Patent ID: 7095910

Claim:
A coupling device comprising: a casing having a first end, a second end, and an inner surface that defines a bore that extends therethrough between the first and second ends, the casing formed of a material having a first coefficient of thermal expansion; a first plug having an inner surface that defines a core that extends therethrough, the first plug disposed within the casing bore and coupled to the casing inner surface, the first plug having a second coefficient of thermal expansion, the second coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion; a second plug having an inner surface that defines a core that extends therethrough, the second plug disposed within the casing bore and coupled to the casing inner surface, the second plug spaced apart from the first plug to define a coupling region, the second plug having a third coefficient of thermal expansion, the third coefficient of thermal expansion greater than the first coefficient of thermal expansion; and a plurality of optical fibers extending through the casing bore, the first plug core and the second plug core, at least one of the optical fibers coupled to the first plug at a first mounting point, at least one of the optical fibers coupled to the second plug at a second mounting point, and wherein the first and second plugs are coupled to the casing inner surface such that a temperature increase inhibits expansion of the first plug and the second plug toward the first end and the second end, respectively, and allows expansion of the first plug and the second plug toward the second end and the first end, respectively, to thereby decrease a distance between the first mounting point and the second mounting point, and wherein a first one of the optical fibers is configured to transport an optical signal comprising two or more light signals, each of the light signals having a fixed wavelength, and wherein a second one of the optical fibers is configured to receive at least one of the two or more light signals from the first one of the optical fibers.