USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Adolph L Lewis

Daniel E Altman

Harold R Fear

Aaron D Klein

An apparatus and method is provided for adhesive bonding together of fiber ptic elements, i.e. fibers, utilizing a light source and an adhesive that will be cured by said light source, the adhesive being irradiated by the light and cured around the entire connection at the same time to provide a uniformly stressed bonded connection.

Apparatus for curing adhesively joined fiber optic elements

An optical coupler transfers light energy signals relative to an optical h which includes a fiber optic cable. A body member includes first and second ports at opposite ends for supporting first and second terminals of the fiber optic cable in laterally offset alignment relative to each other. First and second reflective elements, preferably of concave spherical configuration, are supported within the body member for collecting and reflecting light energy transmitted through the first and second terminals of the fiber optic cable. The first and second reflective elements are so configured and positioned as to transmit collimated light energy between them for completing the optical path between the first and second terminals of the fiber optic cable. First and second planar reflective surfaces are supported from opposite sides of the body member to intercept a portion of the path of the collimated light energy and are angularly disposed to laterally transfer light energy relative to the optical path between the first and second reflective elements. Preferably, the planar reflector surfaces are removable so as to minimize interference with light energy signal transmission between the collimating reflective elements and reduce attenuation. Additionally, the planar reflector surface may desirably be frequency sensitive so as to extract from or introduce into the optical path only certain selected frequencies of light energy signals.

Fiber optic coupler with concave spherical reflecting elements

A hand-held, manually operative tool is designed for severing single filat, fiber optic cable. The exertion of a squeeze-like pressure on the handles of the tool cause the fiber optic cable to be gripped firmly and positioned on an anvil member where it may be scored by a sharpened hard element such as a diamond point, for example, at a selectively determined point along the axis of the fiber optic cable. Further actuation of the tool causes the gripping members to be pivoted away from each other thus parting the fiber optic cable at the selectively determined point. The coacting members of the tool are spring loaded for return to their normal unactuated state and the anvil member is preferably a curved surface so as to retain the fiber optic cable in a desired disposition during the scoring operation.

Single filament fiber optic cable parting tool

An optical switch affords the selective coupling of any of a plurality of input light signals to any of a plurality of optical output paths. A first plurality of ports circumferentially disposed in a first common plane supports means for transmitting and/or receiving optical signals. A second plurality of ports similarly circumferentially disposed in a second common plane having the same central axis as the first common plane, supports means for transmitting and/or receiving optical signals. A rotatable assembly is mounted on a common support structure with the input and output ports and has first and second members which are independently movable about the central axis. A length of flexible fiber optic bundle has one end supported by a radial arm of the first rotatable member for alignment with a selected one of the first plurality of ports and the other end of the flexible fiber optic bundle is supported by a radial arm of the second rotatable member for alignment with any one of the second plurality of ports. The input and output ports are adapted to receive the terminal end of fiber optic cables, electro-optic transducers, or photo-responsive transducers as desired.

Optical switch

Single filament fiber optic cables are aligned within a connector to prov low-loss light transmittance from one to the other. Since it is virtually impossible to drill holes in a connector as small as the five thousandths of an inch typical diameter of a single filament fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable ends are bonded within a section of micro-tubing, of the stainless steel type used for the micro syringe portion of a hyperdermic needle. The single filament fiber optic cable ends thus bonded within the micro-tubing, are received within terminal members of a selected metal material having internal bores which are readily drilled by conventional means to receive the micro-tubing having the ends of the fiber optic cables bonded therein. This assembly is made by force fit and each such assembled terminal of the single filament fiber optic cable is optically ground and polished at its end. Two such fiber optic cable end terminals, which preferably have a slight taper, are received into a central cylindrical member which has a configuring taper and aligns the two single filament fiber optic cable ends to facilitate the transmittance of optical energy with minimal light loss. A suitable end cap at each end of the central member retains the two terminal members in desired abutting alignment. Preferably, the central cylindrical member is fabricated of a metal dissimilar to the metal of the terminal members which it receives in its internal bore.

Low-loss single filament fiber optic connector with three concentric

An electro-mechanically actuated light switch is provided for transferring ight energy into or out of a fiber optic light transmission path. Liquid material contained within the switch provides a continuity between two fiber optic terminals in the fiber optic light transmission path. The liquid material is chosen to have an index of refraction higher than the material which contains it, so that substantially total internal reflection is sustained along the optical axis of the fiber optic light transmission path. A transparent member is movably mounted in a port in the switch and resiliently supported for extension into the liquid material. An electromagnetic-solenoid arrangement is adapted to extend an angularly disposed reflective end of the transparent member into the liquid material for redirecting light energy which it intercepts. Such redirected light energy in the form of light intercepted in the optical path may be detected by a suitable sensor; alternatively light signals from a suitable source such as a light emitting diode may be introduced into the transparent member and reflected to propagate along the optical path.

Fiber optics electro-mechanical light switch

A fiber optic cable connector is comprised of two ferrules, a collar member, and a connection sleeve. First and second ferrules each have an internal bore to receive the end of fiber optic cable bundles together with a suitable bonding material for securing the fiber optic cable bundles. The terminal ends of the fiber optic cable bundles are ground and polished substantially optically flat. A first ferrule has external threads on a portion at its terminal end. The collar member is internally threaded and dimensioned to engage over the external threads of the first ferrule, and has a cylindrical portion coaxially extending beyond the terminal end of the first ferrule effectively forming a cylindrical recess. A second ferrule has a cylindrical embossment dimensioned to be received within the coaxially extending portion of the collar member for aligning the two fiber optic cable bundles. External threads on the outermost portion of the second ferrule at its terminal end are engaged by the internal threads of a connection sleeve which has an inwardly disposed flange at its other end dimensioned to bear upon an end of the collar member for drawing the two terminal ends of the fiber optic cable bundles together in an aligned assembly.

Fiber optic cable connector

A hand-held fiber optic grinding and polishing tool for finishing ends of ber optic cables includes a motor mounted in a hand-held body member for rotatably driving a disc. The disc has a circular planar surface with multiple discrete concentric sections, each section having a different degree of abrasive surface for grinding and polishing. A fiber optic cable guide is supported on the hand-held body member and has multiple ports to receive fiber optic cable ends, each of the ports being aligned with one of the concentric abrasive sections and configured to position the fiber optic cable ends for a predetermined amount of grinding and polishing. In a preferred embodiment the fiber optic cable guide is removable to permit selective replacement by alternate guide members accommodating different sizes of fiber optic cable ends.

Growing community of inventors

La Mesa, CA, United States of America

Adolph L Lewis