An apparatus and method for underwater coupling of a fiber-optic cable to a light source without exposing the light source to the surrounding water. The apparatus employs an optically clear coupling element having one or more blind holes on one surface sized to snugly hold a fiber optic cable. The coupling element closes a watertight enclosure containing a light source such that the blind holes are on the exterior of the enclosure. Light emitted by the light source can pass through the optically clear coupling element to be received by fiber-optic cables fitted into the exterior blind holes. The fiber optic cables can be removed and replaced without opening the enclosure and exposing the light source to contact by the surrounding water.
An optical element-optical fiber composite structure having a high resistance of the optical fiber to breakage due to cyclical change in temperature, includes a package structure having a main container, side containers attached to the main container and sleeves through which a main chamber of the main container is connected to side chambers of the side containers; an optical element housed in the main chamber; and optical fibers introduced into the main chamber through the side chambers and the sleeves and connected to the optical element.
An optical element-optical fiber composite structure having a high resistance of the optical fiber to breakage due to cyclical change in temperature, includes a package structure having a main container, side containers attached to the main container and sleeves through which a main chamber of the main container is connected to side chambers of the side containers; an optical element housed in the main chamber; and optical fibers introduced into the main chamber through the side chambers and the sleeves and connected to the optical element.
A submersible fiber optic lens assembly for use with a fiber optic cable having an end. The assembly includes a lens cap having a lens plate, a seal nut threadedly received within the lens cap, an O-ring radially sealing between the lens cap and the seal nut, a grommet received within the seal nut, and a compression nut received within the seal nut adjacent the grommet such that the grommet may be axially compressed between the seal nut and the compression nut to form a seal between the jacket and the seal nut. The fiber optic cable has a jacket, the jacket being received within the grommet prior to compression of the grommet. The lens plate has a reservoir formed on an inside surface, with a globule of gel located in the reservoir. Upon assembly, the end of the fiber optic cable is received within the gel. The O-ring seal and the grommet seal form an water tight cavity which is further defined by the reservoir and the seal nut. The cavity is filled by the gel.
Given a component comprising at least one active area formed on a substrate and designed to be coupled to a light guide, a support is used, at least one hole is formed in the support starting from one face of this support, this hole being designed to receive one end of the guide, the substrate is fixed to the other face of the support by forming the hole facing the active area if the active area has already been formed, and otherwise it is formed on the substrate facing the hole and the end of the guide is placed in the hole. The optical system is obtained by optically coupling two devices thus obtained.
