Multi-fiber optical connect
First Claim
1. An optical connector, comprising:
- a first block having a channel for accommodating a first optical cable;
a second block having a channel for accommodating a second optical cable in optical communication with the first optical cable;
three spacers, each positioned between the first and second blocks and adapted to engage both blocks when the blocks are pressed against each other by a biasing force in a first direction, the three spacers being positioned and adapted to balance substantially the entire biasing force; and
a plurality of limiters arranged to constrain relative motion between any portion of the first block and any portion of the second block in all directions transverse to the first direction.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An optical connector comprises a first block having a channel for accommodating a first set of optical cables and a second block having a channel for accommodating a second set of optical cables. Each block has three protrusions, each adapted to be engaged to a respective one of the three protrusions from the other block in an end-to-end fashion and having a channel for accommodating one of the optical cables. The connector further comprises a spring biasing the two blocks to maintain the end-to-end engagement a longitudinal direction between the protrusions three spacers. The connector also includes limiter disk having three slots arranged in a Y-pattern, each slot width-wise closely fitting an opposing pair of the protrusions. The limiter disk thus constrains the relative shifting or rotation between the two blocks in any direction transverse to the longitudinal direction. The connector further includes a fastener attached to the two blocks for securing the two blocks together. A kinematic support is thus provided for stable optical connection across an optical connector.
121 Citations
27 Claims
-
1. An optical connector, comprising:
-
a first block having a channel for accommodating a first optical cable; a second block having a channel for accommodating a second optical cable in optical communication with the first optical cable; three spacers, each positioned between the first and second blocks and adapted to engage both blocks when the blocks are pressed against each other by a biasing force in a first direction, the three spacers being positioned and adapted to balance substantially the entire biasing force; and a plurality of limiters arranged to constrain relative motion between any portion of the first block and any portion of the second block in all directions transverse to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An optical system, comprising:
-
a first optical cable; a first block having a channel for accommodating the first optical cable; a second optical cable; a second block having a channel for accommodating the second optical cable such that the second optical cable is in optical communication with the first optical cable; three spacers, each positioned between the first and second blocks and engaging both blocks when the blocks are pressed against each other by a biasing force in a first direction, the three spacers being positioned and adapted to balance substantially the entire biasing force; and a plurality of limiters arranged to constrain relative motion between any portion of the first block and any portion of the second block in all directions transverse to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
-
-
22. A method for coupling optical cables, the method comprising:
-
securing a first optical cable to a first block; securing a second optical cable to a second block; biasing the first block against the second block in a first direction at three locations while engaging an end of the first optical cable to an end of the second optical cable in one of the three locations; and constraining the relative movement between the first and second blocks in directions transverse to the first direction. - View Dependent Claims (23)
-
-
24. An optical connector, comprising:
-
a first block having three protrusions; a second block having three protrusion; means for securing a first optical cable through one of the protrusions on the first block; means for securing a second optical cable through one of the protrusions on the second block in optical communication with the first optical cable; a resilient member adapted to bias the first and second blocks toward each other; a fastener having a first portion attached to the first block and a second portion attached to the second portion, the two portions being adapted to be connected to each other to maintain the two blocks biased toward each other; and means for aligning the three protrusions on the first block respectively to the three protrusions on the second block.
-
-
25. An optical connector, comprising:
-
a first block having an opening for accommodating and securing a first optical cable; and a second block having an opening for accommodating and securing a second optical cable in optical communication with the first optical cable, the first block and second block being configured to be connected in an essentially kinematic engagement for establishing a stable contact between an end of the first optical cable and an end of the second optical cable. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
-
Specification