Retracting optical fiber connector
First Claim
1. Apparatus for connecting two sets of optical fibers, comprising:
- first and second members, each comprising one or more v-grooves for fixedly containing a corresponding number of fiber ends of the respective fiber sets;
the v-grooves of said first member being spaced apart congruently with respect to the v-grooves of said second member;
a focusing-alignment element fixedly mounted in each said v-groove adjacent each said fiber end;
each said element being shaped to self-center in its respective v-groove in a position that aligns its optical axis with that of the fiber contained therein;
each said element of said first member being further shaped to self-center in the corresponding v-groove of said second member to place the respective corresponding fiber axis in alignment; and
means for retaining said first and second members in fixed relation when said focusing-alignment elements are in their alignment position.
7 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Two sets of optical fiber ends to be connected are contained in opposing v-grooves in the respective interiors of a first (left) and a second (right) mating housings. In the unengaged position, the housing accesses are closed to protect the fibers. In the engaged position, the two housings form a protective enclosure. Each housing include mechanisms which are actuated by surface features of the other housing during mating engagement, to open the access doors to the housing interiors. Each fiber groove contains a fixed alignment ball whose center is on the fiber core axis. In the left housing, the v-groove in which the fiber and ball are contained, is formed on the underside of a pivotally mounted finger. When not engaged to the right housing, the finger is held in a retracted position. As the two housings engage, an actuator slidably mounted in the left housing is moved inwardly by contact with the right housing. This allows the fiber-containing finger in the left housing to commence pivoting downward on a detent of the actuator. Toward the end of the stroke, this ball and fiber assembly come to rest in an alignment groove formed in the floor of the right housing.
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Citations
11 Claims
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1. Apparatus for connecting two sets of optical fibers, comprising:
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first and second members, each comprising one or more v-grooves for fixedly containing a corresponding number of fiber ends of the respective fiber sets; the v-grooves of said first member being spaced apart congruently with respect to the v-grooves of said second member; a focusing-alignment element fixedly mounted in each said v-groove adjacent each said fiber end; each said element being shaped to self-center in its respective v-groove in a position that aligns its optical axis with that of the fiber contained therein; each said element of said first member being further shaped to self-center in the corresponding v-groove of said second member to place the respective corresponding fiber axis in alignment; and means for retaining said first and second members in fixed relation when said focusing-alignment elements are in their alignment position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. An optical fiber connector for connecting two sets of optical fibers, comprising:
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left and right mating housings; said left housing comprising a fiber-mounting member pivotally mounted in the housing interior; said member comprising one or more v-grooves for fixedly containing a corresponding number of fiber ends of the first fiber set; a first focusing-alignment element fixedly disposed in the v-groove adjacent each said fiber end of the first fiber set; each said first element being shaped to self-center in its respective v-groove in a position that aligns its optical axis with that of the fiber contained therein; said right housing comprising a floor containing one or more v-grooves for fixedly containing a corresponding number of fiber ends of the second fiber set; the v-grooves of said first member being spaced apart congruently with respect to the v-grooves of said floor; a second focusing-alignment element fixedly disposed in the v-groove of said right housing floor adjacent each said fiber end; each said first focusing-alignment element being further shaped to self-center in a corresponding v-groove of said floor of said right housing to place the respective corresponding fiber axis in alignment; and means for retaining said fiber-mounting member of said first housing and said floor of said second housing in fixed relation when said elements are in their alignment position. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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Specification