Trw Limited

Other

Labinal Components and Systems, Inc.

Aurora Instruments, Inc.

Aurora Optics, Inc.

Laurence N Wesson

Nellie L Cabato

Simon P Bush

Andrew Vellrath

John A Crowell

Cheng P Ma

Kenneth M Merz

Holam Chau

Douglas F Tipton

Carl J Durkow

S Dyer Harris

Alan D Gomes

LeRoy Tabb

Nicholas Volinic

James F Ryley

A compact, low profile splicing system for joining optical fibers produces durable, low transmission loss fusion splices. The system employs active optical techniques such as profile alignment or local injection and detection to achieve optimized alignment of the fibers prior to fusion. Light injected into one fiber is propagated across the interface to a second fiber. A detector senses the intensity of the injected light in the second fiber. After the relative position of the fibers is manipulated to maximize the transmitted intensity, the fibers are fusion spliced using an electric arc discharge. The accurate alignment achievable using the local injection and detection system to drive adaptive fiber positioning affords a method for reliably producing low loss splices. The present system is compact and low in profile, making it operable in cramped quarters with limited clearance to adjacent equipment and structures and with only a minimal amount of free fiber slack available. Simplicity of design and operation make the system rugged and enable accurate alignment and low loss fusion of fibers under adverse working conditions.

Low profile system for joining optical fiber waveguides

A compact, low profile splicing system for joining optical fibers produces durable, low transmission loss fusion splices. The system employs active optical techniques such as profile alignment or local injection and detection to achieve optimized alignment of the fibers prior to fusion. Light injected into one fiber is propagated across the interface to a second fiber. A detector senses the intensity of the injected light in the second fiber. After the relative position of the fibers is manipulated to maximize the transmitted intensity, the fibers are fusion spliced using an electric arc discharge. The accurate alignment achievable using the local injection and detection system to drive adaptive fiber positioning affords a method for reliably producing low splices. The present system is compact and low in profile, making it operable in cramped quarters with limited clearance to adjacent equipment and structures and with only a minimal amount of free fiber slack available. Simplicity of design and operation make the system rugged and enable accurate alignment and low loss fusion of fibers under adverse working conditions.

A splicing system for joining polarization-maintaining, single mode optical fibers produces durable fusion splices that have low transmission loss and maintain mode integrity. The system employs active optical techniques such as profile alignment or local injection and detection to achieve optimized lateral alignment of the fibers prior to fusion. Azimuthal alignment is performed using a transverse, polarized light illumination and detection system. Each fiber is rotated azimuthally to determine a transverse intensity function. The transverse intensity functions of the respective fibers are cross-correlated to determine a relative orientation that matches the polarization axes of the fibers. After the relative position of the fibers is manipulated laterally, axially, and azimuthally, the fibers are fusion spliced using an electric arc discharge. The accurate alignment achievable using the transverse illumination mechanism to drive adaptive fiber positioning affords a method for reliably producing low loss, mode-matched splices. Simplicity of design and operation make the system rugged and enable accurate alignment and low loss fusion of fibers under adverse working conditions.

System for joining polarization-maintaining optical fiber waveguides

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.

Alignment system for splicing of polarization-maintaining single mode optical fiber

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.

Alignment system and method for splicing of polarization-maintaining

A fiber optic terminus assembly for use in a fiber optic connector is disclosed in which a gripper element and a radially deformable ferrule are compressed into gripping engagement with the optical fiber portion of an optical cable. A terminus body and a contact sleeve engage the outer layer of the optical cable and the ferrule and position the fiber at a preselected distance from a lens surface.

Fiber optic connectors

A fiber optic cable splice means for splicing a fiber optic cable having a pair of fiber retaining elements with an opening for receiving the buffer casing at an end of a fiber optic cable with its bare optic fiber extending therefrom. A cavity within each element provides a fiber deflection chamber for protecting therein the bare optic fiber. The retaining elements are crimped for securing therewith the buffer casing and its optic fiber. A housing or tubular unit has end sections which receive therein a respective one of the retaining elements, and are crimped for securing the retaining elements therewith. An optical fiber alignment means is contained within the unit for aligning and optically joining together the ends of the optic fibers which extend from the retaining elements. The retaining elements may have an insert through which the optic fiber extends for securing the fiber by the crimping of the retaining elements. A retaining sleeve for each element also engages the strength member of the cable for being secured with the tubular unit by the crimping. The method of the invention for splicing fiber optic cables includes preparing the ends of cables to be spliced, inserting them into respective retaining elements, and crimping the retaining elements to secure the fiber optic cable therewith. The retaining elements are placed in the end sections of a housing and the end sections are crimped to secure the retaining elements in a fixed relationship to each other therewithin with their extending optic fibers aligned and engaged for providing signal transmission.

Fiber optic splice means and method

A low light loss expanded beam fiber optic connection is provided comprising lensed optical connector pins. Each connector pin employs a cylindrical housing in which a fiber end is precisely located along a longitudinal axis in precisely spaced relationship with an adjacent ball lens. The center of the ball lens is coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the optical fiber core and is maintained in such precisely spaced relationship by means of a spacer engaging the ball lens and the fiber end on opposed surfaces. As a result of the precise relationship, light emanating from a fiber end is disposed at the focal point of the adjacent ball lens for transmission to an adjacent, axially aligned lensed optical connector pin of similar construction.

Lensed optical connector

A photoelastic sensing device comprising a photoelastic member of transparent material, first means for supplying polarized light fluxes to the member for transmission therethrough along a plurality of respective paths, and second means for receiving and detecting the transmitted light fluxes. A third means applies stresses to the member in response to the application thereto of force which is variable and has a magnitude and direction represented by its components along a plurality of vector coordinates which define a space of at least two dimensions. The light fluxes which are transmitted respectively along the plurality of paths of the member are each responsive to the stresses in the member along its path, and the second means provides an output signal which is responsive to the force and to each of the components of the force applied to the third means. The output signal is representative of and provides a measure and indication of the force and each of its components applied to the sensing device, and is responsive to the magnitude and direction of the applied force for providing control means.

Photoelastic sensing device

Photoelastic sensing means, and more particularly photoelastic sensing means capable of providing high sensitivity for measuring pressure, force, displacement, acceleration or inertial force, proximity, temperature and other measurands. The photoelastic sensing means comprises a thin photoelastic member of transparent material having closely spaced top and bottom outer surfaces with peripheral edges and an edge surface extending between the peripheral edges of the other surfaces. Light flux is provided to the edge surface of the member at a first region for transmission by the member along a path to a second region at the edge surface where it is received and detected. The spacing between the top and bottom outer surfaces of the member is relatively small compared to the length of the path of the light flux in the member. The member is supported to produce bending stresses in the member in a direction transverse to the path of the light flux in the member with the application of force to the member. An output signal is provided responsive to the force which produces the stress in the member.

Photoelastic sensing means

A signal transducing unit which is compact and can be calibrated from outside its housing to provide zero and span adjustments after assembly with the components secured within its housing. The device has a pair of first and second elements movable with respect to each other and each having first and second ends and a conductive path, and the conductive paths of the elements electrically contact each other at a location which is displaced along their paths with the relative movement of the elements. Positioning means retains the elements for relative movement, while actuating means displaceable for moving and positioning the first element with respect to the first element controls the contact location of the elements. Adjusting means controllably sets the positions of the elements with respect to each other for a given displacement of the actuating means for providing calibration, and connecting means electrically joins with the conductive paths of the first and second elements to provide an output signal determined by the position of one element with respect to the other.

Signal transducing unit

A signal transducing apparatus comprising first and second elements movable with respect to each other and each having first and second ends and a conductive path, the conductive paths of the elements electrically contacting each other at a location which is displaced along their paths with the relative movement of the elements. A spring unit movably retains the second element having a first end fixed with respect to the first element and a second end secured with the second end of the second element, the spring unit urging the second end of the second element in a predetermined direction with respect to the first element and urging the first end of the second element in the direction toward the first element. Actuating means positions the second element with respect to the first element by moving the second end of the second element in a direction opposite to the direction in which it is urged by said spring unit, and connecting means electrically joins with the conductive paths of the first and second elements for providing an output signal determined by the position of one element with respect to the other.

Signal transducing apparatus

A signal transducing device comprising a first element having a contact surface with a conductive path, a second element having an arcuate contact surface with an arcuate non circular conductive path and being movable with respect to and engaging by rocking action the contact surface of the first element, the conductive paths of the elements electrically contacting each other at a location which is displaceable along their paths with the movement of the second element. Positioning means retains the elements for relative movement and actuating means moves and positions the second element with respect to the first element and controls the contact location of the elements, while connecting means electrically joins with the conductive paths of the first and second elements for providing an output signal determined by the position of one element with respect to the other.

Growing community of inventors

Blue Bell, PA, United States of America

Laurence N Wesson