Method and apparatus for preserving modes in fiber optic connections requiring angular translation

Claim 2

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations along at least two orthogonal axes; and the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of said path.

Claim 3

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations along at least three orthogonal axes; and the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of said path.

Claim 4

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations along at least three orthogonal axes; and the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of said path.

Claim 5

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for pivotal movement relative to the first and second locations along at least two orthogonal axes; and the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of said path.

Claim 6

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for pivotal movement relative to the first and second locations along at least two orthogonal axes; and the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of said path.

Claim 7

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; means for tensioning the optical fiber between the first and second locations; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations; and the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of the said path.

Claim 8

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; means for tensioning the optical fiber between the first and second locations; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations; and the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of the said path.

Claim 9

An apparatus as defined in claim 4 wherein the first means includes the tensioning means.

Claim 10

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: (a) a supporting structure; (b) an optical fiber; (c) first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; (d) second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; (e) a bobbin assembly including (i) a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations, (ii) a second bobbin, the optical fiber extending at least part way around the second bobbin, and (iii) means for mounting the second bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the supporting structure in a direction to tension the optical fiber; and (f) the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of said path.

Claim 11

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: (a) a supporting structure; (b) an optical fiber; (c) first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; (d) second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; (e) a bobbin assembly including (i) a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations, (ii) a second bobbin, the optical fiber extending at least part way around the second bobbin, and (iii) means for mounting the second bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the supporting structure in a direction to tension the optical fiber; and (f) the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of said path.

Claim 12

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: (a) a supporting structure; (b) an optical fiber; (c) first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; (d) second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; (e) a bobbin assembly including (i) a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations along at least two orthogonal axes, (ii) a second bobbin, the optical fiber extending at least part way around the second bobbin, and (iii) means for mounting the second bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the supporting structure; and (f) the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of the said path.

Claim 13

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: (a) a supporting structure; (b) an optical fiber; (c) first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first region of the optical fiber at a first location; (d) second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second region of the optical fiber at a second location; (e) a bobbin assembly including (i) a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the first and second locations along at least two orthogonal axes, (ii) a second bobbin, the optical fiber extending at least part way around the second bobbin, and (iii) means for mounting the second bobbin on the supporting structure for movement relative to the supporting structure; and (f) the optical fiber extending along a path from said first location at least part way around the first bobbin to the second location whereby movement of the first bobbin relative to the first and second locations alters the configuration of the said path.

Claim 14

An apparatus as defined in claim 7 wherein the bobbin assembly includes a third bobbin engaging the optical fiber and means for mounting the third bobbin on the supporting structure for movement in a direction to tension the optical fiber.

Claim 15

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber capable of transmitting multiple mode groups; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first linear length of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second linear length of the optical fiber at a second location; said linear lengths extending along lines which substantially intersect to define a plane; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement so that the first bobbin can be in said plane and the location of the bobbin in said plane can be adjusted; the optical fiber extending along a path from said first linear length at least part way around the first bobbin to the second linear length whereby said movement of the first bobbin can place the path in said plane; and means for tensioning the optical fiber.

Claim 16

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber capable of transmitting multiple mode groups; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first linear length of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second linear length of the optical fiber at a second location; said linear lengths extending along lines which substantially intersect to define a plane; a bobbin assembly including a first bobbin and means for mounting the first bobbin on the supporting structure for movement so that the first bobbin can be in said plane and the location of the bobbin in said plane can be adjusted; the optical fiber extending along a path from said first linear length at least part way around the first bobbin to the second linear length whereby said movement of the first bobbin can place the path in said plane; and means for tensioning the optical fiber.

Claim 17

An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the first bobbin has a curved peripheral surface and the optical fiber is wrapped around the peripheral surface at least one time.

Claim 18

An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the first bobbin has a generally cylindrical peripheral surface with a radius greater than the critical bend radius of the optical fiber.

Claim 19

An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the bobbin mounting means nonrotatably mounts the bobbin on the supporting structure.

Claim 20

An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the bobbin mounting means mounts the first bobbin so that said lines are substantially tangent to the cylindrical surface.

Claim 21

An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein the bobbin assembly includes a second bobbin engaging the optical fiber and means for mounting the second bobbin for movement relative to the supporting structure.

Claim 22

An apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein said means for mounting includes a bracket, means for mounting the bracket on the supporting structure for movement relative to the supporting structure and means for mounting the first bobbin on the bracket for movement relative to the bracket.

Claim 23

An apparatus as defined in claim 15 wherein the bobbin assembly includes a second bobbin engaging the optical fiber and means for mounting the second bobbin on the bracket for movement relative to the bracket

Claim 24

An apparatus as defined in claim 16 wherein the bobbin assembly includes a third bobbin engaging the optical fiber and means for mounting the third bobbin on the bracket for movement relative to the bracket, said second and third bobbins being mounted for generally parallel movement relative to said bracket.

Claim 25

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber capable of transmitting multiple mode groups; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first linear length of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second linear length of the optical fiber at a second location; a bobbin assembly including first and second bobbins; said optical fiber extending from said first length to a first point of tangency on the first bobbin, at least part way around the first and second bobbins and through a second point of tangency at the second bobbin to said second length; said bobbin assembly including means for mounting the first and second bobbins for movement so that the first and second points of tangency can be aligned with the first and second linear lengths, respectively; and means for tensioning the optical fiber.

Claim 26

A mode preserving apparatus comprising: a supporting structure; an optical fiber capable of transmitting multiple mode groups; first means on the supporting structure for positioning a first linear length of the optical fiber at a first location; second means on the supporting structure for positioning a second linear length of the optical fiber at a second location; a bobbin assembly including first and second bobbins; said optical fiber extending from said first length to a first point of tangency on the first bobbin, at least part way around the first and second bobbins and through a second point of tangency at the second bobbin to said second length; said bobbin assembly including means for mounting the first and second bobbins for movement so that the first and second points of tangency can be aligned with the first and second linear lengths, respectively; and means for tensioning the optical fiber.

Claim 27

An apparatus as defined in claim 18 wherein the bobbin assembly includes a third bobbin engaging the optical fiber and means for mounting the third bobbin on the supporting structure for movement in a direction to tension the optical fiber.

Claim 30

A method as defined in claim 20 including tensioning the optical fiber.

Claim 31

A method as defined in claim 20 wherein there are first and second linear lengths of the optical fiber extending to the first and second locations, respectively, with said linear lengths extending along lines which substantially intersect to define a plane and said step of adjusting includes moving the bobbin to place the optical fiber between said locations substantially into said plane.