Portable microscope for inspecting fiber optic cable

• US 5,731,893 A
• Filed: 02/21/1996
• Issued: 03/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jeffrey M. Dominique
• Original Assignee: Jeffrey M. Dominique
• Inventors: Dominique, Jeffrey M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Henry, Jon W.
• Application Number:
  US08/604,654
• Time in Patent Office: 762 Days
• Field of Search: 359/379, 359/385, 359/387, 359/394, 359/801
• US Class Current: 359/379
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0008 Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3835 using discs, bushings or the like
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/385 Accessories for testing or observation of connectors means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, measuring position, eccentricity G02B6/3843; mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres G01M11/088
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3863 fabricated by using polishing techniques grinding of the fibre ends B24B19/226

Abstract

The portable microscope includes an end plate with a reflective inner surface for improved inspection of the end surface of a fiber optic cable at a connection point in a fiber optic system. The end plate is mounted on the head unit housing of the microscope and includes a tubular aperture for receiving and positioning the end of the fiber optic cable for microscopic inspection. A bowl is formed about the tubular aperture on the inner surface of the plate to direct more light to the end of the fiber optic cable. The outer surface of the plate includes a positioning tube for receiving a ferrule with the end of the fiber optic cable and directing the ferrule and fiber optic cable through the aperture into the bowl.

Claims

1. A portable microscope for inspecting a glass fiber of a fiber optic cable secured in a ferrule of a fiber optic connector, said microscope comprising:

an elongate enclosure having a magnifying channel with a head end and a viewing end;

a housing formed at the head end of said enclosure, said housing including an aperture for receiving a glass fiber in a ferrule;

a magnifying system mounted in the magnifying channel of said enclosure, said magnifying system including an adjustable focus lens positioned in said housing;

a battery powered light source mounted in said enclosure, said light source directing light into said housing; and

an end plate secured to said housing to cover the aperture in said housing, said end plate including an aperture aligned with the housing aperture;

an adapter secured in the aperture of said end plate, said adapter including a tubular aperture extending through said adapter for receiving and positioning the glass fiber adjacent the adjustable focus lens, and including an integral concave reflection bowl formed on an inner surface of said adapter about the tubular aperture.

2. A portable microscope for inspecting a glass fiber of a fiber optic cable secured in a ferrule of a fiber optic connector, said microscope comprising:

an elongate enclosure having a magnifying channel with a head end and a viewing end;

a housing formed at the head end of said enclosure, said housing including an aperture for receiving a glass fiber in a ferrule;

a magnifying system mounted in the magnifying channel of said enclosure, said magnifying system including an adjustable focus lens positioned in said housing;

a battery powered light source mounted in said enclosure, said light source directing light into said housing; and

an end plate secured to said housing to cover the aperture in said housing, said end plate including a tubular aperture aligned with the housing aperture for receiving and positioning the glass fiber adjacent the adjustable focus lens, and said end plate including a reflective inner surface and a concave reflection bowl integrally formed in the inner surface of said end plate about the tubular aperture.

3. The portable microscope defined in claim 2, wherein the tubular aperture in said end plate includes a positioning tube extending from an outer surface of said end plate.

4. The portable microscope defined in claim 2 wherein said end plate is made from aluminum.

5. The portable microscope defined in claim 2 wherein said end plate is made from stainless steel.

6. The portable microscope defined in claim 2 wherein said end plate with the reflective inner surface is made from a polymer material with a layer of reflective metal formed on the polymer material.

7. The portable microscope defined in claim 2 including mounting means for selectively changing said end plate secured to said housing.

8. A portable microscope for inspecting a glass fiber of a fiber optic cable secured in a ferrule of a fiber optic connector, said microscope comprising:

an elongate enclosure having a magnifying channel with a head end and a viewing end;

a housing formed at the head end of said enclosure, said housing including an aperture for receiving a glass fiber in a ferrule;

a magnifying system mounted in the magnifying channel of said enclosure, said magnifying system including an adjustable focus lens positioned in said housing;

a battery powered light source mounted in said enclosure, said light source directing light into said housing;

an end plate secured to said housing to cover the aperture in said housing, said end plate including a threaded aperture aligned with the housing aperture, and said end plate including a reflective inner surface; and

a plurality of annular adapters, each adapter including a threaded outer surface for selectively securing one of the adapters in the threaded aperture of said end plate, and each adapter including a tubular aperture extending through said adapter and a concave reflection bowl formed on an inner surface of said adapter about the tubular aperture.

9. The portable microscope defined in claim 8, wherein the threaded aperture in said end plate is formed at an angle to the inner surface of said end plate.

10. The portable microscope defined in claim 8, wherein said end plate includes a plurality of threaded apertures for securing adapters, and said end plate is rotatably connected to said housing such that each threaded aperture and the adapter secured in such threaded aperture may be selectively aligned with the housing aperture by rotating said end plate.