Raychem Limited

Raynet Corporation

Wavelength Lasers, Inc.

Bruce D Campbell

James T Triplett

Richard E Tylor

Joseph Zucker

Eugene F Lopez

Robert J Naidoff

Lynn O Chapman

Phyllis M Simon

Penny L Beals

James E Jervis

Frank H Levinson

Nelson M Shen

Thomas E Giles

Vernon A Fentress

Theodore Calderone

Tom Call

Cathryn L Ludtka-Peck

Peder Rodhe

Steve Lavelle

A strained distributed optical fiber distribution network includes read and write optical fibers having taps attached thereto in series so as to strain portions of the fiber in excess of 0.60%, the strained portions being environmentally isolated by an enclosure which includes gel filled seals subject to a resilient load.

Strained distributed optical fiber communication system

An output of a light source coupled to an optical fiber is controlled by an apparatus comprising a mode stripper for stripping a first part of the optical signal from the cladding of the optical fiber, means for bending the optical fiber and withdrawing a second part of the optical signal from a core of the fiber downstream from the stripper, means for detecting the second part of the optical signal, and feedback means for using the detected second signal part to control an output of the light source to better linearize an amount of power injected into the fiber.

Optical fiber tap for monitoring laser input power

An error compensation system is described which provides a linear laser signal. The error compensation system includes a first high power linear laser which is used to drive a signal onto an optical fiber. The signal on the optical fiber is tapped to provide a signal representative of the signal on the fiber. This tapped signal is compared with the original modulated signal to produce a control signal indicative of any error signal on the fiber. This control signal is inverted and used to drive a lower power laser which supplies an optical output indicative of the inverted error. By properly combining the original signal with an inverted error signal, a corrected signal may be detected from the fiber for distribution.

Analog compensation system for linear lasers

An optical fiber read or write tap includes a substrate having a substantially flat upper surface on which two separated grooves are formed, a light element being disposed in the second groove so as to be capable of coupling light with a bent portion of an optical fiber disposed in the first groove.

Distribution optical fiber tap

An optical fiber coupler for injecting light into, and withdrawing light from, an optical fiber utilizes a deformable material (8) and a clamping member (4) which clamp a buffered optical fiber (6) therebetween. Both the clamping member and deformable material are curved causing the optical fiber to be bent when so clamped resulting in light coupling between an optical fiber core and the deformable material through the fiber buffer. The deformable material is substantially transparent and has an index of refraction substantially equal to that of an outer surface of the optical fiber. A light element has a surface embedded within the deformable material, and the deformable material and coupler are specifically formed so as to reduce microbend stresses induced in the fiber when so clamped so as to increase coupling efficiency.

Optical fiber coupler

An optical fiber cable construction includes a first fiber marker which allows one initially to determine a linear length of the optical fiber between first and second points, and a second marker which allows one to determine a linear length of the fiber optical cable between the first and second points, thus ensuring that the length of the fiber initially exceeds the length of the cable during initial installation so as to minimize the chances of excessive temperature induced stress being imposed on the optical fiber during its useful life.

Optical fiber cable marker

An optical fiber tap which is especially useful as a node in a ring topology data processing system. The tap, which does not interrupt the physical continuity of the fiber, has an open position and a closed position. In the open position, a signal passing down the optical fiber passes through the tap without alteration. In the closed position, a signal passing down the optical fiber is extracted through a first bend which is put into the fiber by the tap; the extracted signal, or an electrical counterpart thereof, is processed and a counterpart of the extracted signal, or a new signal obtained by operating on the extracted signal, e.g. in a data processor, is injected into the fiber through a second bend which is put into the fiber by the tap.

Optical fiber tap

A mode filter for reducing a dynamic range of a write optical fiber bus which utilizes taps which initially inject optical signals into an optical fiber which have intensities skewed towards higher order modes rather than lower order modes as compared to equilibrium for the fiber functions to preferentially attenuate outermost modes rather than lowermost modes in the fiber so as to reduce a required dynamic range for an optical receiver.

Dynamic range reduction using mode filter

Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning, and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof. At least one of the holding means is movable to maximize the withdrawn optical signal and thus to align the fibers. The invention also includes novel splices which can be made in this way and novel splicing aids for use in the method.

Methods and apparatus for optical fiber systems

An optical fiber distribution network includes non-destructive read taps disposed in series which create extremely small attenuations of an optical signal being tapped, and which increase the bandwidth of an optical fiber being tapped. The network further includes non-destructive write taps disposed in another series which each inject an optical signal into a second optical fiber while inducing minimal attenuation of a pre-existing optical signal in the second fiber.

Optical fiber distribution network including nondestructive taps and

Methods, apparatus and articles for systems comprising optical fibers, in particular for feeding an optical signal into an optical fiber through the buffer thereof and for withdrawing an optical signal from an optical fiber through the buffer thereof. Preferably this is achieved with the aid of an optical coupling means which contacts and conforms to the surface of the buffer at a bent portion of the fiber. The coupling means can for example be a resiliently deformable material such as a polysiloxane. In a preferred aspect, the invention provides an apparatus and method for axially aligning , and preferably joining, the ends of optical fibers. The apparatus comprises means for holding two fibers so that the fiber ends are approximately abutting and axially aligned, adjacent means for passing an optical signal into one of the fibers through the buffer thereof, and adjacent means for withdrawing that signal from the other fiber through the buffer thereof. At least one of the holding means is movable to maximize the withdrawn optical signal and thus to align the fibers. The invention also includes novel splices which can be made in this way and novel splicing aids for use in the method.

A signal coupler for buffered optical fibers comprises a soft, transparent, polymeric rod against which the fiber is pressed by a rigid 'key' having regularly spaced protrusions which induce periodic microbending of the fiber. An optical signal passing down the fiber may be coupled into the polymeric rod by the key pressing the fiber into the rod, and the signal extracted from the end of the rod. A similar process may be used to inject an optical signal into the fiber. The coupler may be used either as a termination for a fiber or as part of a non-destructive tap. The induced attenuation and the intensity of the extracted signal may be varied by varying the pressure on the key.

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Portola Valley, CA, United States of America

Bruce D Campbell