Gte Laboratories Incorporated

Sylvania Inc.

Mark L Dakss

Charles K Wellington

Paul Melman

John E Fulenwider

Hubert J Ramsey

Andrew Bridger

Carl Belmonte

W John Carlsen

John D Schlafer

Samuel M Stone

George J Meslener

Stanley A Zemon

Gary M Lambert

Bumman Kim

John E Benasutti

A fiber, with enhanced stimulated Raman scattering for use in light amplification, transmits light wave energy in a single mode. The fiber includes a cylindrical core of light transmitting material doped with a substantial concentration of GeO.sub.2, an inner cladding of light transmitting material doped with a sizable concentration of GeO.sub.2 (but less than the substantial concentration) surrounding the core, and an outer cladding of GeO.sub.2 -free material surrounding the inner cladding.

Optical fiber for light amplification

Fast modulation on a low-power laser beam is transferred to a high-power beam when the high-power beam pumps to depletion the amplification of the low-power beam in a fiber Raman amplifier.

Method of modulating large-power light beams using fiber raman

A piezoelectric optical switch includes a piezoelectrical element having an optical fiber affixed thereto. A second optical fiber is placed in general proximity to the first optical fiber so that, upon application of a first voltage to the piezoelectric element, the optical fibers are caused to be aligned, and wherein upon application of a different voltage to the element, the optical fibers are caused to be nonaligned. The switch can include a nonpiezoelectric cantilever beam having a fixed end and a free end and adapted to be bent along an axis adjoining the two ends. One optical fiber is affixed to the beam. A plurality of optical fibers, each in general proximity to and each adapted to be selectively aligned with the one optical fiber, is provided. A piezoelectric bending element, having opposite ends coupled to fixed supports, has a medial portion coupled to the cantilever beam near the fixed end. Thus, upon application of a first voltage to the bending element, the first optical fiber is caused to be aligned with a specific one of the plurality of optical fibers. Upon application of a different voltage to the bending element, the first optical fiber is caused to be aligned with a specific different one of the plurality of optical fibers.

Piezoelectric optical switch

Optical fibers are held and aligned by means of a base member and a cover. The base member has a longitudinal recessed V-shaped groove along a fiber engaging face thereof, and a plurality of rectangular transverse slots spaced along the groove. The slots extend to a depth extending the groove. The cover has a longitudinal extended V-shaped protuberance along a face of the cover which engages the base member. The protuberance corresponds in size and shape to the recessed V-shaped groove, but is blunt at its apex. A plurality of rectangular transverse inverted V-shaped fingers are spaced along the protuberance, and are blunt at their apices. The fingers have a length not exceeding the depth of the slots. A system for splicing two optical fibers in alignment with each other utilizes three of the foregoing clamps, two to hold the fibers temporarily in place and one as the splice part itself. Optical adhesive is used for affixing the ends of the fibers and the splice clamp to each other.

Winged V-groove fiber optic clamp and splicer

A microsphere bead coupling lens can be mounted onto an end of an optical fiber after the end is initially prepared by cleaning and cleavage. An adhesive is first applied to the cleaved end. The applied adhesive end of the optical fiber is then approximately centered over a microsphere bead to be mounted. The fiber is lowered until the adhesive on the end contacts the bead. The fiber is then raised whereby the adhesive on the end holds onto the bead by surface tension so that the bead gets picked up as the fiber is raised; and, due to the combination of surface tension and gravity, the bead lens is moved by the adhesive until the lens is aligned with, or very close to, the central axis of the fiber. Subsequently, the adhesive on the fiber end is cured by means such as ultraviolet-curing or heat-curing.

Method for mounting microsphere coupling lenses on optical fibers

Each of a pair of members has a mating surface extending from one edge to another. When they are mated together, with optical fibers, they act as a housing. At least one member includes formed grooves on its mating surface, extending from one edge to another thereof. Each groove from one edge of the mating surface to a point medial to the one edge and the other edge is formed to at least partially hold an unjacketed optical fiber therein. Each groove from such point to the other edge is formed to at least partially hold a jacketed optical fiber therein. Each groove in at least one of the members can be uniformly formed from the one edge of the mating surface to the respective point, and can be uniformly formed from the respective point to the other edge of the mating surface. Each groove can change from one uniform formation to a different uniform formation at the respective point. The mating surfaces, preferably, are predominately planar, and the respective points of the fibers are oriented along a reference locus. Desirably, the housing, with the optical fibers, has jacketed fibers extending from one edge, and unjacketed fibers extending from the other edge. When the first edge is planar, the unjacketed fibers can extend therefrom to a common plane parallel to the first edge.

Guide capsule for optical fiber connectors

One optical fiber is coupled to another by apparatus which includes a connector plug for each fiber, with the fibers supported within their respective plug. The plugs each have a main cylindrical surface, and a shoulder with a non-cylindrical configuration. Two sleeves are provided, each having a longitudinal eccentric hole therethrough large enough so that the main cylindrical surface of the respective plug can rotatably fit therethrough. A first means supports one sleeve for rotational movement about a first axis, while a second means supports the other sleeve for rotational movement about a second axis. The two axes are parallel to, but not colinear with, each other. Two female means are provided, associated with their respective support means, for receiving the respective shoulders and for preventing significant rotation of their respective connector plug. The two support means can include a common V-block, and a shim located on one-half of one side of the V-block. The non-cylindrical configuration of the shoulders can include a shape having a pair of flat, parallel surfaces separated by a fixed distance, and the female means can include respective slotted means, associated with respective support means, for receiving the flat surfaces of the respective plugs. Alternatively, the two sleeves can have different diameters, so that a single V-block can be used without a shim.

Non-twist eccentric coupler

A tool for preparing the ends of optical fiber waveguides prior to such operations as coupling and splicing. The tool is adapted for single-handed operation and comprises a pair of manually actuated handles, first and second fiber supporting surfaces, and a third fiber supporting surface between the first and second surfaces. The optical fiber waveguide is secured to the first and second surfaces by a pair of clamping members which are responsive to the squeezing of the handles. Once the fiber waveguide is secured to the surfaces, further squeezing of the handles produces separating rotation of a pair of jaw members to put the fiber under tensile stress. A cutting blade suspended above the third surface is released to produce a peripheral microcrack on a portion of the optical fiber waveguide lying on the third fiber supporting surface. The induced stress and curved support of the fiber waveguide act in combination to propagate the microcrack diametrically through the fiber so that an appropriate fiber end is obtained. Various modifications and refinements of the tool provide for greater control and semi-automatic operation in preparing fiber ends.

Hand-held tool for optical fiber waveguide end preparation

A multiple waveguide cable connector assembly is disclosed for coupling the opposing pluralities of protectively-jacketed optical fiber waveguides contained within a pair of multifiber cables. Each of the two connectors forming the connector assembly contains a plurality of axially extending fiber-guiding channels sized to freely accommodate respective fibers, and a like plurality of transversely displaceable finger-like elements extending inwardly from the outer connector periphery into respective channels. The finger-like elements securely engage the protectively jacketed fibers against the channel walls when transversely displaced. One of the connectors projectingly holds the bared fiber tips from one cable in a predetermined pattern at its mating end. The other connector internally holds the bared fiber tips of the second cable in an abuttment region, and freely accommodates the projecting fiber tips from the first connector upon mating therewith. The second connector additionally includes a plurality of transversely displaceable finger-like elements extending from the outer connector project into resective channels within the abuttment region to securely align the abutting fiber tips within the channels when transversely displaced. Means for displacing the jacket-engaging and fiber-engaging finger-like elements are provided in the form of sleeve members concentrically mounted about the connectors. The inner walls of the sleeve members engage outwardly extending portions of the finger-like elements to transversely displace them into a substantially flush relationship with the outer connector peripheries.

Optical waveguide connectors for multiple waveguide cables

A device for coupling a pair of optical fibers is disclosed comprising a resiliently compressible body for holding a pair of opposing protectively jacketed fibers in end-to-end abutment within an oversized bore. The body is symmetrically compressed about its central portion to reduce the bore cross-section to a fiber-engaging dimension around the bare fiber tips thereby securely aligning the fibers. Similarly, the body is compressed about its end portions to decrease the bore cross-section to a jacket-clamping dimension whereby stresses in the spliced region are distributed along the fiber jacket.

Coupling device for protectively jacketed fibers

A tool for preparing the ends of optical fiber waveguides prior to such operations as splicing is disclosed. The tool is adapted for single-handed operation and comprises a pair of manually actuated handles, first and second fiber-supporting surfaces, and a third fiber-supporting surface interjacent the first and second. The optical fiber waveguide is secured to the first and second surfaces by a pair of clamps which are responsive to the squeezing of the handles. Once the fiber waveguide is secured to the surfaces, further squeezing of the handle produces separating rotation of a pair of jaw members to stress the fiber. A cutting blade, suspended above the third surface, is released by the manual actuation of a thumb latch positioned on the tool in alignment with the natural position of the operator's thumb when the handles are being squeezed. Rotation of the thumb latch permits the blade to fall, either under the influence of gravity or a driving spring, to produce a peripheral microcrack on a portion of optical fiber waveguide lying on the third fiber-supporting surface. The induced stress, and curved support, of the fiber waveguide act in combination to propagate the microcrack diametrically through the fiber so that an appropriate fiber end is obtained.

An acoustooptic modulator is disclosed in which light may be modulated while propagating through an optical fiber waveguide through the use of focussed acoustic waves. The modulator is formed by encircling a portion of the optical fiber waveguide in an optical communications system with an acoustic transducer. Due to the encircling of a portion of the waveguide by the transducer, the acoustic waves which are generated in the optical fiber waveguide material are focussed inwardly to the center so that the energy densities where acoustooptic modulation occurs are high. Therefore, the acoustic driving powers and modulation efficiencies are highly favorable.

Acoustooptic modulator for optical fiber waveguides

A method and an apparatus for forming an optical fiber connector are described. The optical fiber connector is formed by locating a main body for the connector so that a predetermined relationship is established between an axis and at least two external surfaces of the main body. The optical fiber is then positioned in a precise position with respect to the axis; hence, it is also precisely located relative to the two external surfaces. Finally, the optical fiber is secured firmly to the main body. The optical fiber connector so formed is capable of being mated to another similarly mounted optical fiber connector by use of the two external surfaces to provide a highly efficient optical coupling junction.

Method for forming an optical fiber connector

An optical switch is described which has particular utility in communication systems utilizing light as a modulated carrier. The switch is susceptible to construction as an integrated optical device and may be formed with a planar substrate and an optically transparent film on a surface of that substrate which has an index of refraction higher than that of the substrate. This construction forms a planar optical waveguide. A plurality of parallel optical fiber waveguides are coupled into one side of the planar optical waveguide by conventional techniques and a like plurality of parallel output optical fiber waveguides are coupled out at an opposite side. An integrated beam deflection element is formed adjacent to each separate one of the pluralities of input and output optical fiber waveguides and is associated with the optical fiber waveguide. The beam deflection elements are each capable of deflecting light rays incident on the element through a plurality of discrete deflection angles. The specific deflection angles for an element are associated with the various separate ones of the other kind of the input or output optical waveguides. Finally, a means is included for selectively energizing a beam deflection element associated with an input optical fiber waveguide and a beam deflection element associated with an output optical fiber waveguide in a manner such that a beam of light entering the switch via the input optical fiber waveguide is transmitted through the selected output optical fiber waveguide in a totally optical manner.

Optical switch

A method is described for positioning an optical fiber. The method takes two general forms: (1) The optical fiber is positioned carefully with respect to some predetermined external surface on a stationary holder such that the optical fiber may be later precisely located through use of that surface; and (2) Precisely orienting one or more optical fibers which have been prepositioned with respect to an article such that that article may be similarly precisely oriented. Generally, the methods involve the passing of light through the optical fiber, detecting the output therefrom through the use of a position-sensitive photodetector, and moving the optical fiber so as to achieve a desired relationship to the position-sensitive photodetector.

Growing community of inventors

Sudbury, MA, United States of America

Mark L Dakss