Translucent dust cap and associated method for testing the continuity of an optical fiber jumper

• US 6,554,485 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2000
• Issued: 04/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Knecht, Dennis M., Beatty, John W., Merriken, James R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stafira, Michael P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Valentin, II, Juan D
• Application Number:
  US09/658,355
• Time in Patent Office: 960 Days
• Field of Search: 385/78, 385/88, 385/53, 385/70-76, 385/139, 385/134
• US Class Current: 385/72
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3867 comprising air venting holes
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4204 the coupling comprising intermediate optical elements, e.g. lenses, holograms encapsulated active devices H01S5/02208, H01L33/52

Abstract

A dust cap is provided that includes a translucent end member that permits optical communication while the dust cap remains mounted upon a ferrule. The dust cap includes a sleeve having an open first end and an opposed second end that is closed by the translucent end member. The end member can also include a lens to facilitate optical communication. A medial portion of the sleeve can also define an internal chamfer that extends radially inward for engaging the ferrule such that the front face of the ferrule is spaced from the second end of the sleeve, thereby preventing contaminants from being transferred from the second end of the sleeve to the polished front face of the ferrule. The dust cap can also define a groove extending lengthwise through only a portion of the sleeve, i.e., from the first end of the sleeve to a medial portion of the sleeve. The groove therefore permits air to vent from the bore while the dust cap is being mounted upon the ferrule, while isolating the front face of the ferrule from the external environment once the dust cap has been fully mounted, thereby protecting the polished front face of the ferrule from contaminants that may enter the groove. A method is also provided for testing the continuity of an optical fiber jumper that utilizes optical communications conducted through the translucent dust caps.

Claims

1. A method for testing continuity of an optical fiber jumper, the method comprising:

providing the optical fiber jumper comprising at least one optical fiber, first and second fiber optic connectors including respective ferrules mounted upon opposed ends of said at least one optical fiber, and at least one dust cap having a translucent end member mounted upon a respective ferrule;

introducing light into one end of the at least one optical fiber; and

monitoring the light emitted by the other end of the at least one optical fiber to thereby check the continuity of the optical fiber jumper,

wherein said introducing and monitoring are performed while the at least one dust cap is mounted upon the respective ferrule.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein providing the optical fiber jumper comprises providing an optical fiber jumper having first and second dust caps with translucent end members mounted upon the ferrules of the first and second fiber optic connectors, respectively.

3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the end member of each dust cap comprises a lens, and wherein introducing light comprises focusing light into one end of the at least one optical fiber.

4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the end member of each dust cap comprises a lens, and wherein monitoring the emitted light comprises expanding the light emitted by the other end of the at least one optical fiber.