Patent ID: 6498882
Filing Date: 2002-12-24
Classification: G02B

Abstract:
An optical system for connection to a distal optical device comprising:an optical device having a series of distinct optical channel waveguides, said optical channel waveguides connected to a cable assembly; said cable assembly comprising a proximal cable portion having a proximal end, a distal cable portion having a distal end, and a transition region separating said proximal portion and said distal portion; a plurality of optical fibers extending between said proximal and distal ends of said cable assembly, each fiber comprising a core surrounded by a cladding, and an outer coating surrounding said cladding along at least a portion of a length of said optical fiber, each of said optical fibers corresponding and optically connected to at least one distinct optical channel waveguide of said optical device; a proximal optical connecting region located at said proximal cable portion and adapted to connect said fiber cores to said optical channel waveguides of the optical device, wherein in said proximal optical connecting region said plurality of optical fibers are grouped into at least one sub-plurality of optical fibers, each sub-plurality having a proximal optical channel order defined by the order and position of said optical channel waveguides corresponding to each of said optical fibers in said sub-plurality; a distal optical connecting region located at said distal portion, wherein in at least a portion of said distal optical connecting region said plurality of optical fibers form at least one ribbon of optical fibers, and wherein each of said ribbons has a distal optical channel order defined the order and position of said optical channel waveguides corresponding to each of said optical fibers in said ribbon; and wherein in said transition region where said plurality of optical fibers are re-ordered from said distal cable portion to said proximal cable portion so that each said proximal and distal channel order are different.