Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-13
2001-05-22
Ullah, Akm E. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234685
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a connector for fiber optic cable, and, more particularly, to a fiber optic connector that can be readily installed in the field without the need for epoxy or anaerobic adhesives.
Optical fiber connectors and splices are an essential part of optical fiber communications systems. Connectors may be used to join lengths of optical fiber into longer lengths, or to connect optical fiber to active devices such as radiation sources, detectors, repeaters, or to passive devices such as switches or attenuators.
Many prior art connectors use adhesives or epoxies in securing connector components. For example, a typical connector includes a ferrule piece rigidly attached to a connector body. Adhesive is injected into a longitudinal bore of the ferrule. A cable is received into the connector body with the stripped fiber projecting along the longitudinal bore of the ferrule and is cemented therein by the adhesive. This adhesive typically must be heat cured. As such, heat curing ovens are needed in the field where the connectors are being installed and a source of power for the ovens must be available. The adhesive wicks and adheres to the fiber, the ferrule, the connector body, and other connector parts to permanently secure the connector components to one another.
Other known connectors include quick-connect type designs having a fiber stub disposed within the connector and a grooved insert for splicing fiber ends. One known design includes a split cylinder with an expanded metal split sleeve which is spread open by a pair of wires. Removal of the wires collapses the sleeve over two non-compliant inserts to capture the fibers. Another approach uses a cam ring to compress two non-compliant inserts. While these approaches seem to work well with larger connectors, such as the ST and SC, due to the physical size of the internal components, the design does not appear to be compatible with smaller connectors, such as the LC.
There is a growing demand for a fiber optic connector of smaller size that is simple to install or assemble in a field setting. In particular, where single connectors are installed such as at a wall outlet, there is a growing resistance to the use of epoxies that require special heat-curing ovens to facilitate solidification, and, in general, to the use of chemicals such as anaerobic adhesives.
Accordingly, what is sought is a fiber optic connector that can be easily installed or assembled without the use of epoxies, adhesives, or polishing. Thereby, eliminating the time and tools needed to heat cure adhesives and polish fibers in the field.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Certain advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in the description that follows and will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned with the practice of the invention.
The present invention is generally directed to a fiber optic connector that can be installed in the field without the use of any adhesive or epoxy, or the need to polish the fiber in the field. The connector includes a housing with a barrel, having a malleable portion, disposed therein. The barrel is formed as a unitary piece having two portions, a barrel body and a barrel extension, axially aligned with one another. A ferrule supporting a fiber stub is disposed on an end of the barrel body opposing the barrel extension such that the fiber stub extends into the barrel body. A two-part insert, comprising a compliant portion and a support portion, is arranged and configured within the barrel body to receive the fiber stub supported by the ferrule and a field inserted fiber. The support portion of the insert includes a groove to position and align the fibers. The compliant portion of the insert acts as a load transfer member when the barrel is compressed. The housing includes an aperture through which the barrel is accessible.
The invention can be viewed as providing a method for installing a fiber optic connector without using adhesives or requiring polishing in the field. In this regard, the method can be broadly summarized by the following steps. A preferred two part insert having a compliant portion and a support portion is inserted into a deformable barrel. A ferrule containing a pre-polished fiber stub is press-fitted to the barrel with the fiber stub extending partially into the insert. The barrel, including the insert and fiber stub ferrule, is disposed in a housing. The housing includes at least one aperture disposed therein such that the barrel is accessible through the aperture. A fiber is inserted into the insert via the barrel until the fiber contacts the fiber stub. Finally, the barrel can be contacted by any suitable member that can access the barrel through the aperture disposed in the housing. The barrel is preferably supported adjacent the support portion while a portion of the barrel adjacent the compliant portion is deformed. Pressure is applied to the barrel and the barrel deformed until the compliant portion deforms to trap the field inserted fiber and the fiber stub in the groove of the rigid insert. Preferably, but not necessarily simultaneously, a portion of the barrel extension extending beyond the housing is contacted by another portion of the tool and deformed to grip the buffered fiber therein.
Advantageously, a technician can join and secure the optical fibers in the insert and the barrel to the fiber buffer. Thereby, the optical fiber can be connected to a pre-polished fiber stub fixed within the barrel insert. Thus, the connector can be installed on an optical fiber in the field without the use of adhesive or epoxy or field polishing.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5261019 (1993-11-01), Beard et al.
patent: 5293582 (1994-03-01), Beard et al.
patent: 5768455 (1998-06-01), Konik
patent: 6000858 (1999-12-01), Bloom
Carlisle Arthur Wallace
Hicks Jeffrey H.
Siereveld John L.
Vicory William A.
White, III Williard C.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Thomas Kayden Horstemeyer & Risley LLP
Ullah Akm E.
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