Filament organizer with accessory positioner

Abstract

A filament organizer, for attaching an accessory to a section of filament, comprises a frame including a plurality of filament guides. The frame accommodates an accessory positioner adapted for sliding engagement therewith. A pair of spools, attached to the accessory positioner, has a section of filament extending from one to the other so that the filament passes around the plurality of filament guides of the frame to selectively position the section of filament. The accessory positioner includes an accessory cradle that moves from a retracted position to a proximate position. In its retracted position the accessory cradle receives an accessory to be placed in axial alignment with the section of filament. The accessory cradle then moves into the proximate position to attach the accessory to the filament section. Preferably, the filament is an optical fiber that includes a refractive index grating, and the accessory provides temperature compensation to stabilize the wavelength and facilitate wavelength tuning of the grating.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A tuning apparatus for precise adjustment of the wavelength of a refractive index grating, formed in a section of optical fiber, said tuning apparatus comprising: 
 a pair of spaced apart cantilever arms having the section of optical fiber suspended therebetween;    a clamp immobilizing the section of optical fiber;    a tuning blade to apply force to at least one of said pair of cantilever arms; and    an actuator connected to said tuning blade, said actuator having a controller for moving said tuning blade under a prescribed force and distance causing displacement of said at least one of said pair of cantilever arms to increase the separation between said pair of cantilever arms, thereby changing the length of the section of optical fiber to adjust the wavelength of a refractive index grating formed therein.    
     
     
         2 . The tuning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said pair of cantilever arms are metal cantilever arms.  
     
     
         3 . The tuning apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein said metal cantilever arms are aluminum cantilever arms.  
     
     
         4 . The tuning apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said actuator includes a voice coil mechanism that responds to signals from said controller.  
     
     
         5 . The tuning apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein said controller includes a microprocessor.  
     
     
         6 . A tuning apparatus for precise adjustment of the wavelength of a refractive index grating, formed in a section of optical fiber suspended by attachment between a pair of spaced-apart cantilever arms each having connection by an end cap to a ceramic rod lying in the accessory cradle of an accessory positioner, said tuning apparatus comprising: 
 an accessory positioner mount used for orientation of an accessory positioner;    an accessory clamp, contacting an end cap to immobilize the ceramic rod in the accessory cradle;    a tuning blade inserted in a slot adjacent to the accessory cradle to apply force to a said cantilever arm; and    an actuator connected to said tuning-blade, said actuator having a controller for moving said blade under a prescribed force and distance causing displacement of a said cantilever arm to increase the separation between the pair of said cantilever arms, thereby changing the length of said section of optical fiber to adjust the wavelength of a refractive index grating formed therein.