Microscope with end plate and adapter for viewing multi-fiber connectors

• US 6,466,366 B1
• Filed: 04/30/2001
• Issued: 10/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dominique, Jeffrey Michael
• Original Assignee: Dominique, Jeffrey Michael
• Inventors: Dominique, Jeffrey Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Spyrou, Cassandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): FINEMAN, LEE A
• Application Number:
  US09/845,876
• Time in Patent Office: 533 Days
• Field of Search: 359/384, 359/379, 359/391, 359/392, 359/394, 359/368, 359/385, 359/801, 359/804, 356/73.1, 651/58, 385/25, 385/90, 269/58
• US Class Current: 359/379
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0008 Microscopes having a simple construction, e.g. portable microscopes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 21/0016 Technical microscopes, e.g. for inspection or measuring in industrial production processes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising 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

Abstract

The portable microscope includes an end plate and pivotable adapter for improved inspection of multiple fiber optic cables in a single connector. The end plate is mounted on the head unit housing of the microscope. The adapter is mounted on a pivot cylinder extending from the end plate. The adapter includes a jig for receiving and retaining a connector. Each fiber optic cable in the connector can be inspected one at a time by pivoting the adapter so that each of the fiber optic cables is in view through the microscope. The adapter also includes an aperture which is positioned over the head of the fastener used to connect the end plate to the housing. The pivoting movement of the adapter is limited by the engagement of the aperture against the head of the fastener.

Claims

1. A portable microscope for inspecting one or more glass fibers secured in a fiber optic connector, said microscope comprising:

an elongate enclosure having a magnifying channel with a head end and viewing end elongated along a first axis;

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

a magnifying system mounted in the magnifying channel of said enclosure, said magnifying system including an adjustable focus lens positioned for viewing a fiber optic cable in the aperture of said housing;

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

an end plate secured to said housing adjacent the aperture, said end plate including a pivot cylinder extending from said end plate; and

an adapter pivotably connected to the pivot cylinder of said end plate along said first axis, and including a jig formed in said adapter for receiving a fiber optic connector with one or more glass fibers and extending from a lateral end of the adapter along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, said adapter being pivotable to selectively position each of the glass fibers for viewing through the adjustable focus lens.

2. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, wherein said adapter includes a cylindrical aperture formed in said adapter for receiving the pivot cylinder of said end plate.

3. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, wherein the pivot cylinder of said end plate includes an aperture at an end of the cylinder and a fastener to secure said adapter to the pivot cylinder of said end plate.

4. The portable microscope defined in claim 3, wherein the adapter includes a cylindrical aperture extending through the adapter, said cylindrical aperture including a wide end for receiving the pivot cylinder of the end plate and a narrow end for receiving the fastener, which secures the adapter to the pivot cylinder.

5. The portable microscope defined in claim 4, wherein said fastener includes a screw and a washer for securing the adapter to the pivot cylinder of the end plate.

6. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, including a fastener for connecting said end plate to said housing, said fastener having a head which extends above an outer surface of said end plate, and including an aperture formed in said adapter and positioned about the head of said fastener on the surface of said end plate, whereby the pivotal movement of said adapter is limited by the engagement of the aperture of said adapter against the head of said fastener.

7. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, including a fastener for connecting said end plate to said housing, said fastener having a head which extends above an outer surface of said end plate, and including an aperture extending through said adapter and positioned about the head of said fastener on the surface of said end plate, whereby the pivotal movement of said adapter is limited by the engagement of the aperture of said adapter against the head of said fastener and whereby the fastener is accessible through the aperture.

8. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, including a first fastener for connecting said end plate to said housing, said first fastener having a head which extends above an outer surface of said end plate, and including a first aperture extending through said adapter and positioned about the head of said first fastener on the surface of said end plate, whereby the pivotal movement of said adapter is limited by the engagement of the first aperture of said adapter against the head of said first fastener and whereby the fastener is accessible through the first aperture;

and including a second fastener and a second aperture extending through the adapter, the second aperture receiving the pivot cylinder of the end plate and the second fastener securing the adapter to the pivot cylinder.

9. The portable microscope defined in claim 8, wherein said second fastener includes a screw and a washer for securing the adapter to the pivot cylinder of the end plate.

10. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, wherein the jig of said adapter is designed to receive and retain an MTP type or an MT-RJ connector.

11. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, wherein the jig of said adapter is designed to receive and retain an LC type connector.

12. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, wherein the jig of said adapter is designed to receive and retain an MT-RJ 45 type connector.

13. The portable microscope defined in claim 1, wherein the jig of said adapter is designed to receive and retain a Volition VF-45 type connector.

14. A portable microscope for inspecting fiber optic connectors having one or more glass fibers secured in the fiber optic connector, said microscope comprising:

an elongate enclosure having a magnifying channel with a head end and viewing end elongated along a first axis;

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

a magnifying system mounted in the magnifying channel of said enclosure, said magnifying system including an adjustable focus lens positioned for viewing a fiber optic cable in the aperture of said housing;

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

an end plate secured to said housing adjacent the aperture, said end plate including a pivot cylinder extending from said end plate; and

a plurality of adapters, each adapter having an aperture for pivotably connecting the adapter to the pivot cylinder of said end plate along said first axis, and each adapter having a jig formed in said adapter for receiving a fiber optic connector and extending from a lateral end of the adapter along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis, whereby each adapter may be selectively connected to the pivot cylinder depending on the type of connector used to mount the fiber optic cables.