A fiber optic alignment device includes a first and a second alignment block and a first and a second gel block. A fiber passage extends from a first end to a second end of the fiber optic alignment device. The fiber passage is adapted to receive a first optical fiber through the first end and a second optical fiber through the second end. An intermediate portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the first and the second ends. The intermediate portion is adapted to align the first and the second optical fibers between the first and the second alignment blocks. A first portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the first end and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage. The first portion extends between the first alignment block and the first gel block. A second portion of the fiber passage is positioned between the second end and the intermediate portion of the fiber passage. The second portion extends between the second alignment block and the second gel block. End portions of the first and the second optical fibers may be cleaned when slid between the alignment blocks and the gel blocks. The fiber passage may include an undulating portion.

A device for cleaning an optical communication device includes a hollow outer stem, an inner stem core, a locking handle, a flexible base, at least one ring seal, and a flexible cover. The inner stem core, fits within a length of the hollow outer stem and is slidable along the length of the hollow outer stem. The locking handle is coupled to a top end of the inner stem core, and is movable between a released position and a locked position, where moving the locking handle to the locked position from the released position slides the inner stem core within the hollow outer stem. The flexible base is coupled to a bottom end of the hollow outer stem, and is transformable between a contracted position when the locking handle is in the released position and an expanded position when the locking handle is in the locked position. The at least one ring seal is coupled to the flexible base. The flexible cover is wrapped around the flexible base and the at least one ring seal.

Various implementations of fiber optic inspection tools with integrated cleaning mechanisms are disclosed. The fiber optic inspection and cleaning tool includes a housing, a cleaning system and an imaging system. The cleaning system includes a pay-off reel, a take-up reel, a spindle and a cleaning tape that travels off the pay-off reel, around the spindle, and onto the take-up reel. The imaging system includes a camera and a light source. The camera, spindle, and cleaning tape are aligned along a visual axis. The pay-off reel, take-up reel, camera and light source are all located within the housing.

Various implementations of visual inspector attachments for fiber connector cleaners are disclosed. The example fiber optic inspection module includes a camera to capture an image of an end-face, a light source to illuminate the end-face, and a first mirror that reflects light from the light source to the end-face and includes a fixed point that allows the first mirror to pivot. Alternatively, an example fiber optic inspection module includes a camera to capture an image of an end-face, a light source to illuminate the end-face, and a first mirror that reflects light from the light source to the end-face and the first mirror moves in an upward direction.

Optical fiber connections and their applications in downhole assemblies are described herein. The downhole assembly includes a well completion element with an end that couples with a corresponding well completion element. An optical fiber extends along at least a portion of the well completion element and transmits an optical signal using a first mode. The well completion element includes an optical fiber connector that is coupled to the optical fiber. The connector also includes a mode converter that receives the optical signal from the optical fiber and converts the optical signal from the first mode to a second larger mode. This second larger mode may be more robustly communicated to a corresponding optical fiber connector affixed to the corresponding well completion element.

A first optical device is adapted to couple to a second optical device along a coupling direction and includes two spaced apart pairs of leading and trailing pads, such that when the first optical device lands and slides on a landing surface of the second optical device to optically couple to the second optical device, and for each pair of leading and trailing pads, the leading pad prevents any debris on the landing surface from collecting on the trailing pad. Upon full coupling of the first optical device with the second optical device, the leading pads do not make contact with the landing surface. The first optical device may be, for example, an optical ferrule or a cradle having a recess adapted to receive an optical ferrule.

An automated fiber optic patch-panel/cross-connect system comprised of a stacked arrangement of multiple replaceable modules, including a first multiplicity of fiber modules, each with a second multiplicity of reconfigurable internal fiber connectors; a common robot module shared among fiber modules, wherein any connector within a fiber module in the system can be moved to any other connector of any other fiber module in the system; a power management module that distributes electrical power to the fiber modules and the robot module; and a server module that generates commands that are placed on communication bus to activate robot and fiber modules. The modules are physically separated and spatially arranged to be serviced replaced without interrupting fiber connections previously established in the system.

A device and methods for cleaning an end of a fiber optic cable including a cleaning cartridge system for dispensing and usage monitoring of fiber end face cleaning fabric. The cleaning cartridge system includes a spool of cleaning fabric; an actuator that drives a fabric advance roller; a pressure sensor that detects when a fiber end face is in contact with fabric and outputs a contact-indicating signal; an internal control circuit that drives the actuator to advance the cleaning fabric in time-relation to the contact-indicating signal; and an external controller that determines proper advance of the cleaning fabric and consumption of the cleaning fabric over time. Methods of maintaining low loss physical fiber-optic connections in an automated cross-connect system use the cleaning device and methods.

Optical fiber connections and their applications in downhole assemblies are described herein. The downhole assembly includes a well completion element with an end that couples with a corresponding well completion element. An optical fiber extends along at least a portion of the well completion element and transmits an optical signal using a first mode. The well completion element includes an optical fiber connector that is coupled to the optical fiber. The connector also includes a mode converter that receives the optical signal from the optical fiber and converts the optical signal from the first mode to a second larger mode. This second larger mode may be more robustly communicated to a corresponding optical fiber connector affixed to the corresponding well completion element.

A cleaning tool includes: a head; and a cleaning body wrapped around the head. The head includes: a head body; and a projection that projects from the head body. The projection is retractable relative to the head body. The head may further include an elastic member that restores a positional relationship between the projection and the head body.