Adapter system usable in conjunction with a fiberoptic termination inspection microscope to inspect fiberoptic cable end connectors

• US 6,412,987 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 07/02/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Focus Strategies Capital Advisors LLC
• Original Assignee: Rifocs Corp. (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Boyer, Ronald G., Horwitz, Dennis N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HYEON, HAE M
• Application Number:
  US09/580,605
• Time in Patent Office: 763 Days
• Field of Search: 385/56, 359/385, 359/391, 359/393, 356/244, 356/440, 356/73.1
• US Class Current: 385/56
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0016 Technical microscopes, e.g. for inspection or measuring in industrial production processes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3833 Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
• 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 6/3894 Screw-lock type

Abstract

A plurality of different adapters for a fiberoptic termination inspection microscope which permits the microscope to be used with a plurality of cable connectors where each cable connector has one or more cable termini. The purpose of the microscope is to inspect a cable terminus to determine if such is clean and polished in order to insure low attenuation levels. If the cable terminus is dirty or scratched, the cable terminus can be replaced or repaired. An indicator can be used to disclose to the user exactly which cable terminus is being inspected.

Claims

1. In combination with a fiberoptic termination inspection microscope having a visual inspection window formed within a housing, a female adapter fixedly mounted on said housing, said female adapter located directly adjacent said visual inspection windows said female adapter having female engaging means, the improvement comprising:

a male adapter having male engaging means, said male engaging means to matingly connect with said female engaging means, said male adapter being disengagable from said female adapter disconnecting said male engaging means from said female engaging means, said male adapter having connection means for connecting with a fiberoptic cable terminus, whereby placement of said fiberoptic cable terminus in alignment with said visual inspection window permits observation by a user viewing through an eyepiece mounted on said housing;

said male adapter being in the form of a plate, said plate slidingly engaging with said female adapter; and

said plate has a first detent for fixing said plate in a first exact position relative to said female adapter when using of said microscope, said connection means to connect with a single fiberoptic cable terminus.

2. In combination with a fiberoptic termination inspection microscope having a visual inspection window formed within a housing, a female adapter fixedly mounted on said housing, said female adapter located directly adjacent said visual inspection window, said female adapter having female engaging means, the improvement comprising:

a male adapter having male engaging means, said male engaging means to matingly connect with said female engaging means, said male adapter being disengagable from said female adapter disconnecting said male engaging means from said female engaging means, said male adapter having connection means for connecting with a fiberoptic cable terminus, whereby placement of said fiberoptic cable terminus in alignment with said visual inspection window permits observation by a user viewing through an eyepiece mounted on said housing;

said male adapter being in the form of a plate, said plate slidingly engaging with said female adapter; and

said connection means for connecting with a plurality of fiberoptic cable termini, said male adapter being adjustable to different positions, indicator means mounted on said male adapter, said indicator means for indicating to a user exactly which position of said different positions said male adapter is located informing the user exactly which said fiberoptic terminus is being observed by said inspection means.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein:

said fiberoptic cable termini being arranged in a specific arrangement, said male adapter including a replica of said specific arrangement, positioning of said indicator means at a particular location within said replica will inform the user that the corresponding fiberoptic cable terminus is in alignment with said visual inspection window of said microscope.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein:

said indicator means includes an illumination device.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said illumination device comprising said light emitting diode.

6. The combination as defined in claim 4 wherein:

said illumination device also functioning as a detent mechanism for looking onto said particular location.

7. An adapter system for installing a fiberoptic cable terminus onto a microscope housing comprising:

a female adapter fixedly mounted on the microscope housing, said female adapter surrounding a visual inspection window of the microscope;

a male adapter removably engagable with said female adapter, said male adapter having connection means for removably connecting with the fiberoptic cable terminus, whereby placement of the fiberoptic cable terminus in alignment with the visual inspection window permits observation by the user viewing through an eyepiece on the microscope housing;

said male adapter being in the form of a plate, said plate slidingly engaging with said female adapter; and

said plate has a first detent for fixing said plate in a first exact position relative to said female adapter when using of said microscope, said connection means to connect with a single fiberoptic cable terminus.

8. An adapter system for installing a fiberoptic cable terminus onto a microscope housing comprising:

a female adapter fixedly mounted on the microscope housing, said female adapter surrounding a visual inspection window of the microscope;

a male adapter removably engagable with said female adapter, said male adapter having connection means for removably connecting with the fiberoptic cable terminus, whereby placement of the fiberoptic cable terminus in alignment with the visual inspection window permits observation by the user viewing through an eyepiece on the microscope housing;

said male adapter being in the form of a plate, said plate slidingly engaging with said female adapter; and

said connection means for connecting with a plurality of fiberoptic cable termini, said male adapter being adjustable to different positions, indicator means mounted on said male adapter, said indicator means for indicating to a user exactly which position of said different positions said male adapter is located informing the user exactly which fiberoptic cable terminus is being observed by said inspection microscope.

9. The combination as defined in claim 8 wherein:

the fiberoptic cable termini being arranged in a specific arrangement, said male adapter including a replica of said specific arrangement, positioning of said indicating means at a particular location within said replica will inform the user that the corresponding fiberoptic cable terminus is in alignment with said visual inspection window of said microscope.

10. The combination as defined in claim 9 wherein:

said indicator means includes an illumination device.