Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-09
2001-05-29
Sanghavi, Hemang (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C385S060000, C385S062000, C385S072000, C385S078000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06238099
ABSTRACT:
The subject of the present invention is an optical connector, that is to say a connector used for connecting lengths of optical fibre together. The object of the invention is to allow easy maintenance, especially cleaning, of this type of connector.
Fibre-optic connectors comprise, in their principle, the engagement of a male plug in a female socket. Such an engagement carries out a guiding function at the same time as a function of connecting the plug in the socket. Protruding ferrules are arranged in the male plug. Set-in ferrules are arranged, in correspondence, in the female socket. The ferrules are devices for holding and presenting one end of a length of optical fibre. The ferrules essentially provide the mechanical function of gripping a fragile end of an optical fibre. To obtain good alignment of one ferrule with respect to the other, deep insertion of the ferrules in the female socket is desired. This good alignment is obtained by means of an alignment sleeve which is around the circumference of the ferrule of the female socket and in the middle of which alignment socket the connection between the two optical ferrules is made. Despite all the precautions taken, it appears that, after a certain time in use, such an optical connector is the site of transmission losses because of dirt on the ends of the fibres held in the end of these ferrules. It is therefore necessary to clean them. Cleaning therefore becomes increasingly difficult as the depth of the contact increases.
To solve this problem, European Patent Application EP-A-0,762,167 recommends producing the female socket with a bush. The bush constitutes the female shape of the connector. When the bush is removed, the socket reveals, so as to be flush, the ends of the optical fibre in order to clean them easily. However, this solution has two drawbacks. Firstly, the intermediate bush has to be removed (and then, after cleaning, refitted). This constitutes in itself an additional operation and requires, given the miniaturization of the connectors, a special tool which has to be available. Moreover, removal of this intermediate bush may result in it being mislaid. Secondly, this bush might, upon its removal, have to be laid in a place which may not be clean, so that when it is put back into the female socket the resulting cleaning is not perfect.
The object of the invention is to remedy this problem by providing a connector in which the various components of the socket cannot be separated and in which, from the sole fact that the socket has been disconnected from the plug, it is possible to have access to the ends of the ferrules of this socket.
The principle of the invention consists in producing a female socket which can have two states. In a first, disconnected state, the ferrules of the socket appear flush with the socket. They are therefore easily accessible in order to clean them. It will furthermore be shown that, by acting in this way, dirt which would counteract the cleaning efforts cannot get into the internal members of the socket. In a second, connected state, the socket then adopts a conventional female form, corresponding to a mode of protection against external agents by the male plug fitting into this female socket.
The subject of the invention is therefore an optical connector comprising, on one side, a male plug carrying a first set of ferrules and, on the other side, a female socket carrying, in correspondence, a second set of ferrules, characterized in that the female socket includes a sliding sleeve capable of occupying two positions, namely a disconnection position in which the sleeve is set back on the socket and reveals the ends of the second ferrules and a connection position in which the sleeve is moved forward over the socket and forms the female receptacle of the connector.
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Patent Abstracts of Japan JP 63 151910, Jun. 1988, Nippon TZT Corp.
Le Guen Pierre-Yves
Lecomte Fabrice
Framatome Connectors International
Perman & Green LLP
Sanghavi Hemang
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