Detachable connector for optical fibres

• US 4,265,511 A
• Filed: 06/07/1979
• Issued: 05/05/1981
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: US Philips Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Nicia, Antonius J. A., Potters, Cornelis J. T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Levy, Stewart J.
• Application Number:
  US06/046,539
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.18, 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/175 SL
• US Class Current: 385/74
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262

Abstract

A detachable connector, for coupling the ends of optical fibers, comprising two connector portions, each connector portion having fixing means, for detachably connecting the connector portions to each other, and at least one rotationally symmetrical housing having a bore which is coaxial to a central axis. The housing has a reference face at one end and adjusting means secured in the bore at an opposite end. The adjusting means enables an optical axis, of an end of an optical fiber to be secured in a tube, and to be adjusted parallel to the central axis of the housing. When the two interconnected connector portions contact each other by way of the reference faces, the optical axes of the fibers in each connector portion are parallel to one another.

Claims

1. A detachable connector, for coupling the ends of optical fibers, comprising two connector portions, each connector portion comprising:

a housing, rotationally symmetrical about a central axis, said housing having a first end and a second end and a bore, which is coaxial to the central axis, extending from the first end to the second end, said housing further comprising a reference face at the first end, said reference face being perpendicular to the central axis, and a seat in the bore at the first end of the housing, said seat facing the second end of the housing;

a tube, rotationally symmetrical about an axis of the tube, said tube having a first end and a second end and a seat, said seat being at the first end and facing away from the second end, said tube having a bore in which an end of a fiber to be coupled is secured, said tube being secured in the bore of the housing with the seat of the bush facing the seat of the housing at the first end of the housing and with the second end of the bush at the second end of the housing;

a ball lens, said ball lens being accommodated in the bore of the housing between the seat of the housing and the seat of the tube and forming a bearing between the tube and the housing;

means for adjusting the position of the second end of the tube radially with respect to the central axis of the housing, said adjusting means enabling an optical axis of the fiber secured in the tube to be adjusted at least parallel to the central axis of the housing by pivoting the second end of the tube about the ball lens; and

means for detachably connecting the connector portions to each other with their reference faces in contact.

2. A connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing has a tubular shape with a flange at the first end, and wherein the reference face comprises an abutment edge on a side of the flange facing away from the second end of the housing.

3. A connector portion, for coupling an end of an optical fiber to an end of another optical fiber or to a light emitter or receiver, comprising:

a housing, rotationally symmetrical about a central axis, said housing having a first end and a second end and a bore, which is coaxial to the central axis, extending from the first end to the second end, said housing further comprising a reference face at the first end, said reference face being perpendicular to the central axis, and a seat in the bore at the first end of the housing, said seat facing the second end of the housing;

a tube, rotationally symmetrical about an axis of the tube, said tube having a first end and a second end and a seat, said seat being at the first end and facing away from the second end, said tube having a bore in which an end of a fiber to be coupled is secured, said tube being secured in the bore of the housing with the seat of the tube facing the seat of the housing at the first end of the housing and with the second end of the tube at the second end of the housing;

a ball lens, said ball lens being accommodated in the bore of the housing between the seat of the housing and the seat of the tube and forming a bearing between the tube and the housing; and

means for adjusting the position of the second end of the tube radially with respect to the central axis of the housing, said adjusting means enabling an optical axis of the fiber secured in the tube to be adjusted at least parallel to the central axis of the housing by pivoting the second end of the tube about the ball lens.

4. A connector portion as claimed in claim 3, wherein the housing has a tubular shape with a flange at the first end, and wherein the reference face comprises an abutment edge on a side of the flange facing away from the second end of the housing.