Modular, variably configurable retainer assembly for optical components

• US 6,701,056 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2002
• Issued: 03/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wave Splitter Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Wave Splitter Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Mock, George Edwin, Burek, Denis Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, TULSIDAS C
• Application Number:
  US10/038,486
• Publication Number:
  US 20030123834A1
• Time in Patent Office: 790 Days
• Field of Search: 385/135, 385/136, 385/137, 385/134
• US Class Current: 385/137
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4454 with splices
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4471 Terminating devices demountable connectors G02B6/3807; Cable clamps

Abstract

A variably configurable and modular retainer for various discrete optical components (such as passive optical elements and mass fusion splices) is provided by a substantially planar base having an optical component support surface. Complementary finger pairs extend upwardly from the base. Each finger is disposed in an opposing arrangement with the other finger in the finger pair and is provided with an inner and outer surface. The respective opposing inner surfaces (each having a slightly concave profile) define an optical component receiving area that is sized and shaped to accommodate an optical component or splice. Each finger pair is resilient and laterally biased with a normal bias such that the inner surfaces are urged laterally inwardly and being movably outwardly for interlockingly engaging an optical component using snap-fit. The optical component may be thereby retained against the support surface of the base.

Claims

1. A modular retainer assembly, comprising a plurality of optical component retainers, each retainer comprising:

a substantially planar base;

upstanding complementary finger pairs extending from the base, and

wherein each finger in the finger pair is provided with an inner and outer surface, the respective opposing inner surfaces defining an optical component receiving area that is sized to accommodate an optical component, each finger pair comprising flexible laterally biased finger pairs being normally biased with the inner surfaces urged laterally inwardly and being moveably outwardly for interlockingly engaging an optical component so as to retain the optical component in a snap-fit manner;

side structures disposed adjacent to the base; and

at least one connective element disposed on the side structures for forming a selectively engagable interconnection with a complementary connective element on an adjacent retainer in the modular retainer assembly thereby to configure the modular retainer assembly in a variably configurable array, wherein the fingers are arranged in a substantially rectangular grid and the side structures extend longitudinally along the base and parallel to the grid.

2. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the base includes an optical component support surface and the finger pairs are arranged to retain the optical component substantially against the support surface.

3. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the at least one connective element comprises a plurality of connective elements, each element having a first and secondary complementary members.

4. The modular retainer assembly of claim 3 wherein the first complementary members are disposed in a staggered configuration on respective side structures.

5. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the fingers are arranged to register optical components within a substantially planar spatial array that thereby facilitates interconnection of the optical components as an optical circuit.

6. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the base is substantially rectangular in plan.

7. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the side structure, fingers, interconnectors are integrally formed with the base in a unitary structure.

8. The modular retainer assembly of claim 7 wherein the unitary structure is formed from a thermoplastic material using an injection molding process.

9. The modular retainer assembly of claim 8 wherein the thermoplastic material is polycarbonate.

10. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the grid is arranged as M×

N rectangular array.

11. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the modular retainer is arranged to be stackable.

12. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical component is a coupler.

13. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical component is a mass fusion splice.

14. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical component is an isolator.

15. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical component is a wavelength division multiplexer.

16. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the optical component is a combiner.

17. The modular retainer assembly of claim 1 wherein the modular retainer retains a plurality of optical components in a spatial relationship to form an optical circuit.

18. The modular retainer assembly of claim 17 wherein the optical circuit is an interleaver.

19. The modular retainer assembly of claim 17 wherein the optical circuit is a deinterleaver.

20. The modular retainer assembly of claim 17 wherein the optical circuit is a multiplexer.

21. The modular retainer assembly of claim 17 wherein the optical circuit is a demultiplexer.

22. A modular retainer assembly, comprising a plurality of optical component retainers, each retainer comprising:

a substantially planar base;

upstanding complementary finger pairs extending from the base, and

wherein each finger in the finger pair is provided with an inner and outer surface, the respective opposing inner surfaces defining an optical component receiving area that is sized to accommodate an optical component, each finger pair comprising flexible laterally biased finger pairs being normally biased with the inner surfaces urged laterally inwardly and being moveably outwardly for interlockingly engaging an optical component so as to retain the optical component in a snap-fit manner;

side structures disposed adjacent to the base; and

at least one connective element disposed on the side structures for forming a selectively engagable interconnection with a complementary connective element on an adjacent retainer in the modular retainer assembly thereby to configure the modular retainer assembly in a variably configurable array;

stops disposed at the periphery of the base and in line with a center line of the opposing fingers to prevent excessive axial movement of an optical element once retained by the fingers against the base.

23. The modular retainer assembly of claim 22 wherein the base includes an optical component support surface and the finger pairs are arranged to retain the optical component substantially against the support surface.

24. The modular retainer assembly of claim 22 wherein the at least one connective element comprises a plurality of connective elements, each element having a first and secondary complementary members.

25. The modular retainer assembly of claim 24 wherein the first complementary members are disposed in a staggered configuration on respective side structures.

26. The modular retainer assembly of claim 22 wherein the fingers are arranged to register optical components within a substantially planar spatial array that thereby facilitates interconnection of the optical components as an optical circuit.

27. The modular retainer assembly of claim 22 wherein the base is substantially rectangular in plan.

28. The modular retainer assembly of claim 22 wherein the side structure, fingers, interconnectors are integrally formed with the base in a unitary structure.

29. The modular retainer assembly of claim 28 wherein the unitary structure is formed from a thermoplastic material using an injection molding process.

30. The modular retainer assembly of claim 29 wherein the thermoplastic material is polycarbonate.

31. The modular retainer assembly of claim 22 wherein the modular retainer is arranged to be stackable.

32. A method of assembling a planar array of modular optical component retainers, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a modular retainer comprising a substantially planar base, upstanding fingers extending from the base, each having a inner and outer surface, the respective inner surfaces defining an optical component receiving area that is sized to accommodate an optical component and side structures disposed adjacent to the base including at least one male side structure and at least one opposing female side structure, the male side structure and female side structure for forming a selectively engagable interconnection with an adjacent retainer to thereby configure the modular retainer assembly in variable planar array arrangements;

positioning the side structures of another modular retainer in proximity to corresponding side structure on the modular retainer in a side-by-side planar arrangement so that a male side structure of the other modular retainer is received by the corresponding female side structure of the modular retainer; and

slidably engaging the side structures to secure the modular retainers into the planar array.

33. A planar array of modular optical component retainers, comprising:

at least first and second modular retainers, each of said modular retainers comprising a substantially planar base, upstanding fingers extending from the base, each having a inner and outer surface, the respective inner surfaces defining an optical component receiving area that is sized to accommodate an optical component and side structures disposed adjacent to the base including at least one male side structure and at least one opposing female side structure, the male side structure and female side structure being configured to form a selectively engagable interconnection with an adjacent retainer to thereby configure the modular retainer assembly in variable planar array arrangements;

wherein the side structures of the first modular retainer are slidably engaged with the side structures of the second modular retainer to secure the modular retainers into the planar array.

34. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 33 wherein the base of each modular retainer includes an optical component support surface and the finger pairs are arranged to retain the optical component substantially against the support surface.

35. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 34 wherein the male side structure includes an interlocking tab extending laterally from the male side structure and the female side structure includes a mating slot arranged to mate with an interlocking tab of an adjacent retainer in selectively engagable interconnection therewith.

36. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 33 wherein the fingers of each modular retainer are arranged to register optical components within a substantially planar spatial array that thereby facilitates interconnection of the optical components as an optical circuit.

37. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 33 wherein the base of each modular retainer is substantially rectangular in plan.

38. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 33 wherein the side structure, fingers, interconnectors of each modular retainer are integrally formed with the base in a unitary structure.

39. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 38 wherein the unitary structure is formed from a thermoplastic material using an injection molding process.

40. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 39 wherein the thermoplastic material is polycarbonate.

41. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 33 wherein each of the modular retainers is arranged to be stackable.

42. The planar array of modular optical component retainers of claim 33 wherein each modular retainer further includes stops disposed at the periphery of the base and in line with a center line of the opposing fingers to prevent excessive axial movement of an optical element once retained by the fingers against the base.