Method for performing fixing inside a container for optical connection components

• US 6,269,212 B1
• Filed: 09/17/1998
• Issued: 07/31/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Avanex Corporation (Oclaro (North America), Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Pirelli Cavi e Sistemi S.P.A. (Prysmian SPA)
• Inventors: Schiattone, Francesco
• Primary Examiner(s): Font, Frank G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Sang H.
• Application Number:
  US09/154,582
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 385/134, 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/138, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/135
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices

Abstract

Method for performing fixing inside a container for optical connection components, comprising the step of manufacturing a protective packaging from elastomeric material encapsulating at least one optical connection component, inserting said packaging containing said at least one component inside said container, and closing the container itself.

Claims

1. A method for performing fixing inside a container for optical connection components, comprising the steps of:

manufacturing a protective packaging from an elastomeric material encapsulating at least one optical connection component, the manufacturing including inserting an optical connection component into a mould of suitable shape for subsequent positioning of said packaging in the container, filling the mould with a packaging material in a fluid state, cross-linking the packaging material with the optical connection component inside, and extracting said protective packaging from the mould;

inserting said packaging containing said at least one optical connection component inside said container; and

closing the container.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of inserting an optical connection component comprises:

binding, by interlocking engagement, the packaging containing the optical connection component into the container.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of filling the mould is performed by injection moulding of the packaging material in the fluid state.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of filling the mould is performed by casting the packaging material in the fluid state.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material forming said packaging is a resin having at least one of a cross-linking temperature of lower than 80°

C., an operating temperature range of between −

40°

C. and +85°

C., and a Shore hardness factor A of less than 40.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material forming the packaging is a silicone resin cross-linking at ambient temperature.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said elastomeric material forming the packaging is a silicone acrylic resin cross-linking at ambient temperature.

8. A container for optical connection components, comprising:

a base having a packaging and an optical connection component, the packaging being made of elastomeric material and having at least one seat to removably insert an additional optical connection component;

a lid for the container;

means for closing the container; and

means for fixing the packaging arranged between said base and said lid.

9. The container according to claim 8, wherein said fixing means are of an interlocking type.

10. The container according to claim 8, wherein said base has a substantially semi-circular shape including a straight side and comprises a vertical rim substantially along the entire perimeter thereof, two openings allowing a plurality of fibers to enter and leave the container in the vicinity of both ends of the straight side in the rim, and a plurality of elements along the rim for guiding the fibers along an obligatory peripheral path inside each element.

11. The container according to claim 10, wherein said lid comprises a vertical rim, along an entire perimeter thereof, matching the corresponding rim of the base.

12. The container according to claim 8, wherein said packaging comprises:

a rear portion incorporating therein said optical connection component;

a front portion having said at least one seat on an upper surface thereof; and

a central portion in which means for fixing the packaging to the container are arranged.

13. The container according to claim 12, wherein said incorporated optical connection component is arranged transversely in the rear portion, and said at least one seat is arranged transversely over an entire width of the packaging in the front portion and on the upper surface.

14. The container according to claim 13, wherein said at least one seat comprises a recess with a rounded and widened bottom for comfortably housing at least one additional component, said recess having a narrow upper part for inserting with pressure and securely fixing the at least one additional component therein.

15. The container according to claim 14 wherein the optical connection component incorporated in the rear part of the packaging is a planar optics divider and the at least one additional component removably inserted in the seats is an optical junction or a fused-fiber coupler or an optical attenuator.

16. The container according to claim 8, wherein said means for closing the container and said fixing means for the packaging comprise:

a pedestal in a central zone of the base, the pedestal having a substantially rectangular shape for resting the packaging on the base;

two vertical cylindrical pins which are centrally holed and arranged alongside one another on the pedestal;

a locating element positioned on a bottom surface of the lid for locating the upper surface of the packaging with a shape and dimensions corresponding to those of the pedestal and two holes aligned in a position corresponding to that of the pins; and

two aligned through-holes arranged on the packaging in a central portion opposite the pins on the base.

17. The container according to claim 8, wherein said means for closing the container and said means for fixing the packaging comprise:

a lug in the central zone of the base, the lug having a substantially rectangular shape with short sides thereof rounded;

two vertical, centrally holed, cylindrical pins arranged alongside one another on the sides of the lug;

a locating element on the bottom surface of the lid having a shape and dimensions corresponding to those of the lug and two holes aligned in a position corresponding to that of the pins;

a through-opening on the packaging in the central portion, the through-opening having a shape and dimensions equivalent to those of the lug on the base; and

two vertical aligned recesses located opposite each other on the sides of the packaging and arranged opposite the pins on the base.

18. A device for fixing to a container and for protection of optical connection components, comprising:

a packaging made of elastomeric material, the packaging comprising;

at least one seat for removable insertion of an optical protection component;

a rear portion incorporating inside optical connection component;

a front portion having at least one seat on its upper surface; and

a central portion;

at least one optical connection component incorporated therein; and

means for fixing the packaging to said container arranged in the central portion of the packaging.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein said means for fixing to a container are of an interlocking type.

20. The device according to claim 18, wherein said incorporated optical connection component is arranged transversely in the rear portion and said at least one seat is arranged transversely over the entire width of the packaging in the front portion and on the upper surface.

21. The device according to claim 20, wherein the optical connection component incorporated in the rear part of the packaging is a planar optics splitter and the at least one optical protection component removably inserted in the seats is one of an optical junction, a fused-fiber coupler, and an optical attenuator.

22. The device according to claim wherein said at least one seat comprises a recess with a rounded and widened bottom for comfortably housing the at least one optical protection component, said recess having a narrow upper part for inserting with pressure and securely fixing the component therein.

23. A method for manufacturing a protective packaging to affix a plurality of fibers inside a container for optical connection components, comprising:

inserting at least one of the optical connection components into a mould having a shape of the protective packaging;

filling the mould with a packaging material in a fluid state, which is made of elastomeric material;

cross-linking the packaging material with the at least one optical connection component to make the protective packaging; and

extracting the protective packaging from the mould.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the inserting step comprises binding the protective packaging by creating an interlocking engagement.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the filling step comprises one of an injection moulding process and a casting process.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the elastomeric material is a resin having at least one of a cross-linking temperature of lower than 80°

C., an operating temperature range of between −

40°

C. and +85°

C., and a Shore hardness factor A of less than 40.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein the elastomeric material is one of a silicone resin cross-linking at ambient temperature and a silicone acrylic resin cross-linking at ambient temperature.

28. A container for optical connection components, comprising:

a base having a packaging and an optical connection component, the packaging being made of elastomeric material and having at least one seat to removably insert at least one optical connection component, the base having a plurality of first fixing elements to affix the packaging; and

a lid having a configuration corresponding to the base and a corresponding plurality of second fixing elements to interlock with the plurality of first fixing elements.