Abstract: There is provided a package for holding long-period fiber gratings formed on an optical fiber from which an outer coating is partially removed to form the gratings thereon. A recoating is then applied to the long-period fiber gratings to maintain the optical characteristics of the long-period fiber gratings, and thereafter a silica glass tube is fixed around the recoating to protect the long-period fiber gratings from an ambient environment.

Abstract: There are disclosed an optical fiber splicing mechanism, an optical fiber splicing structure, and an optical fiber splicing method which are each capable of minimizing the size of an optical-fiber junction and the cost of splicing optical fibers as well as connecting the optical fibers reliably by a simple splicing process. Ends of two ferrules each having an optical fiber fitted therein are held in contact with each other, and the contact portions of the two ferrules are sheathed with a split sleeve. Further, the outside of the split sleeve is sheathed with a heat shrinking tube. Then, heat is applied to the heat shrinking tube to cause the same to shrink. The heat shrinking tube constricts the split sleeve by its shrinkage force, whereby the ferrules are fixed.

Abstract: To ensure the best optical coupling during the assembly of optical devices, such as WDM couplers, the elements making up the optical device are mounted with their longitudinal axes offset from each other, resulting in no two devices having identical structures. Moreover, it is also common for one of the elements to have a larger diameter than another. Therefore, it is very difficult to provide a package that will be satisfactory for every one of the optical devices. Furthermore, current manufacturing techniques require labor intensive steps that include one or more gluing or welding steps. Accordingly, the present invention provides an optical package that is suitable for optical devices with slightly varying structures, and that can be assembled relatively quickly and easily. The present invention relates to a package for an optical device, comprising two mating sections, each section including a rigid outer protective shell, and a resilient inner body.

Abstract: A splice for crimping optical fibers includes two half-cylinders, a support block and a pressing block, which are mutually pressed by a crimping cylinder. The support block is provided with a longitudinal groove for receiving the stripped fiber and bears capped edges. The capped edges and stops are symmetrically mounted on either side of the longitudinal axis of the half-cylinders and are designed for maintaining axis of the half-cylinders and are designed for maintaining a small space between the two half-cylinders in the zone where they are located.

Abstract: A fiber protection sleeve assembly and method for installing the same in a splice junction of a fiber optic cable is provided. The fiber protection sleeve assembly is used in a splice junction in a fiber optic cable having a capillary tube with a capillary tube end and having an optical fiber arranged therein and extending therefrom, and includes a first tube and may also include a second tube and a third tube. The first tube is partially arranged in the capillary tube end for preventing contact between the optical fiber and the capillary tube end. The first tube may be a polymeric material, a thermoset or thermoplastic material, and an orange polyimide material about one inch long. The second tube frictionally engages the first tube for arranging the first tube in relation to the capillary tube end. The second tube may be a polymeric material, an elastomeric material, and a clear silicone tube about two inches long.

Abstract: A fiber-splice protection label or sleeve for one or more optical fiber fusion splices. The label is provided with a unique indicium such as a serial number in alphanumeric and/or barcoded forms. The indicium may be in the form of a strip of paper, plastic, foil, or other suitable material inserted between the inner and outer sleeve or otherwise embedded in the unit. The serial number may also be printed directly on the inner sleeve, outer sleeve, or support rod, and/or in the form of a sleeve. A hologram and/or other security feature may be used to prevent tampering or creation of counterfeit units. The number of digits are preferably chosen to allow a large number of units to be sold without duplication of numbers. Special standardized prefixes or other indicia may be chosen for government or other special applications. Serial numbers may further be encoded into a micro-miniature memory “chip” embedded in, e.g., the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A method for making an optical fiber fusion joint between two dissimilar single mode optical fibers (10,40) where the fibers have different core sizes and/or different refractive index profiles due to different patterns of dopant. One fiber may be a standard step-index communication fiber with a 9 &mgr;m core diameter and a numerical aperture (NA) of about 0.1, and the second fiber may be a dispersion compensating fiber (DCF) with a multiple layer refractive index profile. The second fiber alternatively may have a smaller core and a higher NA, up to about 0.3. A diffused dopant region, with a gradual longitudinal variation in diffusion, is included adjacent to the splice. The diameter of the communications fiber core increases gradually within the diffusion region as the splice joint is approached along this fiber. The diffusion of the various dopants in the second fiber tend to cause its refractive index profile to converge optically to that of the diffused step index communication fiber.

Abstract: A mini-bend optical arrangement and an associated method are described. This arrangement is designed to change the directional orientation of a light path using optical fiber. A first and a second fiber optic member define first and second light paths, respectively, which first and second members include a numerical aperture and which introduce substantial bend losses upon being bent at less than a predetermined bend radius. The first and second fiber optic members are arranged along the first and second paths preferably bent by less than the predetermined bend radius.

Abstract: Each of imaging optical systems has a post-lens system having a front focus at a position of a rear focus of a pre-lens system. Each of the optical axes is set in a direction normal to the optical axes of optical fibers and different from the normal direction to a placement surface of the optical fibers. Each of image pickup planes of CCDs is inclined relative to the optical axis of the imaging optical system so that the longer an object distance of each optical fiber among the optical fibers, the shorter an image distance thereof, and each image pickup plane is located in parallel to the optical axes of the optical fibers.

Abstract: A fiber-splice protection label or sleeve for one or more optical fiber fusion splices. The label is provided with a unique indicium such as a serial number in alphanumeric and/or barcoded forms. The indicium may be in the form of a strip of paper, plastic, foil, or other suitable material inserted between the inner and outer sleeve or otherwise embedded in the unit. The serial number may also be printed directly on the inner sleeve, outer sleeve, or support rod, and/or in the form of a sleeve. A hologram and/or other security feature may be used to prevent tampering or creation of counterfeit units. The number of digits are preferably chosen to allow a large number of units to be sold without duplication of numbers. Special standardized prefixes or other indicia may be chosen for government or other special applications. Serial numbers may further be encoded into a micro-miniature memory “chip” embedded in, e.g., the outer sleeve.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing an in-line fiber optic cable splice is sufficiently compact so as to allow for the spliced assembly to be wound onto a conventional fiber reel. Various short lengths (for example, 1000 to 3000 feet) of fiber cable can thus be spliced together to form a more conventional length of cable that can be used in different situations. The in-line splice comprises a pair of grip blocks for supporting the end portions of a pair of fiber cables to be spliced together. A pair of metallic sleeves are disposed over the fiber ends, with the cable strength members bent backward over the sleeves, exposing the bundle of optical fibers in the center of the cable. After splicing the cables together, a buffer tube is positioned over the fused region to protect the fibers. An outer heat shrink protective layer is disposed to cover the pair of grip blocks, as well as the buffer tube encased splice region.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus and method for jointing two opposed ends of fiber optic cables to result in a hermetic cable joint. Two fiber optic cables are cut to expose each wire strand of each cable, and a tube joint is formed by joining the optical fibers of the two cables such that the tube joint is located under the wire strand of the first cable. A tapered crimp sleeve is applied over the exposed inner layer and outer layer of each of the wire strands of the two cables, the inner layer and outer layer forming stepped portions within the crimp sleeve. The crimp sleeve tapers outwardly from a central portion, such that its two ends are of a larger diameter than the central portion of the crimp sleeve. When the inner layer and outer layer of each wire strand is crimped, the crimp sleeve attains approximately the same diameter along its length.

Abstract: A splice holder is provided to accommodate different size splices of fiber optic cables, including fusion splices and array ribbon splices. The splice holder is formed with a plurality of deflectable arms for engaging and latching onto the splices. The arms cooperate with walls to hold splices on the holder.

Abstract: A splice holder for securing and retaining fiber optic splices. The splice holder accommodates more splices than similar sized prior art splice holder by providing additional grooves. The splice holder comprises a plurality of parallel, spaced apart members extending from an integral base. Adjacent pairs of members defining a channel and interconnected passageway for retaining a splice. On each member between adjacent channels, a longitudinal groove located on a plane parallel to base and higher than channels and passageways is provided for retaining a splice, which increases the density of splices to be held on the splice holder.

Abstract: An optical fiber splice device in which an optical fiber can be connected to a branch line side thereof as the need arises such as in the case where new subscribers join after a multiple optical fiber is connected to a trunk line side thereof. The device includes a plurality of glass capillary tubes, a body equipped with the plurality of glass capillary tubes in a middle portion thereof and a cover glass covering and protecting at least the region where the plurality of glass capillary tubes are provided. The ends of optical fibers of the trunk and branch lines are inserted in the glass capillary tubes to be spliced therein. The optical fiber ends has the coatings thereof removed. The body includes a mount portion in the middle thereof where the plurality of capillary tubes are provided in parallel, and first and second fixing portions on both sides of the mount portion for guiding and fixing the optical fibers to the glass capillary tubes.

Abstract: A quick restoration splice block comprises a rectangular block of transparent material including an opening for accepting the prepared endfaces of the pair of fibers to be spliced. A brightly colored indicator stripe is formed on the underside of the fiber opening. As the fiber endfaces are moved toward each other, the indicator stripe will be covered. When the stripe is no longer visible, butt-to-butt coupled of the fibers is achieved.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating a machined glass surface for improving the adhesive attachment of an optical fiber to this surface, characterized in that machined surface is attacked by an aqueous solution of hydrofluoric acid, then the attacked surface is treated with a bifunctional hydrolyzable silane adhesion promoter or the product of its hydrolysis and partial condensation.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed fiber optic coupler for packaging end joined optical fibers. The device includes at least one first optical fiber having a glass-based portion having a first free end and a second optical fiber having a glass-based portion having a second free end joined to the first free end of the glass-based portion of the first optical fiber to form an end joint. The device further includes an outer chamber having at least one open end, the outer chamber surrounding the end joint, the outer chamber and the end joint being hermetically sealed with a thermosetting plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the device also includes a primary tubular sleeve, positioned between the end joint the outer chamber; epoxy for tacking the glass-based portions of the first and second optical fibers to the primary tubular sleeve; and thixotropic epoxy for hermetically sealing the ends of the primary tubular sleeve.

Abstract: A system and method are introduced to provide a flexible splint for an optical-fiber splice. After splicing the fiber, it is placed within a flexible inner layer. Over the flexible inner layer is placed a flexible outer layer, thereby creating an inner- and outer-layer splint.

Abstract: The fiber jacket application system is used to provide a protective jacket over spliced optical fibers (10, 12), such as to coat a length of bare fiber, previously coated fiber, and particularly to rejacket a length of fiber in which the jacket was removed for splicing. Curable jacketing material is twice fed from a reservoir (28) through a small orifice or syringe (32) onto the respective sides of bared portions (10d, 12d) of the fiber. A first material (14) is deposited from and between the existing jackets (10a, 12a) and onto essentially half of the bared portions. A second material (16) is deposited in bonded contact with the first applied material from and between the surrounding protective jackets and onto essentially the remaining half of the bared portions.

Abstract: The splice housing assembly provides a non-activated mechanical splice that provides temperature compensation such that the resulting splice is substantially unaffected by temperature fluctuations, thereby permitting the splice housing assembly to be formed of relatively inexpensive materials, such as plastic. The splice housing assembly includes a splice tube having a first end that is attached to an end portion of the first optical fiber. The splice housing assembly also includes a temperature compensator disposed at least partially within the splice tube. The temperature compensator defines an opening through which the end portion of the second optical fiber extends. The first end of the temperature compensator is attached to the second optical fiber and the second end of the temperature compensator is attached is the splice tube.

Abstract: A splice protection device is constructed for acceptance of a pair of light waveguides, with the splice location being optimally sealed by elastic holders having an adhesive film. The elastic splice protection device can be utilized in a bent shape, so that the dimensions of a cassette and other receptacle devices can be designed to be smaller.

Abstract: A sleeve and method are provided for protecting a splice of an optical fiber. The sleeve includes a support member and a plurality of optical fibers with the splice and being adjacent the support member. A heat deformable inner tube encompasses each of the plurality of optical fibers at the splice and a heat deformable outer tube encompasses at least partially the support member, the plurality of optical fibers at the splice, and each of the inner tubes. The method includes the acts of sliding the sleeve over a first free end of a plurality of optical fibers such that one of the inner tubes encompasses each of the fibers and then splicing the first free end of the plurality of optical fibers to a corresponding second free end of the plurality of optical fibers. Subsequently, the sleeve is slide over the splice of the first and second free ends and heat is applied to the sleeve to further strengthen the splice upon cooling.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed fiber optic coupler for packaging planar coupled optical fibers. The device includes at least one first optical fiber having a glass-based portion having a first free end and a second optical fiber having a glass-based portion having a second free end joined to the first free end of the glass-based portion of the first optical fiber by said planar coupler to form an end joint. The device further includes an outer chamber having at least one open end, the outer chamber surrounding the end joint, the outer chamber and the end joint being hermetically sealed with a thermosetting plastic.

Abstract: In a fiber optic assembly that is sealed within an enclosure and that has a plurality of optical transmission paths available to transmit input signals through the assembly, a separate link is provided for each transmission path. Each of the separate links has a first end that is located external to the sealed enclosure and a second end that is located within the enclosure and adjacent to the link's associated transmission path. The link is capable of transmitting energy from an energy source coupled to the link at the first end through the link to the second end. The energy is received at the second end of the link, where the second end's proximity to its associated optical transmission path allows the energy to act on the transmission path to render the path inoperable for transmitting an input signal along the path and through the assembly.

Abstract: A method and article for splicing metal clad optical fibers and protecting the spliced portion, and a reinforced splice between metal clad optical fibers, is provided. The method comprises the steps of fusing the exposed ends of metal clad optical fibers together, aligning the thus formed splicing area over a metal groove in a lower plate, depositing a metal adhesive on the upper surface of the lower plate, sealing the splicing area by laying a metal groove of an upper plate over that of the lower plate, and uniformly coating and hardening the metal adhesive on the splicing area of the optical fibers by applying high temperature air to the metal grooves. As described above, the splicing area of the optical fibers is protected by a soldering cream adhered thereto so that a high tensile strength is provided. Also, the length of the spliced portion is short so that the spliced optical fiber can be mounted in a small space in a device using optical fibers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical waveguide module constructed in the structure that can reduce the number of package components for housing an optical waveguide device for optically interconnecting optical fibers and that can protect the optical waveguide device against stress caused by change of ambient temperature and against impact acting from the outside. This waveguide module comprises a reinforcing member directly adhered to a buffer protector covering the optical waveguide device. This reinforcing member is a plate member bent so that the both ends face each other, and it houses the whole of the optical waveguide device covered by the buffer protector in the internal space thereof.

Abstract: An in-line splice closure for splicing two hybrid fiber and signal conductor cables includes an outer housing having opposing first and second ends for receiving respective ends of the cables. An organizer tube extends within the outer housing. Electrical connectors are positioned within the organizer tube for connecting signal conductors of the first and second hybrid cables. The splice closure preferably includes at least one optical splice for connecting optical fibers of the first and second cables, and an optical fiber support wrapped around an outer surface of the organizer tube for supporting the at least one optical splice and adjacent optical fiber slack portions. The organizer tube preferably has a predetermined diameter and the optical fiber support preferably supports the optical fiber slack portions so as not to exceed the minimum bend radius. The organizer tube preferably has a longitudinally extending groove in an outer surface portion for receiving buffer tubes of the cables.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an optical coupler is disclosed. In one aspect, the method and system include a plurality of optical fibers, a first covering, and a second covering. The plurality of optical fibers further include a first end, a second end, a fused portion between the first end and the second end, a first interface between the first end and the fused portion, and a second interface between the second end and fused portion. The first and second coverings enclose substantially all of the first and second interfaces, respectively. In a second aspect, the method and system include a plurality of optical fibers and a covering. The plurality of optical fibers further include a first end, a second end, a fused portion between the first end and the second end, a first interface between the first end and the fused portion, and a second interface between the fused portion and the second end. The covering encloses substantially all of the fused portion, the first interface, and the second interface.

Abstract: An optical fiber having a core, a cladding layer, a buffer layer, and a midsection for forming a hermetic seal to the fiber. First and second sections of a length of the optical fiber are separated by the midsection that includes a jacket hermetically sealed to the fiber, the jacket having a hermetically sealable outer surface. First and second stress relief joints are formed between the jacket and the buffer layers of the first and second sections of the length of the fiber. A method is disclosed for fabricating the optical fiber having a hermetically sealable section.

Abstract: A pre-fitted optical fiber section (2) is held in a plug ferrule (1) in such a way that it extends from a face (3) up to a lateral fusion access aperture in the plug ferrule (1). From the direction of an entry surface (7) at the cable-end, a bore (6) running coaxially to the optical fiber section also leads into the fusion access aperture. Within the fusion access aperture, the pre-fitted optical fiber section can be welded to the optical fiber (27) of an optical fiber cable (24) in the field. The plug ferrule is assembled from at least two components, of which one (8) possesses the outer jacket serving to center the plug ferrule and the other (10) possesses the fusion access aperture (4) and the bore (6). Both components comprise differing materials, which considerably facilitates manufacture.

Abstract: Repair of a damaged portion of a cable sheath may be effected with the aid of a sheath repair kit comprised of an enclosure (10) and a volume of encapsulant (36). The enclosure (10) includes first and second members (12), both having an interior axially extending channel in communication with openings (20.sub.1 and 20.sub.2) in ends of the respective member to receive the damaged cable portion in the channel. The second member is shorter than the first member and has a cross-section smaller in area than that of the channel in the first member to enable receipt of the second member in the channel of the first member. In this way, the first and second members will capture the damaged portion of the cable, as well as a volume of the encapsulant (36) added to the channel of the first member to immerse the damaged cable portion.

Abstract: The optical interconnection apparatus includes one or more terminator blocks which hold a plurality of jacketed optical fibers and a flexible matrix which encloses the jacketed optical fibers and partially surrounds the terminator blocks so as to anchor the terminator blocks within the matrix. Each terminator block comprises a jacket holder and a jacket clamp. The jacket holder has a surface with a plurality of grooves for receiving a plurality of jacketed optical fibers. The jacket clamp clamps a plurality of jacketed optical fibers in the plurality of grooves of a jacket holder. The terminator blocks are used with a mold having one or more guide structures for use in guiding each of the terminator blocks into the mold, a terminator block having one or more guide followers which engage and follow the guide structures of the mold when the terminator block is inserted into the mold.

Abstract: An in-line protection device for protecting fiber optic splices is disclosed. The device includes a rigid body having a central section with an opening sized to receive and house a fiber optic splice between two optical fibers from two fiber optic cables and an end portion having open ends to receive the optical fiber from the fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cables are connected to the rigid body by crimping a sleeve onto the cable and the end portion of the body. A strain relief device is placed over the end portion of the body and fiber optic cable to provide strain relief at either end of the splice protector.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved optical fiber cable connector having at least one pair of ramp projections inclined inward to engage an optical fiber cable for preventing removal of the cable from the connector by a pulling force applied to the cable.

Abstract: A splice protection sleeve including rigid strength members and a melt-flow plastic adhesive inner tube member contained within a heat shrinkable outer tube member. The strength members are positioned on either side of the inner tube. In use, multiple optical fibers are inserted into the inner tube and fusion spliced. Upon the application of heat to the fusion splice protection sleeve, the heat shrinkable outer tube contracts around the strength members and inner tube and the inner tube melts filing vacant areas within the outer tube. Upon cooling, the melt-flow adhesive binds the strength members, multiple optical fibers and outer tube of the fusion splice protection sleeve. Because the melt-flow adhesive inner tube containing the optical fibers is sandwiched between the strength members, upon heating and cooling of the fusion splice protection sleeve, the outer tube substantially maintains its original cross-sectional geometry, applying evenly distributed forces to the multiple optical fibers.

Abstract: A method of packaging a fiber optic coupler formed of a plurality of optical fibers having a coupled region at which electromagnetic waves are coupled therebetween and at least one lead portion extending from the coupled region. A protective body is provided having a receiving space therein. The coupled region and a portion of the at least one lead portion are positioned within the receiving space. A slack in the at least one lead portion is created by affixing two points of the portion of the at least one lead portion to said protective body. The slack is created between the two points.

Abstract: A mechanical optical fiber splice which does not employ any gel material with a matching refractive index, wherein the fiber ends are prepared for intimate axial compressive contact and the fiber end faces are maintained in the splice element in optically aligned intimate contact under axial compression, as the result of heating, elastic deformation or plastic deformation of the splice element.

Abstract: A separate mount type optical coupler having composite functions in which, of a plurality of optical fibers (f.sub.1, f.sub.2 and f.sub.3) arranged side by side, adjacent fibers are fusion-welded and extended at a plurality of places so as to provide, for example, a light mixing/branch-filtering function and a branching/coupling function individually, and the fusion-welded and extended portions are separately fixedly mounted, whereby connection portions and excessive length processing are eliminated.

Abstract: A linking device intended notably for the connection of rods made of a composite material based on polymerizable resin and reinforcing fibers includes a tubular sleeve tightly connected to one end of a rod by plastic deformation of the sleeve placed around said end. The device is formed by a process for fastening linking means on elongated elements made of a composite material.

Abstract: An apparatus of the present invention is an apparatus for housing a splice reinforcing portion of optical fiber, which comprises (a) a first holding member for holding a splice reinforcing portion for reinforcing a splice between a first optical fiber and a second optical fiber optically connected to the first optical fiber and constituting a light transmission line together with the first optical fiber, and (b) a first photosensor disposed on a side surface of the splice reinforcing portion, receiving leaking light from the splice reinforcing portion, and fixed to the first holding member.

Abstract: An optical fiber coupler package comprising an base member having a longitudinal groove disposed therein, and a cover member for the base member, wherein the cover member is shorter in length than the base member and wide enough to completely overlap the groove when placed so as to cover the base member.

Abstract: A consumable fusion block for fusing optical fibers includes non-conducting substrate with at least one flat surface. A pair of electrodes overlay the flat surface of the substrate and are spaced apart on either side of a passline such that each electrode tip end is adjacent the passline. A space between the electrode tips defines an arc region which can be covered to form a semi-enclosed arc region. A method is also provided for manufacturing a plurality of fusion blocks from a single slab of non-conducting material by overlying the non-conducting material with a length of conducting material, bonding the conducting material to the non-conducting material, and cutting the slab into smaller fusion blocks.

Abstract: A hermetically sealed fiber optic coupler for packaging end joined optical fibers. The device includes at least one first optical fiber having a glass-based portion having a first free end and a second optical fiber having a glass-based portion having a second free end joined to the first free end of the glass-based portion of the first optical fiber to form an end joint. The device further includes an outer chamber having at least one open end, the outer chamber surrounding the end joint, the outer chamber and the end joint being hermetically sealed with a thermosetting plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the device also includes a primary tubular sleeve, positioned between the end joint the outer chamber; epoxy for tacking the glass-based portions of the first and second optical fibers to the primary tubular sleeve; and thixotropic epoxy for hermetically sealing the ends of the primary tubular sleeve.

Abstract: The present invention provides a connecting member for facilitating connecting of optical fibers, and a connecting method in which the loss due to connecting is small. An optical fiber connecting member is composed of: a retaining portion having through-holes each of which has an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of optical fibers to be connected; and introduction portions which are integrally formed with and on the opposite end sides of the retaining portion and each of which has introduction grooves communicated with the through-holes to thereby make it easy to insert ends of the optical fibers into the through-holes. Further, the inner diameter of each of the through-holes is reduced by heating the connecting member to thereby make axis alignment of the optical fibers automatically to obtain connecting in which the connecting loss is reduced.

Abstract: The invention relates to apparatus for identifying and splicing at least one multicore optical fiber and including both a system for displaying each multicore fiber and a fiber splicing system. According to the invention at least one ring for surrounding each multicore fiber to be spliced has an outside envelope that is homothetic (geometrically similar) in shape to the outer envelope of each multicore optical fiber, with the outer outside envelope of each ring being designed to be marked as a function of analysis of the image of each multicore fiber as obtained by means of the display system.

Abstract: An optical coupler to be used for optical telecommunications is disclosed, characterized by portions of exposed optical fiber sections located immediately adjacent to and outside the respective clots of the first adhesive agent as viewed from the welded optical fiber section being coated by a third adhesive agent having a Young's modulus smaller than that of the first adhesive agent.

Abstract: A multiple fiber positioner (MFP) provides a micromachined structure that includes multiple V-grooves in silicon created via anisotropic etching for positioning optical fibers in splices and connectors. The MFP has a permanently bonded cover to provide a one-piece, stand-alone component. This MFP component is used to create new fiber optic splices and connectors.

Abstract: A device for interconnecting the bare ends of two or more optical fibers uses a common receptacle having a fiber clamping element therein and camming surfaces for actuating the element, and at least one plug having a camming finger for engaging one of the camming surfaces. The camming surfaces are located such that, when only one of the camming surfaces is actuated, the clamping element rocks to a side of the pocket opposite the one camming surface and remains in the open state, but when both of the camming surfaces are actuated, the clamping element is forced to the closed state. The plug includes a fiber protector free to slide within the plug housing, substantially enclosing the bare end of the fiber when the plug housing is removed from the receptacle, but retracting when the plug housing is inserted into the receptacle to direct the bare end of the fiber toward said guide tube.

Abstract: A method of bonding glass-based optical elements comprising the steps of positioning a first glass-based optical element relative to a second glass-based optical element, applying a glass-based bonding compound about the first and second optical elements, and applying sufficient localized heat to the glass-based bonding compound to cause the glass-based bonding compound to soften and fuse with the optical elements.