Optical connection verification apparatus and method

• US 6,733,186 B2
• Filed: 09/27/2001
• Issued: 05/11/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xieon Networks S.A.R.L. (Infinera Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc. (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Pfleger, Franz
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAHM, SARAH UH YOUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/965,445
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059171A1
• Time in Patent Office: 957 Days
• Field of Search: 385/55, 385/58, 385/70, 385/75, 385/88, 385/101, 385/123-128, 385/139, 385/12, 385/53, 439/577, 250/227.11
• US Class Current: 385/75
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02 Optical fibres with cladding with or without a coating
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02395 Glass optical fibre with a protective coating, e.g. two layer polymer coating deposited directly on a silica cladding surface during fibre manufacture G02B6/02052, G02B6/02057, G02B6/024, G02B6/032, G02B6/105, G02B6/14 take precedence; coating on fibre gratings G02B6/02104; multilayer core or cladding G02B6/036; reinforcing splice joints G02B6/2558; optical cables, i.e. comprising protective structures external to the protective coating such as a jacket or plural coated optical fibres G02B6/44; coating of glass to obtain optical fibres C03C25/104
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4293 hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals

Abstract

A fiber-optic cable includes a conductive coating formed around an optical fiber. The conductive coating may be in the shape of a band or ring located at a terminal end of the fiber, or may extend along the entire length of the fiber or a portion thereof. For protection purposes, the fiber is covered with a buffer made from a plastic or polymer. The fiber-optic cable may be attached to a plug or receptacle of a connector. Preferably, the cable is attached to the plug. Under these circumstances, the receptacle would be equipped with a verification circuit for confirming that the plug has been properly installed into the receptacle housing. An electronic device may be used to alert a user as to whether proper installation has occurred. In addition to providing an indication that an optical connection has been made, the conductive coating may be adapted to carry electrical signals. In this way, the fiber-optic cable would operate as an electrical transmission line and an optical transmission line.

Claims

1. A fiber-optic cable connection, comprising:

a first connector part including an optical fiber, said optical fiber including a terminal end having a conductive coating; and

a second connector part adapted to mate with said first connector part, said second connector part having a verification circuit that verifies said first connector part and said second connector part have been connected using said conductive coating.

2. The fiber-optic cable connection of claim 1, wherein said verification circuit includes a contact element within said second connector part disposed at a position which coincides with a location of said conductive coating when said first connector part is connected to said second connector part.

3. The fiber-optic cable connection of claim 2, wherein said conductive coating is located at only a terminal end of said optical fiber.

4. The fiber-optic cable connection of claim 2, wherein said conductive coating extends a length of said optical fiber.

5. The fiber-optic cable connection of claim 2, wherein said verification circuit further includes an electronic device that indicates when said contact element touches said conductive coating.

6. The fiber-optic cable connection of claim 5, wherein said electronic device is located in a housing of said second connector part.

7. The fiber-optic cable connection of claim 5, wherein said electronic device is located in a housing to which said second connector part is connected.

8. The fiber-optic cable connection of claim 5, wherein said electronic device includes one of a light-emitting diode and an audible alarm.

9. The fiber-optic cable connection of claim 5, wherein said verification circuit includes a power source for activating said electronic device, said power source being located in one of said second connector part and a device connector to said first connector part.

10. The fiber-optic cable connector of claim 5, wherein said conductive coating carries electrical signals from a first electronic device connected to said first connector part to a second electronic device connected to said second connector part.

11. The fiber-optic cable connector of claim 2, wherein said contact element is a ring electrode.

12. The fiber-optic cable connector of claim 2, wherein said contact element includes at least two electrodes.

13. A method for verifying an optical connection, comprising:

providing a first connector part coupled to an optical fiber, said optical fiber having a terminal end with a conductive coating;

providing a second connector part having a contact element, said contact element disposed at a position which coincides with said conductive coating of said optical fiber when said first connector part and said second connector part are mated; and

outputting a verification signal when said contact element touches said conductive coating.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

activating an electronic device based on said verification signal.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said electronic device includes one of a light-emitting diode and an audible alarm.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

transmitting optical signals along said conductive coating between two electronic devices.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein at least one of said electronic devices is a network element.

18. A fiber-optic cable connection tester, comprising:

a connector part adapted to mate with an optical fiber that includes a terminal end having a conductive coating, said connector part having a verification circuit that verifies that said connector part and said optical fiber have been connected using said conductive coating.

19. The fiber-optic cable connection tester of claim 18, wherein said verification circuit includes a contact element within said connector part disposed at a position which coincides with a location of said conductive coating when said connector part and said optical fiber have been connected.

20. The fiber-optic cable connection tester of claim 19, wherein said verification circuit includes an electronic device that indicates when said contact element touches said conductive coating.

21. The fiber-optic cable connection tester of claim 20, wherein said electronic device is located in a housing of said connector part.

22. The fiber-optic cable connection tester of claim 20, wherein said electronic device is located in a housing to which said connector part is connected.

23. The fiber-optic cable connection tester of claim 20, wherein said electronic device includes one of a light-emitting diode and an audible alarm.

24. The fiber-optic cable connection tester of claim 20, wherein said verification circuit includes a power source for activating said electronic device.

25. A method for making an optical connection, comprising:

providing a first connector part coupled to an optical fiber, said optical fiber having a terminal end with a conductive coating;

providing a second connector part having a contact element, said contact element disposed at a position which coincides with said conductive coating of said optical fiber when said first connector part and said second connector part are mated; and

providing an electronic device within said second connector part that indicates when said contact element touches said conductive coating.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein said electronic device is one of a light-emitting diode and an audible alarm.