Fiber optic devices and method for making same

Claim 1

Method of positioning the optical fibers of a multiply fiber optics device consisting at its input and output end faces of a plurality of adjacent columns of fiber ends with a transition section thereinbetween in which the position sequence of fibers in each given column is controllably changed, comprising the steps of: using a multiply weaving loom which includes a plurality of reed pairs and a plurality of heddles associated with each reed pair, threading optical fibers as warp strands through said heddles and reed pairs; continuously advancing said optical fibers; with said heddles held to create an input end ply position sequence amongst the optical fibers within each said reed pair, weaving weft strands across said optical fibers to hold them in said input end sequence; interrupting said weft strand weaving and thereafter adjusting said heddles to transpose said optical fibers to a different and predetermined output end ply position sequence for said optical fibers within their respective reed pair; and thereafter, resuming weaving weft strands across said optical fibers to hold them in said output end sequence; whereby the column positions of fiber ends created along any two cross sections of said input end are identical, and likewise, the column positions of fiber ends created along any two cross sections of said output end are identical, but as between the input end and the output end of any given fiber column the fiber end positions are controllably changed.