Patent ID: 7509004

Claim:
A multi-mode fiber optic launch assembly and a corresponding multi-mode delivery optical fiber, comprising: (a) a single-mode fiber optic stub comprising a length of single-mode optical fiber having a core for transmitting light signals and a cladding disposed thereabout, the stub having distal and proximal ends and a first diameter; (b) at least one aperture located at one or more of the proximal and distal ends of the fiber optic stub, the aperture being configured to prevent or inhibit light incident thereon from entering or exiting the cladding, the aperture forming a central opening located over at least one of the proximal and distal ends, the central opening having a second diameter; (c) an optical signal transmitter, and (d) a lens configured to focus light signals emitted by the transmitter towards the proximal end of the fiber optic stub; wherein the lens is positioned between the optical signal transmitter and the proximal end of the fiber optic stub, light incident on the proximal end of the core is transmitted through the stub to the distal end thereof, the first diameter is greater than the second diameter, the multi-mode delivery optical fiber is operably connected directly to the distal end of the single-mode fiber-optic stub and configured to receive light launched therefrom, the light entering the multi-mode delivery optical fiber from the fiber-optic stub is substantially free of light that has entered or exited the cladding of the fiber-optic stub, and the multi-mode fiber optic launch assembly and the multi-mode delivery optical fiber together transmit optical signals of 10 Gbps therethrough.