Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-08
2002-04-02
Spyrou, Cassandra (Department: 2872)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C385S055000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06364537
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to fiber optic connection assemblies and particularly to a fiber optic adapter with reversible polarity.
As is commonly known in the art, the polarity of fibers in a fiber optical connection must be maintained to ensure proper transmission of an optical signal. Improperly mated fibers in which the polarity is reversed terminates the propagated optical signal.
FIG. 1
depicts an exploded perspective view of a fiber optic connector assembly
10
common in the art. The connector assembly
10
includes a connector
12
and an adapter
14
. The connector
12
has a mating end
16
and a termination end
18
. The termination end
18
includes a cable (not shown) terminated thereupon via a termination method common in the art. The mating end
16
of the connector
12
includes a latch
22
. The adapter
14
includes a first receiving end
24
and a second receiving end
26
. The first receiving end
24
includes an opening
28
for receiving the mating end of the connector
12
when creating the connection assembly
10
. The second receiving end
26
includes an opening (not shown) for receiving a second connector (not shown). The first receiving end
24
further includes a keyway
30
for receiving the latch
22
when mating the adapter
14
with the connector
12
. The adapter
14
will only receive the connector
12
when the latch
22
is in alignment with and received by the keyway
30
. This allows fibers in the connector assembly
10
to be mated in a prescribed disposition thus establishing and maintaining the polarity of the optical connection as is required for effective propagation of the optical signal.
Prior to assembling the connector assembly
10
of
FIG. 1
, the cable containing the optical fibers is terminated upon the termination end
18
of the connector
12
. The mating of the adapter
14
and the connector
12
utilizing the keyway/latch arrangement described herein above allows for proper polarity of the connector assembly
10
only in so far as the termination of the cable is preformed correctly. Improper termination will result in fiber misalignment when the connector
12
is mated with a second connector (not shown) of a second cable (not shown) within the adapter
14
, thus preventing the polarity necessary to transmit an optical signal through the connector assembly
10
.
One remedy available to the installer in an instance of improper termination of a polarized fiber optical connector, as described herein above, is for the installer to disconnect the cable from the connector
12
and re-terminate the fibers at the termination end
18
of the connector
12
. This remedy, however, requires a laborer skilled in the art to perform a costly, time consuming technical reparation.
FIG. 2
depicts a prior art fiber optic adapter
50
that offers dual polarity at a first end
52
such that, in the case of an improperly terminated cable, the adapter
50
may be rotated one-half turn, i.e. one-hundred and eighty degrees, and fitted onto the connector thus reversing the optical connection to restore proper polarity. The dual polarity of the adapter
50
is achieved by a dual keyway system comprising a first keyway
54
and a second keyway
56
. The keyways
54
and
56
are disposed on the adapter
50
such that the latch
22
of the connector
10
of
FIG. 1
may be received in two opposing directions thus allowing the reversal of the polarity of the optical connection. However, the adapter
50
does not prevent a mis-alignment of the fibers of the connection nor does it indicate the proper positioning of the connector to maintain polarity of the connection. The adapter
50
simply allows proper polarization to be achieved through a trial and error approach involving connecting, disconnecting, and reconnecting the adapter
50
to a connector and testing the connection for proper polarization. This approach is time consuming and highly inefficient in large optical systems common to modem commercial and industrial applications.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An apparatus for receiving a plurality of connector devices and for disposing the plurality of connector devices to facilitate communication among the plurality of connector devices, the apparatus comprising: a first end including a first open for receiving the connector devices; a second end disposed opposite the first end, the second end including a second opening for receiving the connector devices; an exterior surface connecting the first end and the second end; an interior surface connecting the first end and the second end; a plurality of protuberances disposed on the interior surface; a plurality of keyways disposed on the interior surface at the first end; and a latch assembly comprising a movable or a fixed member disposed on the exterior surface at the first end, capable of a first position concealing one of the plurality of keyways and a second position exposing the one of the plurality of keyways.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5041025 (1991-08-01), Haitmanek
patent: 5167542 (1992-12-01), Haitmanek
patent: 5506922 (1996-04-01), Grois et al.
patent: 1 065 542 (2001-01-01), None
Siecor Operations, LLC, MT-RJ Adapter Series, Lanscape 2, Jul., 1999.
Amari Alessandro V.
Cantor & Colburn LLP
Spyrou Cassandra
The Siemon Company
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