Optical fiber tap utilizing reflector and resilient closure

• US 5,037,170 A
• Filed: 05/04/1989
• Issued: 08/06/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/1988
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ericsson Raynet Corporation A Delaware General Partnership (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Raynet Corp. (Raychem Corporation)
• Inventors: Ratzlaff, Thomas D., Uken, William D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Gonzalez, Frank
• Application Number:
  US07/347,356
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 350/96.15, 350/96.16, 350/96.20, 350/96.21, 350/96.22
• US Class Current: 385/32
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3616 Holders, macro size fixtures for mechanically holding or positioning fibres, e.g. on an optical bench supporting carriers of a microbench type G02B6/3648; micromanipulators B25J7/00; cassettes, bobbins G02B6/4439
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3636 the mechanical coupling means being grooves G02B6/3652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4201 Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4259 of the transparent type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4285 Optical modules characterised by a connectorised pigtail
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4289 by inducing bending, microbending or macrobending, to the light guide

Abstract

A tap for coupling light from an intermediate portion of an optical fiber core and a light element by passing light through a side of the optical fiber includes an optical coupler in contact with an outside surface of an optical fiber which is bent and disposed in a plane. A light reflector extending transverse to the plane deflects the withdrawn light towards the end surface of a light element disposed completely outside the plane. The tap may be used as a read tap to withdraw light, or as a write tap to inject light in optical fiber networks. A spring biased closure member urges the optical fiber to maintained in bent registration with the optical coupler within the plane. Simple tools and general craft training and knowledge may be applied to insert into, and remove the optical fiber from, the tap.

Claims

1. A tap for coupling light between an intermediate portion of an optical fiber and a light element, comprising:

a light element located adjacent an intermediate portion of an optical fiber;

a closure member;

a substrate having a fiber positioning groove therein,

means for moving the closure member relative to the substrate groove between an open position whereat the intermediate portion of the optical fiber can be loaded adjacent the groove and a closed position whereat the optical fiber intermediate portion is bent and resiliently clamped between the substrate groove and the closure member so as to allow light coupling between a core of the fiber and the light element;

a spring for resiliently urging the closure member and the substrate groove together when in their closed position, the spring having ends secured to one of the closure member and the substrate;

a rotatable cam having first and second positions, the first position corresponding to the open position of the closure member and the substrate groove, the second position corresponding to the closed position of the closure member and the substrate groove, the cam in its second position urging an intermediate section of the spring against one of the substrate and the closure member so as to cause the substrate groove and closure member to be resiliently urged together.

2. The tap of claim 1, the rotatable cam comprising a locking pin journaled in a suitable opening define din the substrate and the closure member and being rotatable about an axis of rotation, the locking pin including at least one cam for engaging the spring intermediate portion thereby to cause the spring to become deflected and thereby urge the closure member resiliently against the optical fiber with a bias force selected to maintain the bend portion of the optical fiber in alignment and registration with an optical fiber located between the fiber intermediate portion and the light element.

3. The tap of claim 2, the closure member having a longitudinal slot providing a central opening through which the pin freely passes, thereby to enable the cam portion to pass through the closure member during fabrication and to permit the closure member to move slideably along its locus of movement relative to the substrate when the cam portion of the pin engages the spring as the pin is rotated.

4. The tap of claim 2, the pin defining a rotating hand tool engagement means for enabling a hand tool to engage the pin thereby facilitating its rotation and consequent movement of the closure member along its locus of movement relative to the substrate means.

5. The tap of claim 2, the pin including a bottom stem portion defining a hollow central portion and having a slotted, outwardly extending skirt, the substrate including a peripheral annular flange formed into the lower face thereof, the hollow central portion of the pin thereby being adapted to snap-lock to the substrate means thereby to provide the journal for rotation of the pin relative to the substrate means.

6. The tap of claim 2, the closure member having an end face with a profile which is complementary with a profile of the optical coupler such that the optical fiber may be securely maintained in a constant bend attitude and registration at the optical coupler when the end face of the closure member is urged against the optical fiber.

7. The tap of claim 2, the spring comprising a leaf spring seeded into oppositely facing notches formed in outer sidewalls of the closure member, the leaf spring being placed in a recess formed within the closure member.

8. A tap for coupling light between an intermediate portion of an optical fiber and a light element, comprising:

a light element located adjacent an intermediate portion of an optical fiber;

a closure member;

a substrate having a fiber positioning groove therein,

means for moving the closure member to the substrate groove between an open position whereat the intermediate portion of the optical fiber can be loaded adjacent the groove and a closed position whereat the optical fiber intermediate portion is bent and resiliently clamped between the substrate groove and the closure member so as to allow light coupling between a core of the fiber and the light element;

a spring for resiliently urging the closure member and the substrate groove together when in their closed position, the spring having ends secured to a body, the closure member being moveable relative to the body, the spring being secured so as to normally being a first or second position, the first position corresponding to the open position of the closure member and the substrate groove, the second position corresponding to the closed position of the closure member and the substrate groove; and

means for deflecting the spring between its first and second positions.

9. The tap of claim 8, further comprising a pusher having an aperture through which an intermediate section of the spring resides.

10. The tap of claim 9, the pusher being designed so as not to contact the closure member when the spring is in its first position and second position.

11. A tap for coupling light between an intermediate portion of an optical fiber and a light element, comprising:

a light element located adjacent an intermediate portion of an optical fiber;

a closure member;

a substrate having a fiber positioning groove therein,

means for moving the closure member to the substrate groove between an open position whereat the intermediate portion of the optical fiber can be loaded adjacent the groove and a closed position whereat the optical fiber intermediate portion is bent and resiliently clamped between the substrate groove and the closure member so as to allow light coupling between a core of the fiber and the light element;

a spring for resiliently urging the closure member and the substrate groove together when in their closed position, the spring having one end secured to the closure member;

a pusher connected to a second opposite end of the spring, the sprig normally maintaining the closure member and the substrate groove in their open position, the pusher including means for being locked to a body moveable relative to the closure member, whereby upon movement of the pusher so as to compress the spring the closure member and substrate groove are resiliently urged into their closed position.

12. The tap of claim 11, the spring comprising a coil spring, the body including means for accommodating the locking means of the pusher so as to maintain the coil spring in its compressed state when the closure member and substrate groove are in their closed position.

13. A tap for coupling light between an intermediate portion of an optical fiber and a light element, comprising;

a light element located adjacent an intermediate portion of an optical fiber;

a closure member;

a substrate having a fiber positioning groove therein,

means for moving the closure member to the substrate groove between an open position whereat the intermediate portion of the optical fiber can be loaded adjacent the groove and a closed position whereat the optical fiber intermediate portion is bent and resiliently clamped between the substrate groove and the closure member so as to allow light coupling between a core of the fiber and the light element;

a pivot member rotatably secured to a body which is moveable relative to the closure member abut a pivot point;

a spring having one end connected to the pivot member and a second end connected to the body, the spring normally being in tension;

whereby the pivot member is moveable between first and second positions, its first position corresponding to the open position of the closure member and the substrate groove, its second position corresponding to the close position of the closure member and the substrate groove, a straight line interconnected the connected ends of the tension spring being on one side of the pivot pin when the pivot member is in its first position and being on an opposite side of the pivot pin when the pivot member is in its closed position, the pivot member resiliently urging the closure member against the substrate groove when in its second position.