Fiber optic connector housing, fiber optic receptacle, accessories employing fiber optic connector housings and corresponding optical assemblies

• US 5,598,495 A
• Filed: 05/11/1995
• Issued: 01/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Webb, James R., Vetter, William W., Rittle, Jeffrey W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm E.
• Application Number:
  US08/439,029
• Time in Patent Office: 628 Days
• Field of Search: 385/76, 385/77, 385/88, 385/89, 385/90, 385/53, 385/55, 385/56, 385/58, 385/59, 385/70, 385/71, 385/72, 385/75
• US Class Current: 385/75
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements

Abstract

A new fiber optic connector housing and a new fiber optic receptacle, both of which conform to a new standard proposed by the X3T9.3 committee of the American National Standards Institute, are disclosed. In addition, four accessory devices for electro-optic modules, each of which includes one or more essentially conventional plug frames which fit into either one or more conventional, individual fiber optic connector housings or the new fiber optic connector housing, are disclosed.

Claims

1. A device for cleaning at least one optical surface with a fluid, comprising:

at least a first tube through which a fluid is to be injected, and at least a first fluid nozzle, connected to a front end of said first tube;

at least a first plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first tube and said first nozzle, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said first plug frame;

at least a first fiber optic connector housing which contains said first plug frame, said first nozzle protruding through an opening in a front end of said first fiber optic connector housing;

at least a second tube through which a fluid is to injected, and at least a second fluid nozzle, connected to a front end of said second tube;

at least a second plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second tube and said second nozzle, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said second plug frame;

at least a second fiber optic connector housing which contains said second plug frame, said second nozzle protruding through an opening in a front end of said second fiber optic connector housing; and

means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein said at least first and second fiber optic connector housings and said means are of integral construction.

3. A device for brushing or wiping dirt from at least one optical surface, comprising:

at least a first rod, which is either hollow or solid;

at least first brush means for brushing or wiping dirt from an optical surface, which is connected to a front end of said first rod;

at least a first plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first rod and said first brush means, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said first plug frame; and

at least a first fiber optic connector housing which contains said first plug frame, said first brush means protruding through an opening in a front end of said first fiber optic connector housing;

at least a second rod, which is either hollow or solid;

at least second brush means for brushing or wiping dirt from an optical surface, which is connected to a front end of said second rod;

at least a second plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second rod and said second brush means, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said second plug frame;

at least a second fiber optic connector housing which contains said second plug frame, said second brush means protruding through an opening in a front end said second fiber optic connector housing; and

means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in a least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein said first rod includes an external shoulder encircling said first rod, said first plug frame includes a shoulder internal to said first plug frame, and said device further comprises a helical spring encircling said first rod, a first end of said helical spring contacting said internal shoulder of said first plug frame and a second end of said helical spring contacting said external shoulder of said first rod.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein said at least first and second fiber optic connector housings and said means are of integral construction.

6. A device for communicating light emitted by a first optical subassembly, which includes a first transducer for converting electrical signals to optical signals, to a second optical subassembly, which includes a second transducer for converting optical signals to electrical signals, comprising:

an optical fiber and first and second ferrules, a first end of said optical fiber being contained in said first ferrule and a second end of said optical fiber being contained in said second ferrule;

a first plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first ferrule and a first portion of said optical fiber, and a second plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second ferrule and a second portion of said optical fiber, a third portion of said optical fiber extending from said first plug frame to said second plug frame; and

a first fiber optic connector housing, which contains said first plug frame, and a second fiber optic connector housing, which contains said second plug frame;

further comprising means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housing, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by side relationship while permitting each of said and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein said first and second fiber optic connector housings and said means are of integral construction.

8. The device of claim 6, wherein said first ferrule includes an external shoulder encircling said first ferrule, said first plug frame includes a shoulder internal to said first plug frame, and said device further comprises a first helical spring encircling said optical fiber, a first end of said first helical spring contacting said internal shoulder of said first plug frame and a second end of said first helical spring contacting said external shoulder of said first ferrule.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein said second ferrule includes an external shoulder encircling said second ferrule, said second plug frame includes a shoulder internal to said second plug frame, and said device further comprises a second helical spring encircling said optical fiber, a first end of said helical spring contacting said internal shoulder of said second plug frame and a second end of said second helical spring contacting said external shoulder of said second ferrule.

10. A shipping/storage plug for an optical assembly which includes at least a first optical subassembly, comprising:

at least a first nipple, which is adapted for at least partial insertion into a bore of a first optical subassembly;

at least a first plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first nipple; and

at least a first fiber optic connector housing, which contains said first plug frame;

at least a second nipple, which is adapted for at least partial insertion into a bore of a second optical subassembly;

at least a second plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second nipple;

at least a second fiber optic connector housing, which contains said second plug frame; and

means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.

11. The shipping/storage plug of claim 10, wherein said first and second fiber optic connector housings and said means are of integral construction.