Abstract: Asymmetric stress in the tip of a polarization-maintaining optical fiber is measured using the photoelastic effect to determine the fiber polarization axes of two fibers appointed to be joined. The fibers are rotated to align their respective polarization axes and are joined together. A single polarization-maintaining optical fiber is thereby produced in an accurate, reliable, time efficient and cost effective manner.

Abstract: A compact fiber rotator has a guiding and support device (2) which comprises suction channels (17) formed in the angle of two blocks (3, 5), and a rotation device (32) which is attachable to the guide device (2) and comprises a house (33), a rotating toothed wheel part (37), a platform (31) attached thereto and an electric step motor (43). The fiber (1) is secured on the platform (31) by means of a standard fiber retainer (61) which is retained at the platform (31) by means of magnets (29), the rotating part (37) being located between the support (2) and the retainer (61). The suction channels (17) of the support device can be provided with a suitably low negative pressure, so that the fiber which is to be rotated and welded can be retained satisfactorily but still may be rotated against smooth surfaces of the angle of the blocks (3, 5).

Abstract: An apparatus for integrating steps of a process for interconnecting optical fibers. The apparatus contains a planar surface having a plurality of openings. A plurality of optical fiber processing modules are suspended within the plurality of openings, with each of the modules configured to execute a different step of the optical fiber interconnection process. A material transfer mechanism, such as a robot arm, is arranged above the planar surface and is connected to a controller. The apparatus can incorporate an optical fiber precision handling tool, which holds, transports and aligns the fibers to be processed. The robot arm is operative to pick-up and move the optical fiber precision handling tool between the plurality of modules. This allows the optical fibers to be transferred through a series of process steps without having to re-secure or re-orient the fibers between the steps.

Abstract: An automated method and apparatus for making optical fiber couplers is disclosed. The apparatus includes various processing stations under the control of a programmable controller. A fiber feeding system receives a set of optical fibers from a reel and guides them to the various processing stations. The fibers are guided into a fiber insertion fixture. The insertion fixture moves the fibers to the aperture of a glass capillary tube. The fibers are then stripped of a portion of their coating. The feeding system feeds the stripped fibers through the insertion fixture and into the glass tube. The fibers are severed and terminated. Subsequently, a burner heats the glass tube, causing it to collapse around the fibers to form a fiber coupler.

Abstract: A system for automated production of a fiber optic device includes a chamber regulating an environment and/or atmosphere within for the automated production of the fiber optic device. The system also includes a sealable input port, communicating with the chamber and substantially sealing the environment and the atmosphere of the chamber. The sealable input port receives an optical fiber for insertion therethrough into the chamber. A movable holding stage is included within the chamber, including at least one clamp to be secured to the optical fiber. An energy source is disposed within the chamber, and used to apply energy to the optical fiber. The system also includes a gripping device within the chamber. The gripping device includes a cavity adapted for receiving the optical fiber therethrough and for securing thereto.

Abstract: Fiber optic devices are manufactured in an automated environment using a combination of clamps to secure the optical fibers and movable gripping devices that transport the optical fiber during the fabrication process while maintaining control of the ends of the optical fibers. An optical fiber from a spool is removed by a despooling arm having a gripping device, and moveable grippers thread the optical fiber into a set of clamps and place the end of the optical fiber in a clamp designed to splice the fiber optic end to a lead of a testing device. The fiber optic device is formed by dynamically controlling the heating and pulling process based on detected coupling ratios, and hermetically sealed while secured within the clamps. The sealed fiber optic device is moved for testing or packaging using a transport arm having a series of clamps to maintain the position of the fiber optic device and the ends of the leads of the fiber optic device.

Abstract: To compensate for disturbing influences during arc welding of at least two optical waveguide fiber ends, an impedance of the discharge path of the arc is measured and at least one of the welding parameters is varied based on the measured impedance.

Abstract: A method for making a fused fiber bundle by providing a bundle of optical fibers, heating the fibers by a flame extending axially along the bundle, and translating the flame axially along the fibers. Tension may be applied to the heated bundle to reduce the diameter of the bundle.

Abstract: The invention comprises a fixture and method for holding optical waveguid such as fiber optic cable, in a relatively stable fashion for processing. The fixture includes a first frame and a second frame, releasably securable to the first frame to form a unitary structure. Chambers disposed in at least one of the frames are adapted for removably receiving optical fiber cable when the first and second frames are released from one another and for securely retaining with molding material optical fiber cables when the first and second frames form the unitary structure. A process area is defined in the unitary structure such that segments of optical fiber cables secured therein are accessible in the process area for processing. An optional coating fixture is securable to said unitary structure for forming with a molding material a protective coating about the cable segments in the processing area.

Abstract: A machine for automated fabrication of a fiber optic device includes an interface enclosing an environment substantially adapted for manufacture of the fiber optic device. The interface includes a stationary gripping device securing an end of a first optical fiber. The machine also includes first and second movable stages within the environment, each including a clamp for securing an exposed portion of the first optical fiber. The machine also includes a heat source applying heat to the first optical fiber at a selected intensity, and a plurality of movable gripping devices within the environment configured to successively transport the end of the first optical fiber from the stationary gripping device to a prescribed position. The machine also includes a controller for controlling the movement of the first optical fiber by the movable gripping devices, and for controlling the movement of the first and second stages and the position and intensity of the heat source to form said fiber optic device.

Abstract: A compact fiber rotator has a guiding and support Device (2) which comprises suction channels (17) formed in the angle of two blocks (3, 5), and a rotation device (32) which is attachable to the guide device (2) and comprises a house (33), a rotating toothed wheel part (37), a platform (31) attached thereto and an electric step motor (43). The fiber (1) is secured on the platform (31) by means of a standard fiber retainer (61) which is retained at the platform (31) by means of magnets (29), the rotating part (37) being located between the support (2) and the retainer (61). The suction channels (17) of the support device can be provided with a suitably low negative pressure, so that the fiber which is to be rotated and welded can be retained satisfactorily but still may be rotated against smooth surfaces of the angle of the blocks (3, 5).

Abstract: An optical fiber splice element is provided that includes a base member having a fusion element for aligning optical fibers for fusion within. A covering member is provided for covering and forming an enclosure with the base member in a closed position. The covering member can be a separate member or alternatively can be in the form of a hinged lid. At lease one of the covering member and the base member include a locking mechanism for maintaining closure in a closed position. The optical fiber splice element in an open position has an opening at either end for accommodating one or more optical fibers.

Abstract: For improving mechanical characteristics of an aged optical glass fiber, the segment is retained between clamps, e.g. in a conventional splicing machine. Then the segment is heated to a high temperature in the vicinity of the softening temperature or melt temperature of the glass material of the fiber by means of an infrared light beam from a carbon dioxide laser or by an electric arc generated between the welding electrodes. In particular, the tensile strength is increased considerably by this procedure, what allows that the heated segment can be handled and exposed to the operative steps required for splicing the fiber to another optical fiber. Then also old fibers arranged in the ground can be repaired and spliced, and it is not necessary to replace whole lengths of old fibers.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for placing two optical fiber ends or, one optical fiber end and another object, in contact with one another is provided. The method involves moving one of an optical fiber and an object toward one another so that they make contact with one another and apply a loading force upon one another. A load sensing device detects the loading force and provides a signal indicative of the load sensed. The invention is particularly useful for placing two optical fiber ends in contact with one another so that predetermined force applied to the optical fiber ends.

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 tool for fusing optical fibers is provided. The tool is preferably sized to be hand held and includes a housing having clamps that are positioned to engage recesses within a fusion sleeve placed in a chamber within the housing for holding down the sleeve. The housing includes a current source and conducting terminals for contacting and for providing an electric current to portions of the sleeve so that a heating element within the sleeve can fuse the first and second optical fibers together.

Abstract: An optical component mounting substrate which comprises grooves for holding optical fibers, other grooves for optical components being inserted and optical waveguides is produced with a press molding process. A mold having convex and/or concave surface profiles which are corresponding to the grooves and the optical waveguides to be formed on a surface of the optical component mounting substrate is used as a die in the press molding process. The surface profiles of the mold are precisely transferred onto the surface of a transparent glass base substrate, thereby forming the optical component mounting substrate having a desired surface configuration including the grooves and the optical waveguides. Optical fibers are aligned along the grooves and fixed by a light-curing adhesive.

Abstract: Asymmetric stress in the tip of a polarization-maintaining optical fiber is measured using the photoelastic effect to determine the fiber polarization axes of two fibers appointed to be joined. The fibers are rotated to align their respective polarization axes and are joined together. A single polarization-maintaining optical fiber is thereby produced in an accurate, reliable, and time and cost efficient manner.

Abstract: In the manufacture of a wavelength multiplexing 2.times.2 tapered fused fiber coupler by progressive stretching, the birefringence of the coupler resulting from the progressive stretching is subsequently nulled-out by elastic twisting of the coupler. The progressive stretching is performed, under temperature conditions providing a profile in the coupling region of the coupler having the property that the coupling strength for one of the principal polarization planes of the coupler remains substantially constant during said elastic twisting.

Abstract: A method of cutting an optical fiber ribbon obliquely, the ribbon being constituted by a plurality of optical fibers that are all parallel to a "longitudinal" axis of the ribbon, the fibers all being situated in the same horizontal plane referred to as the plane of the ribbon, and being protected by a common sheath, the method comprising the following steps:a portion of the ribbon is stripped of its sheath;the ribbon is held stationary at two points situated on either side of the stripped portion;a curved anvil is advanced along a displacement axis orthogonal to the horizontal plane so as to tension the portion in such a manner as to incline a part of the stripped portion relative to the horizontal plane; anda cutter is advanced facing the anvil and along a displacement axis parallel or coinciding with that of the anvil to cut the stripped portion in the inclined part.

Abstract: Apparatus for fabricating fused optical fibre devices comprises a furnace provided with an electric heating element (5). A heat-distributing insert (7) is provided within the heating element (5), the heating element and the insert being sized and shaped to define a heating chamber for an optical fibre arrangement. The apparatus includes means for passing electric current through the heating element (5), and means (8) for supplying and maintaining an inert atmosphere within the heating chamber.

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.