Optical fiber holding device

Details Optical fiber holding device Optical fiber holding device

2001-12-24

2003-09-09

Zarroli, Michael C. (Department: 2839)

Optical waveguides

Accessories

External retainer/clamp

C174S0050SG, C174S135000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06618540

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to securing of optical fibers, and particularly to one-piece optical fiber holding devices used to bind, hold and fix optical fibers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Optical fibers have many advantages over other communications means. For example, optical fibers have wide bandwidth and low loss, and are immune from electromagnetic interference. These advantages are making optical fibers more popular in virtually all areas of communications. Optical modules in an optical communications system can include dense wavelength division multiplexers (DWDMs), optical add-drop mutiplexers (OADMs), erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs), and a variety of optical couplers. Such modules are interconnected with optical fibers. However, being made of quartz glass or similar material, optical fibers are fragile and easily broken. This is particularly so for optical fibers which have relatively small diameters. Optical fiber holding devices are used in modules to retain and protect optical fibers therein.
A conventional optical fiber holding device
10
as disclosed in Taiwan Pat. No. 311696 is illustrated in FIG.
1
. The holding device
10
comprises a base
11
, a sliding block
13
, and a screw
14
. The base
11
has a guide
12
formed on a top surface thereof. A nut (not shown) is fixedly received in the base
11
. The guide
12
has an elongated slot (not shown) in a middle thereof. The sliding block
13
is slideably fitted on the guide
12
. Two parallel grooves
131
are defined in a top face of the sliding block
13
, on opposite sides of a vertical hole (not labeled) defined in the top face. The screw
14
extends through the vertical hole and the slot to engage with the nut in the base
11
. Optical fibers
15
are put in the grooves
131
, and are secured therein by a head of the screw
14
pressing on the optical fibers
15
.
The holding device
10
holds and protects the optical fibers
15
. However, if the pressing force of the screw
14
is too large, the optical fibers
15
may be damaged. If the pressing force is too little, the optical fibers
15
may escape from the grooves
131
.
In addition, the holding device
10
has many components, making it unduly costly and troublesome to manufacture and assemble. Furthermore, the number of the optical fibers
15
that can be secured is limited to the number of grooves
131
in the sliding block
13
.
Accordingly, an improved optical fiber holding device which overcomes the abovementioned shortcomings is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore an object of the present invention is to provide an improved optical fiber holding device which safely and securely binds, holds and fixes optical fibers in an optical module.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece optical fiber holding device which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an optical fiber holding device which allows quick and easy securing of a variety of numbers and sizes of optical fibers.
To achieve the objects set out above, an optical fiber holding device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a fastening flange and a coil-shaped fiber receiving portion connecting with the flange. The receiving portion is formed by a wall spiraling from an inner end thereof outwardly. A central holding space, a spiral guiding passage, and an inlet of the passage are thereby defined. The flange is connected with an outer end of the wall adjacent the inlet. A pair of through holes is defined in the flange. The holding device is integrally formed by molding plastic material, or by bending a metal sheet. Each optical fiber is inserted into the inlet, guided along the passage, and received in the central holding space. Screws are extended through the through holes to secure the holding device together with the optical fibers to an optical module.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in the conjunction of the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 817557 (1906-04-01), Hatherly
patent: 2770667 (1956-11-01), Runde
patent: 2871282 (1959-01-01), Tipsord et al.
patent: 3835238 (1974-09-01), West
patent: 3909047 (1975-09-01), Salmela
patent: 4628145 (1986-12-01), Kolcio et al.
patent: 5661841 (1997-08-01), Van Noten

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