Today, Gould offers singlemode, single wavelength couplers, wavelength independent couplers, wavelength flattened couplers, wavelength division multiplexers, and multimode couplers as well as fused star and tree couplers in a variety of packaging styles and connectorization schemes. These include bare fiber packages, ruggedized cabled leads, modular plug-in units and 19-inch rack mountable versions with virtually any commercially available connector style. Gould is also a qualified supplier of custom, high reliability fused biconical taper couplers for use in government, military and aerospace applications.

   Gould has put considerable effort into both establishing the reliability of FBT (Fused Biconical Taper) couplers and in developing the proper test methodology. In fact, Gould conducted the first major reliability study on fused couplers with devices characterized for dry heat cycling, damp heat, and shock and vibration. By completely automating its test procedures, Gould is able to provide 100% testing of its passive components for a number of key parameters.

   In recent years, Gould has introduced a number of new products and developments. These included 980/1550nm and 1480/1550nm WDMs for erbium doped amplifier pumping, high-isolation WDMs and WDMs with narrow channel spacing. All-fiber filters, used for attenuation or for isolation enhancement, with no additional back reflection, an athermal Fiber Bragg Grating package, and truly fused 3x3 and 4x4 couplers, are the latest products to be announced. Applications for these products include fiber-to-the-home, long-haul trunk upgrades, and CATV networks.

   Gould's position as the leader in passive fiber optical components is enhanced by its ability to conduct both short term and long-term product development via its product development and research groups, respectively. In 2001, Gould announced its development of a patented chemical passivation technique that significantly increases the long-term performance of FBT couplers subjected to Damp Heat conditions such as those in Telcordia GR-1221-CORE. This breakthrough technology provides the Company with a significant product advantage for Fiber-to-the-Premise applications.

   Gould Fiber Optics had its beginning in 1978 when a fiber optics group was formed at the Gould Research Center in Chicago . The primary reason for the formation of this group was to address the Navy's interest in incorporating fiber optics into both the sensor and telemetry aspects of towed array sonar systems. This was the primary business area of Gould's Ocean Systems Division located in Glen Burnie, Maryland and they, along with the Navy's FOSS (Fiber Optic Sensor System) program provided the principal external support for this program. The Navy's choice of an interferometric sensor led to the development of singlemode fiber couplers and resulted in a practical process for making high quality singlemode couplers by the fused biconical taper process. In 1983, Gould began selling couplers manufactured in the laboratory to the Navy and other customers.

   In 1984, a business plan was submitted to Gould management for a stand alone coupler business and in late 1984, such a business unit was set up within the Ocean Systems Division. While the research aspect remained in Chicago , the manufacturing of components and classified sensor systems was moved to Glen Burnie . In mid-1985 a separate facility was provided for this business unit.

   The initial market for components was the OTDR manufacturers. Gould's development of WDM's (Wavelength Division Multiplexers) and WICs (Wavelength Independent Couplers) provided for the introduction of "two-color" OTDRs and enabled Gould to capture a significant fraction of the market. The availability of WDMs also allowed Gould to address the long-haul upgrade programs for the telecommunications market and provided for the first significant volumes. This experience in high quality, high volume production also made Gould the clear leader in production for the various fiber-to-the-home field trials. With the introduction of the multimode coupler in 1987, Gould rounded out its product offerings to cover all aspects of the coupler market. Subsequently, Gould was awarded patents in each of these four basic product areas.

   In a restructuring move in 1987, Gould decided to divest its holdings in the defense area. A decision was made to keep the fiber optics capability within Gould and, after divesting itself of all government and defense related programs, it became a stand-alone Operation within Gould's Materials and Components Division headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio . Also, at that time the research capability was transferred from Chicago to Glen Burnie . Since that time the Gould Fiber Optics, as it had become known, continued to flourish and grow. In addition to the domestic market, the international market is also addressed primarily through representatives in Canada and Europe and via technical and marketing agreements with Japan Energy Corporation for Japan and the Pacific Rim countries.

   In late 1989, Gould Fiber Optics added in-house connectorization capability. The Assembly Service Group (ASG), which had primarily done re-packaging and system assembly, was expanded to include this new task. This continues to be the fastest growing part of the business.

   In January of 1990, the operation became a Division of Gould and in late 1990 expanded into larger facilities. During 1990, it became a representative of NKC for connectors, in 1992 it added ATI's multimode product line, and in 1993 added high-speed modulators from IOC. In February of 1994, the Division relocated to its present 25,000 square-foot facility. In 1996, it established offshore production capability in India with a contract manufacturer dedicated solely to manufacturing product for the Company using Gould-supplied procedures, equipment and materials.

   The Company became a wholly owned subsidiary of Gould Electronics Inc. in August of 2000 and adopted the name Gould Optronics Inc., but continued to be known in the industry as Gould Fiber Optics.