Thomas & Betts International LLC

Porta Systems Corporation

Alcoa Fujikura Limited

Schott Fiber Optics, Inc.

Schott Optovance, Inc.

Colm V Cryan

David W Stowe

Richard Strack

Margaret C Manty

Stavros Dariotis

Frederick J Gillham

Karim Tatah

Gregory B Papazian

Adrian P Pryshlack

Dave R Maack

Margaret M Parslow

Thomas Roy Burton

A fiber optic device for changing direction along a fiber optic path is provided. A first optical fiber having a first end portion, and a second optical fiber having a second end portion are joined at a fusion splice. A miniature bend is formed in the region of the fusion splice. The device is particularly useful for routing optical fibers in the field. A method of forming such a miniature bend in a fusion splice region between two optical fibers is also provided.

Miniature bend splice in optical fibers and method of forming same

A method of producing an all glass, non-porous, multi-component photonic band-gap fiber is provided. The fiber is formed by creating a preform having a plurality of low refractive index glass rods and a plurality of high refractive index glass rods arranged in a pre-determined pattern between the low refractive index glass rods. The preform is heated and drawn to form the non-porous photonic band-gap fiber.

Multi-component all glass photonic band-gap fiber

An optical fiber Mach Zehnder Interferometer includes a first and second elongate optical fiber having a core and a cladding, first and second couplers wherein the cladding of the first optical fiber is coupled to the cladding of the second optical fiber. The first optical fiber includes a first elongate interfering arm where the first optical fiber extends between the first and second couplers. The first interfering arm includes a miniature bend formed therein. The second optical fiber includes a second elongate interfering arm extending between the first and second couplers and may also include a miniature bend formed therein. The miniature bends are contemplated to be either packed or unpackaged. The fibers may exhibit different coefficients of thermal expansion to maintain the path length differences of the interfering arms.

Optical fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer employing miniature bends

A fiber optic faceplate for coupling with optical sources or detectors. The optical sources or detectors are arranged in a two-dimensional array. Each of the sources or detectors has a pixel area precisely located at a predetermined coordinate. The faceplate includes a plurality of drawn and fused optic fibers. Each of the optic fibers is positioned at a corresponding position to the pixel areas of the optical sources or detectors. Interstitial fillers are located at each interstitial space between optic fibers and have an outside diameter corresponding to the space between the optic fibers to maintain the optic fibers in an aligned position as they are drawn.

Fiber optic faceplate

An optical interconnection member for interconnecting at least one optical fiber with a data processing unit. The interconnection member comprises an optical, electrical conversion device, an optical transformation array and an adapter. The conversion device is mounted in operable alignment with the data processing unit and the adapter is adapted to receive the connector. The optical transformation array defines an optical transmission medium between non-parallel input and output surfaces whereby the connector and the data processing unit can be interconnected in a non-perpendicular manner.

Transforming optical fiber interconnect array

The present invention is a fused/taper fiber optic coupler and related methodologies for a fuse/taper fiber optic coupler with an FBG that does not excite cladding modes and maintains the coupling regions of the fibers in the proper relationship to one another without a complex and expensive process. Aspects of the fused/taper fiber optic coupler include the use of optical fibers with a three layer structure. The optical fibers include a photosensitive core layer, a photosensitive inner cladding layer, and a photo-insensitive outer cladding layer. Coupling regions are formed in each optical fiber by removing the outer cladding layer and the coupling regions in each optical fiber are then helically intertwined. The intertwined coupling regions are then heated and drawn forming a tapered area in which an FBG may be written.

Method of fabricating fused and tapered couplers from optical fibers having photosensitive cladding regions

A passive temperature compensating package for a fiber Bragg grating device in which the fiber Bragg grating is written to the fiber prior to the temperature compensation being set. As the temperature of the package increases the fiber is de-stressed and at the desired proper resonant frequency, the fiber containing the fiber Bragg grating is secured to the package. As the package cools and expands, the fiber is pre-stressed and maintains the desired resonant frequency.

Passive temperature-compensating package for fiber Bragg grating devices

An asymmetric optical fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer has first and second optical fibers connected at a first coupling region and a second coupling region. The first and second optical fibers form two interfering arms between the first and second coupling regions. To form the asymmetry, the propagation constant in a portion of the first optical fiber in one of the coupling regions differs from the propagation constant in a portion of the second optical fiber in that coupling region. The asymmetric structure provides 30 dB isolation over a greater wavelength span.

Optical fiber Mach-Zehnder interferometer fabricated with asymmetric couplers

An optical fiber add/drop filter includes a first and second elongate photosensitive optical fiber, each optical fiber having opposed first and second ends and including a core and a cladding. The cladding of the first optical fiber is optically coupled to the cladding of the second optical fiber at a coupler. A first fiber Bragg grating is etched into a second end of the first fiber for converting light propagating in a first direction through either of the core of cladding of the first fiber into light propagating in an opposite direction through the other of said core and cladding of said second fiber. A second fiber Bragg grating is etched into a first end of the second fiber for converting light propagating in a first direction either of the core or cladding of the second fiber into light propagating in an opposite direction through the other of the core and cladding of the second fiber. The first and second fiber Bragg gratings are located to opposite sides of the coupler. The add/drop filter of the present invention may be cascaded to form an optical add/drop multiplexer.

Add/drop filters and multiplexers fabricated from cladding mode couplers and fiber bragg gratings

A varied ratio coupler, and a method of forming the same, constructed and arranged, in a unitary structure, to cause optical power in an input optical fiber to couple asymmetrically to at least two output optical fibers in a manner establishing different insertion losses between the input fiber and at least two output optical fibers. The coupler includes a central fiber surrounded by a close-packed ring of fibers. In certain preferred embodiments, the coupler has a bend that lies in a preselected plane and has a radius of curvature that is selected to provide the above difference in the insertion losses.

Varied insertion loss fiber optic coupling and method of making same

In one aspect, the invention concerns fused fiber optic couplers of the type formed from fibers of transparent substance each having a circular cross-section of preselected diameter. The fibers include a central fiber and at least one ring of closely packed surrounding fibers with at least some of the fibers being optical fibers that have a core and a surrounding cladding. The coupler is formed by the processes of providing the fibers, assembling them in a close-packed relationship, and heating and drawing the assembly of fibers in the close-packed region. We have discovered that the steps involved in forming such a coupler, introduce slight size variations that can seriously affect the performance of the coupler, and that these slight variations can be accommodated by slight, controlled, under-sizing of one or more of the surrounding fibers or over-sizing of the central fiber.

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Arlington, MA, United States of America

Colm V Cryan