Device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic component against contaminants

• US 6,599,033 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 07/29/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Infineon Technologies AG
• Inventors: Pohnke, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAK, SUNG H
• Application Number:
  US09/699,837
• Time in Patent Office: 1,002 Days
• Field of Search: 385/94, 385/92, 385/88, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/94
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 2006/4297 having protection means, e.g. protecting humans against accidental exposure to harmful laser radiation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44

Abstract

A device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic component against contaminants includes a sealing element having at least one open end to be introduced into at least one opening of the coupling unit. The at least one open end seals the at least one opening and at least one cavity adjoins the at least one open end. Preferably, the optoelectronic component is an optoelectronic transceiver and the at least one opening receives an optical plug or plug part. The device according to the invention ensures secure sealing of a coupling element and at the same time can be produced in a low-cost and simple way.

Claims

1. A device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic component against contaminants, the coupling unit having a first opening and a second opening formed therein, the device comprising:

a sealing element having;

a first open end introduced into the first opening for airtightly sealing the first opening;

a second open end introduced into the second opening for airtightly sealing the second opening; and

at least one cavity adjoining said first and second open ends when said first and second ends airtightly seal the first and second openings.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one cavity is a continuous cavity connecting said first open end and said second open end to each other.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said first open end and said second open end are adjacent; and

said at least one cavity is U-shaped and connects said first open end and said second open end to each other.

4. The device according to claim 2, wherein:

said first open end and said second open end are adjacent;

said at least one cavity is U-shaped and connects said first open end and said second open end to each other.

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first opening has a first sealing surface and the second opening has a second sealing surface;

said first open end and said second open end are hose-shaped; and

said first open end and said second open end respectively bear against the first sealing surface and the second sealing surface and thereby airtightly seal the first opening and the second opening with respect to an outside atmosphere.

6. The device according to claim 1, wherein:

said sealing element is a flexible hose having two ends; and

a first of said two ends is to be introduced into the first opening and a second of said two ends is to be introduced into the second opening.

7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said flexible hose is made of silicone rubber.

8. The device according to claim 6, wherein:

the optoelectronic component has tubular-shaped connection elements in each of the first opening and the second opening; and

each of said two ends of said flexible hose is to be slipped over a respective one of the connection elements.

9. The device according to claim 6, wherein:

the optoelectronic component has flange-shaped connection elements in each of the first opening and the second opening; and

each of said two ends of said flexible hose is to be slipped over a respective one of the connection elements.

10. The device according to claim 6, wherein:

said flexible hose is U-shaped; and

said two ends are disposed next to each other respectively in the first opening and the second opening.

11. The device according to claim 10, including a holding clip fastened to said flexible hose and fixing said flexible hose in said U-shape.

12. A device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic transceiver against contaminants, the coupling unit having a first opening and a second opening formed therein, the device comprising:

a sealing element having;

a first open end introduced into the first opening for airtightly sealing the first opening;

a second open end introduced into the second opening for airtightly sealing the second opening; and

at least one cavity adjoining said first and second open ends when said first and second ends airtightly seal the first and second openings.

13. A device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic transceiver against contaminants, the coupling unit having a first opening and a second opening formed therein for receiving one of an optical plug and a plug part, the device comprising:

a sealing element having;

a first open end introduced into the first opening for airtightly sealing the first opening;

a second open end introduced into the second opening for airtightly sealing the second opening; and

at least one cavity adjoining said first and second open ends when said first and second ends airtightly seal the first and second openings.

14. A device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic component against contaminants, the coupling unit defining at least one opening, the device comprising:

a sealing element having;

at least one open end to be introduced into at least one opening of the coupling unit, said at least one open end airtightly sealing the at least one opening; and

at least two cavity chambers, a first one of said at least two cavity chambers adjoining said at least one open end when said at least one open end airtightly seals the at least one opening; and

at least one membrane, said at least two cavity chambers each having a side remote from said at least one open end and being closed by said at least one membrane at said remote side.

15. A device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic component against contaminants, the coupling unit defining at least one opening, the device comprising:

a sealing element having;

at least one open end to be introduced into at least one opening of the coupling unit, said at least one open end airtightly sealing the at least one opening; and

at least two cavity chambers, a first one of said at least two cavity chambers adjoining said at least one open end when said at least one open end airtightly seals the at least one opening;

at least two membranes, said at least two cavity chambers each having a side remote from said at least one open end and being closed by a respective one of said at least two membranes at said remote side.

16. A device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic component against contaminants, the coupling unit defining at least one opening, the device comprising:

a sealing element having;

at least two open ends, at least one of said two open ends to be introduced into at least one opening of the coupling unit, said at least one open end airtightly sealing the at least one opening; and

at least two cavity chambers, a first one of said at least two cavity chambers adjoining a respective one of said at least two open ends when said at least one open end airtightly seals the at least one opening;

at least one membrane, said at least two cavity chambers each having a side remote from said at least two open ends and being closed by said at least one membrane at said remote side.

17. A device for sealing a coupling unit for an optoelectronic component against contaminants, the coupling unit defining at least one opening, the device comprising:

a sealing element having;

at least two open ends, at least one of said two open ends to be introduced into at least one opening of the coupling unit, said at least one open end airtightly sealing the at least one opening; and

at least two cavity chambers, a first one of said at least two cavity chambers adjoining a respective one of said at least two open ends when said at least one open end airtightly seals the at least one opening;

at least two membranes, said at least two cavity chambers each having a side remote from a respective one of said at least two open ends and being closed by a respective one of said at least two membranes at said remote side.