Signal coupler for buffered optical fibers
First Claim
1. A signal coupler for a buffered optical fiber which comprises:
- a terminator body having a keyway slot therein;
a soft, transparent, polymeric rod of cross-section at least as great as a buffered fiber, the rod being disposed in the keyway slot;
rigid backing means disposed adjacent the polymeric rod in the keyway slot;
a rigid key having regularly spaced protrusions on a surface thereof inserted into the keyway slot in a vicinity of the rod to press the buffered fiber against the rod; and
compression means for urging that surface of the key having the protrusions against the buffered fiber to force it into contact with the polymeric rod and induce optical coupling between the fiber and the rod.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A signal coupler for buffered optical fibers comprises a soft, transparent, polymeric rod against which the fiber is pressed by a rigid "key" having regularly spaced protrusions which induce periodic microbending of the fiber. An optical signal passing down the fiber may be coupled into the polymeric rod by the key pressing the fiber into the rod, and the signal extracted from the end of the rod. A similar process may be used to inject an optical signal into the fiber. The coupler may be used either as a termination for a fiber or as part of a non-destructive tap. The induced attenuation and the intensity of the extracted signal may be varied by varying the pressure on the key.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A signal coupler for a buffered optical fiber which comprises:
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a terminator body having a keyway slot therein; a soft, transparent, polymeric rod of cross-section at least as great as a buffered fiber, the rod being disposed in the keyway slot; rigid backing means disposed adjacent the polymeric rod in the keyway slot; a rigid key having regularly spaced protrusions on a surface thereof inserted into the keyway slot in a vicinity of the rod to press the buffered fiber against the rod; and compression means for urging that surface of the key having the protrusions against the buffered fiber to force it into contact with the polymeric rod and induce optical coupling between the fiber and the rod. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18)
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11. A terminator for an optical fiber cable comprising a buffered optical fiber, which comprises:
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(i) a signal coupler for a buffered optical fiber which comprises; a terminator body having a keyway slot therein; a soft, transparent, polymeric rod of cross-section at least as great as the buffered fiber, the rod being disposed in the keyway slot; rigid backing means disposed in the keyway slot;
a rigid key having regularly spaced protrusions on a surface thereof inserted into the keyway slot in a vicinity of the rod to press the buffered fiber against the rod; andcompression means for urging that surface of the key having the protrusions against the buffered fiber to force it into contact with the polymeric rod and induce optical coupling between the fiber and the rod; and (ii) means for terminating the cable in such a way that the buffered optical fiber enters the signal coupler.
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12. A tap for a buffered optical fiber, the tap having an open position in which it does not operate on the fiber and a closed position in which it does operate on the fiber, comprising:
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(i) a signal coupler for a buffered optical fiber which comprises; a terminator body having a keyway slot therein; a soft, transparent, polymeric rod of cross-section at least as great as the buffered fiber, the rod being disposed in the keyway slot; rigid backing means disposed in the keyway slot;
a rigid key having regularly spaced protrusions on a surface thereof inserted into the keyway slot in a vicinity of the rod to press the buffered fiber against the rod; andcompression means for urging that surface of the key having the protrusions against the fiber to force it into contact with the polymeric rod and induce optical coupling between the fiber and the rod; the coupler having an open position in which the compression means does not urge the key against the fiber and a closed position in which the compression means does urge the key against the fiber to induce optical coupling between the fiber and the rod; (ii) detection means adjacent an end of the rod for detecting an optical signal which is coupled into the rod when the coupler is closed; (iii) bending means through which the fiber passes; and (iv) injecting means for injecting an optical signal into the bent position of the fiber when it is maintained in a bent configuration by the bending means. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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Specification