Optical simulator with loop-back attenuator and optical thin film

• US 4,952,798 A
• Filed: 01/03/1990
• Issued: 08/28/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 01/03/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Original Assignee: AMP Incorporated (Johnson Controls International plc)
• Inventors: Lathan, Susan J., Graham, Bruce M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelms, David C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Allen, Stephone B.
• Application Number:
  US07/460,446
• Time in Patent Office: 237 Days
• Field of Search: 250/227.11, 250/239, 350/96.15, 350/96.20, 350/96.22, 356/73.1
• US Class Current: 250/227.11
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/266 the optical element being an attenuator
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3829 Bent or angled connectors G02B6/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/387 Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

An optical simulator 10, shaped to be interchangeable with a complementary connector 7 that intermates with an optical connector 6 having an optical emitter 4 and an optical detector 5, comprises an alignment fixture 12 with connectors 21 and 22 for intermating with the optical emitter 4 and the optical detector 5, and an optical fiber 11 formed in a loop and installed within the alignment fixture 12 with a first end face 39 of the loop 11 aligned through a corresponding alignment fixture connector 24, with the emitter 4 and a second end face 37 of the loop 11 aligned through a corresponding alignment fixture 25, with the detector 5 of the optical connector 6. The optical fiber 11 is formed in a loop further with a film forming a thin membraceous skin on an end of the optical fiber to provide controlled attenuation of optical power to the detector 5.

Claims

1. An optical simulator shaped to be interchangeable with a complementary connector that intermates with an optical connector having an optical emitter and an optical detector, the optical simulator comprising;

an alignment fixture with connectors for intermating with the optical emitter and the optical detector, and an optical fiber formed in a loop and installed within the alignment fixture with a first end face of the loop aligned, through a corresponding alignment fixture connector, with the emitter, and a second end face of the loop aligned, through a corresponding alignment fixture, with the detector of the optical connector;

the optical fiber being formed in a loop with a film forming a thin membraceous skin on an end face of the fiber to provide controlled attenuation of optical power to the optical detector.

2. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the film is an optical filter which results in the attenuation of optical power to the optical detector in the range of between 3 dB and 7 dB.

3. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the film is an optical filter which results in the attenuation of optical power to the optical detector in the range of between 12 dB and 1 dB.

4. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the film is applied by vapor deposition.

5. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the film is a reflective dielectric thin film coating.

6. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the film is a multilayer reflective dielectric thin film coating.

7. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the film forms a neutral density filter consisting of single metallic layers.

8. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the film is formed by vapor deposition of a metallic chosen from the group consisting of rhodium, palladium, tungston, chromium, nickel and alloys thereof.

9. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the film is formed by vapor deposition of a nickel chromium alloy.

10. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the optical connector is the adapter assembly of a transceiver.

11. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the simulator is a plug-compatible shape for disconnect coupling to the optical connector to a transceiver.

12. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the simulator comprises an alignment fixture encompassing the optical fiber in the form of a loop.

13. The optical simulator of claim 1 wherein the alignment fixture comprises an upper cover with an extension section with outwardly directed threads and a lower cover with extension section with outwardly directed threads.

14. The optical simulator of claim 13 wherein the upper cover and lower covers are attached by snap-in connection and secured by a threaded cup interthreaded with the threads of the unitary extension section formed by the complementary fitting of the extension section of the upper cover and the extension section of the lower section.