Optical fiber connector

• US 5,946,437 A
• Filed: 07/26/1995
• Issued: 08/31/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Miyachi Corporation (Amada Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: Miyachi Corporation (Amada Company Limited)
• Inventors: Uchida, Takahiro, Akasawa, Keiichiro
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US08/507,723
• Time in Patent Office: 1,497 Days
• Field of Search: 385/38, 385/53, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/84, 385/70, 385/72, 385/139, 385/140
• US Class Current: 385/77
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3813 for transmission of high energy beam coupling high energy sources and light guides G02B6/4296
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4296 coupling with sources of high radiant energy, e.g. high power lasers, high temperature light sources

Abstract

An optical fiber connector having a heat resisting spacer sleeve covering the exposed end portion without covering member of optical fiber. The outer end surface of said spacer sleeve is inclined with respect to axial direction of the optical fiber, the inclined end surface being made so as to diffuse any high-power laser beam portion diverted from the end surface of optical fiber and reaching on said end surface. At least outer end surface of the spacer sleeve and its inner surface opposed to the optical fiber are made such as to diffuse high-power laser beam. The optical fiber and inner surface of the spacer sleeve opposed thereto are opposed directly to each other without any intermediate substance therebetween.

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector having a heat resisting spacer sleeve formed from opaque material covering the exposed end portion of optical fiber with covering member removed, characterized in that:

the outer end surface of said spacer sleeve is inclined with respect to axial direction of said optical fiber to form a concave surface outwardly,

at least said inclined outer end surface of said spacer sleeve and its inner surface opposed to said optical fiber are matt-finished such as to diffuse high-power laser beam diverted from the end surface of optical fiber and reaching on said surface; and

and optical fiber and inner surface of said spacer sleeve opposed thereto are opposed directly to each other without any intermediate substance.

2. The optical fiber connector of claim 1 wherein said opaque material is zirconia, alumina or mica ceramics.

3. An optical fiber connector having a heat resisting spacer sleeve formed from transparent or translucent material covering the exposed end portion of optical fiber with covering member removed, characterized in that:

the outer end surface of said spacer sleeve is inclined with respect to axial direction of said optical fiber to form a concave surface outwardly,

at least said inclined outer end surface of said spacer sleeve and its inner surface opposed to said optical fiber are matt-finished such as to diffuse high-power laser beam diverted from the end surface of optical fiber and reaching on said surface; and

said optical fiber and inner surface of said spacer sleeve opposed thereto are opposed directly to each other without any intermediate substance.

4. The optical fiber connector of claim 3 wherein said transparent or translucent material is quartz glass having lower refractive index than that of said optical fiber clad or ordinary glass.