Patent ID: 8729459

Claim:
An apparatus for optical signal detection: a housing including a first member and a second member, the first member being independent of the second member, wherein the first member has a first surface from which a bending unit projects, the bending unit having an arcuate surface, wherein the second member has a second surface and defines a cavity having a first cavity portion and a second cavity portion, the first cavity portion having a first arcuate surface and the second cavity portion having a second arcuate surface, wherein the first and second members are movable relative to each other to obtain an operational state of the apparatus in which the first and second surfaces face and contact each other, the bending unit occupies substantially all of the first cavity portion and a portion of the arcuate surface of the bending unit opposes the second arcuate surface to define a channel having a predetermined radius of curvature coextensive with the second arcuate surface; and at least one photodetector at the second arcuate surface such that, when the apparatus is in the operational state and an optical fiber is installed extending through the channel, the photodetector is tangent to an arcuately extending portion of the optical fiber within the channel, wherein the radius of curvature is adapted to cause optical energy to escape from a portion of the optical fiber installed in the channel adjacent to the photodetector and be detected at the photodetector when an optical signal is being conveyed in the optical fiber.