3m Innovative Properties Company

Corning Research & Development Corporation

Raman Kumar Selli

Donald G Doss

Brian M Cole

Donald Kent Larson

William Jeffrey Clatanoff

Brant Ulrick Kolb

James Kenneth Guenter

Wayne Scott Mahoney

Wendy L Thompson

William George Allen

Victor Julian Borer

Joseph Clinton Jensen

Mark J Hendrickson

Kathleen M Humpal

Daniel J Treadwell

Claudio Mazzali

Martin Hempstead

Paul D Pennington

Melissa A Lackey

George W Parrett

Phillip W Waltrip

Kevin Lee Bourg

Fiber optic networks, optical network units, and methods of configuring a fiber optic network and an optical network unit using a variable ratio coupler are disclosed. In one embodiment, a fiber optic network includes a feeder optical cable. The first optical network unit and the second optical network unit each includes a variable ratio coupler operable to selectively set a split-ratio among a plurality of split-ratios, and a fiber optic transceiver module. The fiber optic network further includes a first drop cable optically coupling the first optical network unit to the feeder optical cable at a first position, and a second drop cable optically coupling the second optical network unit to the feeder optical cable at a second position. A first split-ratio of the first optical network unit is based on the first position and a second split-ratio of the second optical network unit is based on the second position.

Fiber optic networks, optical network units and methods for configuring split ratios of variable ratio couplers within optical network units

Disclosed herein are switch devices in terminal ends of a network and methods of using same. One embodiment relates to a terminal end of a network including a terminal end transceiver configured to communicate with one or more end user devices, and a switch device configured to automatically route communication at the terminal end transceiver between a primary communication path with a central office and an auxiliary communication path with the central office. Another embodiment relates to a method of switching between primary and auxiliary communication paths at a terminal end. Automatic switching is particularly applicable in a looped communication architecture with redundant communication paths for preventing interruption and increasing reliability for an improved user experience. Another embodiment relates to indexing with splices to reduce connections in a communication path and increase signal quality.

Switching at a terminal end transceiver between primary and auxiliary communication paths

An optical network comprises a fiber distribution cable and a terminal assembly. The terminal assembly receives a plurality of optical fibers from the fiber distribution cable and distributes one or more individual fibers to one or more single fiber bare-fiber holders that hold and protect each single fiber prepared and configured for splicing via an individual splicing element. The splicing element includes an alignment mechanism having a base plate and a clamp plate. At least one of the base plate and clamp plate is formed from a silica material and at least one of the base plate and clamp plate includes an alignment groove or channel configured to receive the first and second optical fibers in an end-to-end manner. The splice element also comprises an optical adhesive disposed in at least a portion of the alignment groove, wherein the optical adhesive is curable via actinic radiation.

Optical fiber splice element and optical network

A fiber optic device includes a support having one or more optical fibers coupled to the support and a base that includes one or more optoelectronic devices. The support is coupled to the base such that one or more of the optoelectronic devices are optically coupled to one or more of the optical fibers. A portion of the one or more optical fibers that is in contact with the support may be bent and one or more of the optoelectronic devices may be optically coupled to the bent portion of one or more of the optical fibers.

Fiber optic devices and methods of manufacturing fiber optic devices

A method of forming a fiber optic device includes securing one or more optical fibers to a support. The support is coupled to a base that includes one or more optoelectronic devices. After one or more of the fibers are secured to the support, and the support is secured to the base, one or more of the fibers are cleaved. A portion of the one or more optical fibers that is in contact with the support may be bent. This method, and fiber optic devices made using this method are more easily aligned and may be produced at lower costs than existing manufacturing processes.

A method of forming a fiber optic device includes securing one or more optical fibers to a support. The support is coupled to a base that includes one or more optoelectronic devices. After one or more of the fibers are secured to the support, and the support is secured to the base, one or more of the fibers are cleaved. This method, and fiber optic devices made using this method are more easily aligned and may be produced at lower costs than existing manufacturing processes.

A receptacle for terminating an optical fiber at an active device such as a photodetector or solid-state light source. The receptacle includes a housing, a termination fixture and an active device. The housing has an opening for receiving the terminal portion of an optical fiber, a door located at the opening, biased to a closed position and having a latch for releasably receiving an optical fiber plug, and a removable plate allowing access to an interior of the housing. The termination fixture and the active device may be mounted to a common substrate attached to an interior portion of the housing. The termination fixture includes a base and a projection attached to the base proximate a light-transmitting portion thereof, the projection having a fiber-receiving groove directed toward a fiber stop surface located on the light-transmitting portion of the base. The base can have a lens integrally molded with the light-transmitting portion. The active device is positioned with respect to the termination fixture to receive light from, and/or transmit light to, any fiber whose terminal portion is located in the V-groove and abutting the fiber stop. An optional optical plate may be used to adjust the optical characteristics of the termination fixture.

Active device receptacle

Growing community of inventors

Austin, TX, United States of America

Raman Kumar Selli