Raychem Limited

Richard E Tylor

Bruce D Campbell

James T Triplett

Robert J Naidoff

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

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 At least one of the holding means is movable to maximize the withdrawn optical signal and thus to align the fibers.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

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.

Growing community of inventors

Fremont, CA, United States of America

Richard E Tylor