diameter to approximately 20 .mu.m or greater for reducing power density at the end face. By providing an expanded mode field diameter at the end face of the fiber, the power density is lessened, thereby lessening the probability that any dirt or debris at the end face will become heated sufficiently to damage the optical fiber.

Abstract: A connector which can be assembled easily with high accuracy and prevents the increase of the cost of each part includes a distinctively shaped lens constituting an optical system between independent optical devices. The lens is a lens that a support portion is integrally molded with an optically functioning portion as a sleeve for fixing a ferrule put on an end of an optical fiber at a predetermined position to insert the end of the optical fiber. The support portion protrudes along an optical axis of the optically functioning portion.

Abstract: A terminating sleeve for optical waveguides, having disposed at its distal end an optical waveguide insertion opening leading into an optical waveguide receiving channel disposed in the longitudinal direction in the terminating sleeve, the terminating sleeve being formed integrally with a coupling means disposed at the proximal end and serving for coupling and uncoupling light, the optical waveguide receiving channel extending from the optical waveguide insertion opening up to the coupling means and the terminating sleeve inclusive of the coupling means being made from an optically transparent material.

Abstract: An optical fiber having a lens formed at an end thereof comprises a fiber body including a core and a cladding, and an incident light guide portion having a uniform refractive index and integrally formed at an end portion of the fiber body, wherein the incident light guide portion has a convex surface, and the core has a distal end located within the incident light guide portion at a position close to a focal point of the incident light guide portion.

Abstract: A hollow connector having a first portion to receive a fiber optics cable and to position end extent of the cable relative to the connector interior; the connector having means thereon to grip the cable and to resist endwise withdrawal of the cable relative to the connector; and a lens unit mountable to a panel and having a lens and a depending skirt attachable to the connector, whereby the light-emitting end of the cable ia maintained in selected spaced relation to the lens.

Abstract: A method of producing an optical fiber ferrule having an angled, domed end face with the vertex of the dome and the axis of the fiber being substantially coincident. This result is achieved by orienting the ferrule and grinding the end face to a first angle relative to the ferrule axis, then orienting the ferrule at a second angle relative to the grinding surface and grinding the radius thereon.

Abstract: An optical connector ferrule comprising a ferrule base and a cylindrical tip. The ferrule base has a planar end portion extending transverse to the longitudinal axis of the ferrule, and the cylindrical tip has an outside diameter which is less than the outside dimension of the planar end portion of the ferrule base. A first planar end portion of the cylindrical tip extends in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis, and a second end portion thereof extends at an oblique angle to the longitudinal axis. The surface of the second end portion has a hemispherical shape. The cylindrical tip receives an optical fiber having an end which has a hemispherical shape, and the hemispherical shaped end of the optical fiber is continuous with the hemispherical surface of the second end portion of the cylindrical tip.

Abstract: Disclosed is a connector which permits optical connections between a circuit pack and backplane. The optical components are mounted on a major surface of a circuit pack near the edge. Optical fibers are mounted within a housing which is secured to the backplane. The use of springs within the housing gives sufficient tolerances so that the fibers are aligned with the components when the circuit pack is inserted within a shelf.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed optical fiber lens arrangement, particularly for optoelectronic modules, includes an optical fiber which extends through a metal tubule and is fastened therein. The metal tubule is attached through a flange at an aperture in a wall of a module housing, and includes a spherical lens fastened in the module housing. The metal tubule supporting the optical fiber is adjusted in the flange by axially displacing it a preset focal distance from the spherical lens, and is fastened in the flange. The spherical lens mounting takes the form of a metal tubule and is adjusted at the frontal side of the flange adjacent to the housing by transverse displacement and fastened, so as to achieve optimum alignment of the optical axes of said arrangement, and the flange is hermetically sealed directly or through an annular projection of the spherical lens mounting to the modular housing wall.

Abstract: An integrated lens and positioning mechanism for an optical fiber involving a convex surface on a optically transparent precision collar formed around the end of the fiber. The optically transparent collar has an index of refraction less than or equal to that of the fiber's surface. The fiber extends through the collar and is located at the optical center of the collar. The convex surface focuses light on the optical fiber within the collar thus increasing the amount of light collected in the core of the fiber. The collar has specific dimensions to allow precise positioning in a suitable locating body. A stray light suppressor may be formed behind the collar along the optical path of the fiber to remove unwanted light.