Method and apparatus for cleaning particulate matter from an optic-connector surface

• US 20030026549A1
• Filed: 04/23/2002
• Published: 02/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Parity Networks LLC
• Original Assignee: Sherwood Partners Incorporated
• Inventors: Novinsky, Sam, Ellis, Francis Clay
• Granted Patent: US 7,273,320 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/53
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3866 Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence

Abstract

A cleaning tool for cleaning particulate matter from contact surfaces of fiber-optics ferrules of an electronics assembly has one or more first connector halves for engaging one or more second connector halves hosting the ferrules to be cleaned, and one or more cleaning inserts provided within the one or more first connector halves, the cleaning inserts comprising adherent surfaces for removing particulates from engaged surfaces. The tool is characterized in that the one or more cleaning inserts are sized to contact the contact surfaces of the fiber optics ferrules with the first connector half engaged in the second connector half.

Claims

1. A cleaning tool for cleaning particulate matter from contact surfaces of fiber-optics ferrules of an electronics assembly, comprising:

one or more first connector halves for engaging one or more second connector halves hosting the ferrules to be cleaned; and

one or more cleaning inserts provided within the one or more first connector halves, the cleaning inserts comprising adherent surfaces for removing particulates from engaged surfaces;

characterized in that the one or more cleaning inserts are sized to contact the contact surfaces of the fiber optics ferrules with the first connector half engaged in the second connector half.

2. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the cleaning insert comprises a base structure having one or more extending fingers for extending through the first connector half.

3. The cleaning tool of claim 2 wherein the extending fingers are removable.

4. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the tool is in the form of a single first connector half, having a sufficient number of cleaning inserts to match the standard number of fiber optics ferrules in a connector.

5. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the cleaning inserts are fashioned to be removable from the first connector half and discarded after one or a few cleanings.

6. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the adherent surface comprises a portion of double-back tape.

7. The cleaning tool of claim 6 wherein one side of the tape is more adherent than the other side, the less adherent side for collecting the particulate matter.

8. The cleaning tool of claim 4 having at least 4 cleaning inserts.

9. The cleaning tool of claim 1 wherein the insert or inserts are used repeatedly for cleaning and the adherent portions are fashioned to be quickly removable to be discarded and replaced.

10. The cleaning tool of claim 1 fashioned as a dummy router card having a mounting surface mounting a plurality of the first connector halves, the dummy router card dedicated as a cleaning card.

11. The cleaning tool of claim 10 wherein the dummy router card is a fabric card and comprises at least 5 first connector halves, each retaining at least one cleaning insert, and wherein the total of cleaning surfaces is no less than 20.

12. The cleaning tool of claim 1 comprising a plurality of first connector halves implemented in a single contiguous framework, each of the first connector halves comprising a plurality of cleaning inserts, the framework comprising a physical user interface for operating the tool.

13. A method for cleaning contact surfaces of fiber optics ferrules engaged in a first connector half, comprising the steps of:

(a) fashioning a second connector half having one or more cleaning inserts, the cleaning inserts comprising adherent surfaces for removing particulates from engaged surfaces;

(b) engaging the first and the second connector halves such that the adherent surfaces of the cleaning inserts contact the contact surfaces of the fiber optic ferrules; and

(c) disengaging the first and second connector halves, removing any particles from the contact surfaces of the fiber optics ferrules.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the cleaning insert comprises a base structure having one or more extending fingers for extending through the first connector half.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the extending fingers are removable.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the tool is in the form of a single connector half, having a sufficient number of cleaning inserts to match the standard number of fiber optics ferrules in a connector.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the cleaning inserts are fashioned to be removable from the first connector half and discarded after one or a few cleanings.

18. The method of claim 13 wherein the adherent surface comprises a portion of double-back tape.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein one side of the tape is more adherent than the other side, the less adherent side for collecting the particulate matter.

20. The method of claim 15 having at least 4 cleaning inserts.

21. The method of claim 13 wherein the insert or inserts are used repeatedly for cleaning and the adherent portions are fashioned to be quickly removable to be discarded and replaced.

22. The method of claim 13 fashioned as a dummy router card having a mounting surface mounting a plurality of the first connector halves, the dummy router card dedicated as a cleaning card.

23. The method of claim 22 wherein the dummy router card is a fabric card and comprises at least 5 first connector halves, each retaining at least one cleaning insert, and wherein the total of cleaning surfaces is no less than 20.

24. The method of claim 13 comprising a plurality of first connector halves implemented in a single contiguous framework, each of the first connector halves comprising a plurality of cleaning inserts, the framework comprising a physical user interface for operating the tool.