Tilt adjustable optical fibre connectors
First Claim
1. A coupling device for optically coupling a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, each of said fibres terminating at a beam expanding or imaging lens, comprising:
- base means for each of said fibres, each such base means including an axial bore and means for securing one of said lenses therein;
a resilient member positionable between confronting end faces of said base means, said resilient member permitting passage of light energy thereacross; and
axially extending securing and adjusting means interconnecting said base means with said resilient member trapped therebetween;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually axially displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of one base means relative to the other so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from one fibre and its lens to the other lens and its fibre.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An adjustable connector for optically connecting a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, whereby insertion and tilt losses at the connector are minimized, is disclosed. The basic connector includes a pair of base plates, each of which can receive therein an optical fibre, the fibre terminating at a beam expanding lens held within the base plate. Confronting faces of the base plates abut a separating resilient washer member and a plurality of screws axially pass from one base plate to the other about and adjacent the outer edge thereof. With the fibres locked in place a test signal is passed through the connector along the fibres and the screws are individually rotated to angularly adjust the base plates relative to each other until the received test signal is optimized. The screws remain in the adjusted position and the connector may then be placed on service. Either fibre can be disconnected from and reconnected to its base plate without disturbing the adjustment. Also the lens may be part of the fibre termination or it can be secured in a separate holder if the fibre already has a commercial terminal connector thereon. In the latter case the terminal connector is held in an appropriate adapter which is in turn held in its base plate adjacent its lens.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. A coupling device for optically coupling a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, each of said fibres terminating at a beam expanding or imaging lens, comprising:
- base means for each of said fibres, each such base means including an axial bore and means for securing one of said lenses therein;
a resilient member positionable between confronting end faces of said base means, said resilient member permitting passage of light energy thereacross; and
axially extending securing and adjusting means interconnecting said base means with said resilient member trapped therebetween;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually axially displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of one base means relative to the other so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from one fibre and its lens to the other lens and its fibre. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 42)
- base means for each of said fibres, each such base means including an axial bore and means for securing one of said lenses therein;
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20. A coupling device for optically coupling a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, each of said fibres being provided with a terminal connector at the end to be optically connected to the other fibre, comprising:
- base means for each of said fibres, each such base means including an axial bore therethrough;
a lens holder for each base means, each lens holder containing a beam expanding or imaging lens and means for securing the lens holder within the axial bore of its base means;
adapter means for each base means, each adapter means including means to matingly receive the terminal connector of the optical fibre associated therewith and to hold the terminal connector adjacent the lens held in an adjacent lens holder;
a resilient member positionable between opposing end faces of said base means, said resilient member permitting passage of light energy thereacross; and
axially extending securing and adjusting means interconnecting said base means with said resilient member trapped therebetween;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually axially displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of one base means relative to the other so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from one fibre and its lens to the other lens and its fibre. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
- base means for each of said fibres, each such base means including an axial bore therethrough;
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32. A coupling device for optically coupling an optical fibre to a light energy source surrounded at least in part by a bulkhead through which said source can transmit light energy, said optical fibre terminating at a beam expanding or imaging lens, comprising:
- base plate means for said fibre, said base plate means including an axial bore and means for securing said lens therein;
a resilient member positionable between confronting faces of said base plate means and said bulkhead, said resilient member permitting passage of light energy thereacross; and
axially extending securing and adjusting means interconnecting said base plate means with said bulkhead with said resilient member trapped therebetween;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually axially displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of said base plate means relative to the bulkhead so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from said source to said lens and said optical fibre.
- base plate means for said fibre, said base plate means including an axial bore and means for securing said lens therein;
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33. An optical coupling device comprising:
- an input optical fibre and at least two output optical fibres positioned adjacent and parallel to said input fibre;
a housing;
means fixing said input and output fibres at one end of said housing;
a beam expanding or imaging lens in said housing having one end positioned adjacent the ends of said fibres;
a cavity in said housing adjacent the other end of said lens;
a piezo-electric bending member held in said cavity and connected to separate voltage sources so as to effect electrically stimulated movement of said bending member in mutually orthogonal directions; and
a mirror on said bending member facing said lens;
whereby an optical signal transmitted by said input fibre is expanded by said lens and reflected by said mirror, said bending member being movable under appropriate electrical stimulation to position said mirror such that said optical signal is reflected to a predetermined one of said output fibres.
- an input optical fibre and at least two output optical fibres positioned adjacent and parallel to said input fibre;
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34. An optical coupling device comprising:
- an input optical fibre and at least two output optical fibres positioned adjacent and parallel to said input fibre;
base means;
means fixing said input and output fibres within said base means;
means holding a beam expanding or imaging lens in said base means adjacent the ends of said fibres;
a mirror support supporting a mirror;
a resilient member positionable between confronting faces of said base means and said mirror support respectively; and
axially extending securing and adjusting means interconnecting said base means and said mirror support with said resilient member trapped therebetween;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually axially displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of said mirror relative to said base means such that an optical signal transmitted along said input fibre through said lens is reflected by said mirror to be received by a selected one of said output fibres. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37)
- an input optical fibre and at least two output optical fibres positioned adjacent and parallel to said input fibre;
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38. An optical coupling device comprising:
- a plurality of first parallel, symmetrically arranged optical fibres and a corresponding plurality of second parallel, symmetrically arranged optical fibres;
first and second base means;
first means fixing said first fibres within said first base means;
second means fixing said second fibres within said second base means;
first means holding a first beam expanding lens in said first base means adjacent the ends of said first fibres;
second means holding a second beam expanding lens in said second base means adjacent the ends of said second fibres;
a resilient member positionable between confronting faces of said first and second base means; and
axially extending securing and adjusting means interconnecting said first and second base means with said resilient member trapped therebetween;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually axially displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of one base means relative to the other base means such that an optical signal transmitted along a fibre associated with one of said base means can be directed to be received by a selected one of the fibres associated with the other of said base means. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
- a plurality of first parallel, symmetrically arranged optical fibres and a corresponding plurality of second parallel, symmetrically arranged optical fibres;
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43. A coupling device for optically coupling a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, each of said fibres terminating in a lens holder containing a beam expanding lens, comprising:
- a circular base plate for each of said fibres, each said plate having a first plane face, an obverse plane face, an externally threaded central boss projecting outwardly from said first face, a central bore extending axially through said boss and exiting at said obverse face, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart axially extending bores passing through the base plate adjacent the periphery thereof, the peripheral bores of one base plate being smooth and the peripheral bores of the other base plate being threaded;
means for securing a lens holder in an appropriate one of said base plates, including a nut rotatably captured on the lens holder and mating key means in the central bore and on the lens holder whereby with the key means engaged so as to position said lens holder in the central bore the nut is threadedly engageable with the threaded boss to secure the lens holder stationary and in a predetermined position relative to the base plate;
a resilient washer member positionable between and sealable to the obverse faces of the base plates, said washer member having a central void area to permit passage of light energy thereacross and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart through holes alignable with corresponding peripheral bores of said said base plates; and
a plurality of threaded screw members interconnecting said base plates with said washer member trapped between said obverse faces so as to hermetically seal said void area from the ambient surroundings;
each screw member passing through a smooth peripheral bore of said one base plate and a corresponding through hole of said washer member, to be received in a corresponding threaded peripheral bore of the other base plate;
whereby said screw members are individually rotatable to effect axial displacement and hence relative angular adjustment of said base plates so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from one fibre and its lens to the other lens and its fibre.
- a circular base plate for each of said fibres, each said plate having a first plane face, an obverse plane face, an externally threaded central boss projecting outwardly from said first face, a central bore extending axially through said boss and exiting at said obverse face, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart axially extending bores passing through the base plate adjacent the periphery thereof, the peripheral bores of one base plate being smooth and the peripheral bores of the other base plate being threaded;
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44. A coupling device for optically coupling a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, each of said fibres including a commercial terminal connector having a rotatable nut captured thereon, comprising:
- a circular base plate for each of said fibres, each said plate having a first plane face, an obverse plane face, a central boss projecting outwardly from said first face, an internally threaded central bore extending axially through said boss and exiting at said obverse face, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart axially extending bores passing through the base plate adjacent the periphery thereof, the peripheral bores of one base plate being smooth and the peripheral bores of the other base plate being threaded;
a lens holder for each base plate, each lens holder axially holding therein a beam expanding lens and being externally threaded for threaded reception in an appropriate one of said threaded central bores;
an adapter member for each of said base plates, each adapter member being sized to receive a corresponding one of said terminal connectors therein and having a boss portion externally threaded for engagement with the nut captured on the terminal connector, each adapter member also having a larger diameter externally threaded portion for threaded reception in an appropriate one of said threaded central bores so that the terminal connector secured thereto is positioned adjacent an end face of a lens previously positioned in the central bore at a point when an image is formed by the lens;
a resilient washer member positionable between and sealable to the obverse faces of the base plates, said washer member having a central void area to permit passage of light energy thereacross and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart through holes alignable with corresponding peripheral bores of said base plates; and
a plurality of threaded screw members interconnecting said base plates with said washer member trapped between said obverse faces so as to hermetically seal said void area from the ambient surroundings, each screw member passing through a smooth peripheral bore of said one base plate and a corresponding through hole of said washer member to be received in a corresponding threaded peripheral bore of the other base plate;
whereby said screw members are individually rotatable to effect axial displacement and hence relative angular adjustment of said base plates so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from one fibre and its associated lens to the other lens and its associated fibre.
- a circular base plate for each of said fibres, each said plate having a first plane face, an obverse plane face, a central boss projecting outwardly from said first face, an internally threaded central bore extending axially through said boss and exiting at said obverse face, and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart axially extending bores passing through the base plate adjacent the periphery thereof, the peripheral bores of one base plate being smooth and the peripheral bores of the other base plate being threaded;
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45. A method of optimizing the light energy transmissable from one optical fibre to another optical fibre within a coupling device holding said fibres generally in position for energy transmission therebetween, said coupling device including first and second housing means containing said fibres, beam expanding lens means in said housing means in association with said fibres, a resilient member, and securing and adjusting means interconnecting said housing means together with said resilient member trapped between confronting faces thereof, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a test optical signal along said one fibre;
monitoring the other fibre to determine the strength of the test signal received thereby; and
adjusting said securing and adjusting means to alter the relative angular position of said housing means until the received signal is at the desired strength, thereby indicating that no further adjustment is required. - View Dependent Claims (47, 51)
- transmitting a test optical signal along said one fibre;
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46. A method of optimizing the light energy transmissable from one optical fibre to another optical fibre within a coupling device holding said fibres generally in position for energy transmission therebetween, said coupling device including first housing means containing said fibres and beam expanding lens means adjacent the ends of said fibres, second housing means supporting a plane mirror, a resilient member, and securing and adjusting means interconnecting said first and second housing means together with said resilient member trapped between confronting faces thereof, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting an optical signal along said one fibre for reflection by said mirror towards the other fibre;
monitoring the other fibre to determine the strength of the optical signal received thereby; and
adjusting said securing and adjusting means to alter the relative angular position of said first and second housing means until the received signal is at the desired strength, thereby indicating that no further adjustment is required.
- transmitting an optical signal along said one fibre for reflection by said mirror towards the other fibre;
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48. A coupling device for optically coupling a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, each of said fibres terminating adjacent a beam expanding lens, comprising:
- elongated cylindrical housing means having an externally threaded portion at one end and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially directed through bores at the other end;
first ferrule means mounting one of said fibres and an associated lens and carrying nut means engageable with said threaded portion to secure said first ferrule means within said housing means at a predetermined position therein;
second ferrule means mounting the other of said fibres and an associated lens, said second ferrule means having a resilient covering thereon and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart threaded bores at the end opposite the lens carried thereby, each of said threaded bores being alignable with a corresponding one of said through bores when said second ferrule means is positioned within said housing means; and
radially extending securing and adjusting means extending through said through bores for engagement with said threaded bores;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually radially displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of said second ferrule means relative to said housing and first ferrule means so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from one fibre and its lens to the other lens and its fibre.
- elongated cylindrical housing means having an externally threaded portion at one end and a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially directed through bores at the other end;
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49. A coupling device for optically connecting an optical fibre to a light energy source surrounded at least in part by a bulkhead through which said source can transmit light energy, comprising:
- housing means securable to said bulkhead and including a cylindrical portion extending away from said bulkhead generally in alignment with the path of said light energy, said cylindrical portion including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially directed through bores adjacent the end opposite said bulkhead;
ferrule means mounting said fibre and an associated beam expanding lens adjacent the end of said fibre, said ferrule means having a resilient covering thereon and having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart threaded bores at the end opposite said lens, each of said threaded bores being alignable with a corresponding one of said through bores when said ferrule means is positioned in said cylindrical portion; and
radially extending securing and adjusting means extending through said through bores for engagement with said threaded bores;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of said ferrule means relative to said housing means so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from said source to said lens and optical fibre.
- housing means securable to said bulkhead and including a cylindrical portion extending away from said bulkhead generally in alignment with the path of said light energy, said cylindrical portion including a plurality of circumferentially spaced apart radially directed through bores adjacent the end opposite said bulkhead;
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50. A method of optimizing the light energy transmissable to an optical fibre within a coupling device holding said fibre generally in position for energy transmission thereto, said coupling device including means holding said fibre and beam expanding lens means adjacent an end of said fibre, housing means containing said holding means, resilient means between said holding means and said housing means, and securing and adjusting means interconnecting said housing and holding means with said resilient means trapped therebetween, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting a test optical signal for reception by said optical fibre;
monitoring said fibre to determine the strength of the test signal received thereby; and
adjusting said securing and adjusting means to alter the angular position of said holding means relative to said housing means until the received signal is at the desired strength, thereby indicating that no further adjustment is required.
- transmitting a test optical signal for reception by said optical fibre;
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52. An optical beam splitter comprising a rectangular beam splitter support having a diagonally disposed beam splitter mirror mounted therein;
- a support member on each side of said beam splitter support, each support member permitting optical access through an opening thereof to said mirror;
a resilient member on each support member;
a base plate on each resilient member;
securing and adjusting means extending through each base plate and its associated resilient member for reception in its associated support member; and
boss means on each base plate for mounting, adjacent said access opening, an optical fibre terminating adjacent a beam expanding or imaging lens;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually axially adjustable to alter the angular position of each base plate relative to said beam splitter support so as to obtain the desired signal strength at each receiver fibre of an optical signal entering said beam splitter from a transmitter fibre.
- a support member on each side of said beam splitter support, each support member permitting optical access through an opening thereof to said mirror;
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53. A coupling device for optically coupling a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, each of said fibres terminating adjacent a beam expanding lens, comprising:
- elongated cylindrical housing means;
first ferrule means mounting one of said fibres and an associated lens and having means engageable with said housing means to secure said first ferrule means within said housing means at a predetermined position therein;
second ferrule means mounting the other of said fibres and an associated lens, said second ferrule means having spacer means thereon and being positionable within said housing means with the lens thereof adjacent the lens of said first ferrule means and said spacer means in engagement with an interior surface of said housing means; and
radially extending securing and adjusting means extending through said housing means for engagement with said second ferrule means adjacent one end thereof;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually displaceable to effect angular adjustment of said second ferrule means relative to said housing means and said first ferrule means so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from one fibre and its lens to the other lens and its fibre. - View Dependent Claims (54, 55, 56, 57)
- elongated cylindrical housing means;
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58. A coupling device for optically coupling a pair of optical fibres in end-to-end relation, each of said fibres terminating at a beam expanding or imaging lens, comprising:
- base means for each of said fibres, each such base means including an axial bore and means for securing one of said lenses therein;
spacer means between confronting faces of said base means, said spacer means permitting passage of light therethrough and permitting the tilting of one base means relative to the other; and
axially extending securing and adjusting means interconnecting said base means with said spacer means therebetween;
whereby said securing and adjusting means are individually axially displaceable to effect an angular adjustment of one base means relative to the other so as to optimize the light energy transmissable from one fibre and its lens to the other lens and its fibre. - View Dependent Claims (59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66)
- base means for each of said fibres, each such base means including an axial bore and means for securing one of said lenses therein;
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67. A method of optimizing the light energy transmissable from a light source to an optical fibre within a coupling device holding said fibre generally in position for energy transmission thereto, said coupling device including cylindrical housing means, ferrule means mounting said fibre and a beam expanding lens adjacent an end of said fibre, resilient means between said ferrule means and an interior surface of said housing means, and radially extending securing and adjusting means extending through said housing means for engagement with said ferrule means, comprising the steps of:
- transmitting light energy from said source for reception by said optical fibre;
monitoring said fibre to determine the strength of the transmitted energy received thereby; and
adjusting said securing and adjusting means to alter the angular position of said ferrule means relative to said housing means until the received energy is at the desired strength, thereby indicating that no further adjustment is necessary. - View Dependent Claims (68, 69)
- transmitting light energy from said source for reception by said optical fibre;
Specification