Patent
1990-02-09
1991-05-21
Healy, Brian
350 9621, G02B 640, G02B 638
Patent
active
050169726
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a detachable multiple[fiber] splice connector for optical waveguides with two spliced halves meeting [by thrust or push] on the front side, comprised respectively of two bearing parts, which are interconnected on their top sides turned toward each other and, in the connecting area, carry optical waveguide sections, as well as with adapters running laterally and parallel to the optical waveguide sections in guide grooves on the top sides, by means of which [adapters] the two spliced halves are aligned to one other relative to the optical waveguide sections to be coupled.
Such a splice connector is known from the German Published Patent Application No. 25 22 804. Therein, the bearing parts are interconnected so that they overlap each other completely on their top sides turned toward each other. The guide grooves and adapters lie therefore between the top sides. The guide grooves are configured of channels, which are introduced into the top sides of the bearing parts by means of plastic deformation. The adapters are short centering pins, whose length is about equal to the thickness of the bearing part. They are each inserted about halfway into the openings formed respectively by two channels in both spliced halves, in a way which is similar to the "plug/socket principle".
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is based on such a splice connector and provides, according to the invention, that each bearing part exhibits, along a single side, at least one guide groove on its top side, that the bearing parts are interconnected in a way which allows the guide grooves to project freely, and that the adapters are designed as at least one insertable guide support.
As a result of the invention, in an advantageous way, a very exact alignment of the two spliced halves to one other is achieved.
Since the guide grooves project freely in the connected condition of the bearing parts and, therefore, are openly accessible from above over their entire length, the minimum of one guide support can be simply inserted into one of the guide grooves and does not need to be pushed in from one side. Therefore, these two guide elements can also exhibit cross-sectional shapes, whereby a simple insertion is not easily possible, since otherwise they would twist too easily. A particularly long guide support can also be used, since it is simply inserted and not pushed in; otherwise the danger of bending or even breaking off of the guide support would exist during the pushing in motion. With such a long guide support, which for example, in the inserted condition, extends over the entire length of the bearing parts, the alignment accuracy can be further increased by improving the alignment [straight guidance] of the two spliced halves to each other. Developing the adapters as guide supports thereby ensures the requisite stability while simultaneously providing good manufacturing possibilities. The alignment accuracy is likewise improved by providing at least two guide supports. This requires a lateral configuration of only one guide groove on each bearing part. Moreover, the alignment accuracy can possibly be further improved by providing additional guide grooves, arranged in parallel on the same side of each bearing part, in accordance with the number of guide supports
Furthermore, in the case of the splice connector according to the invention, two different coupling possibilities exist for the optical waveguides to be coupled, in that the two spliced halves can also be aligned rotated by 180.degree. [relative] to each other. This is of special significance, for example, in the operation of bidirectional optical-waveguide components. In spite of this possibility for reversal, however, the highly accurate alignment of the two spliced halves to each other still remains in tact, due to the open accessibility and configuration of the guide grooves and the possibilities for refining the guide cross-sections.
Possible cross-sectional shapes for the guide grooves to attain an exact alignment
REFERENCES:
patent: 4155624 (1979-05-01), Logan et al.
patent: 4762390 (1988-08-01), Finzel
patent: 4772088 (1988-09-01), Finzel
patent: 4778243 (1988-10-01), Finzel
patent: 4923275 (1990-05-01), Kaukeinen
patent: 4950048 (1990-08-01), Kakii et al.
patent: 4973127 (1990-11-01), Cannon, Jr. et al.
Wagner, "Futur 1.55-.mu.m Undersea Lightwave System", Journal of Lightwave Technology, vol. LT-2, No. 6, pp. 1007-1015, Dec. 6, 1984.
Freeman et al., "Holding Fixture for Optical Fiber Array Connectors", Western Electric, Technical Digest, No. 52, Oct. 1978.
Healy Brian
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
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