Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-31
2003-11-11
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
C385S053000, C385S089000, C385S136000, C385S137000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06644866
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to electronic apparatuses which employ optical fibers as optical signal transmission paths and carry out information processing and communication of various types.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the amount of data transmission has dramatically increased due to the spread of the Internet and other communication devices, there has been a demand for optical multiplexing communication apparatuses having a larger capacity for data transmission. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a high performance apparatus having a high density and capable of transmitting a large amount of information at a high speed.
In response to this demand, multiplexing apparatuses employing a TDM (Time division Multiplexing) system have been developed. In the TDM system, electrical signals are multiplexed on the time base. However, super high-speed signals, such as 10 Gb/s signals, have very short time intervals between signals, and the TDM system has almost reached the limit of today's signal transmission technique in terms of speed.
Meanwhile, in a communication system which employs optical fibers as signal transmission paths, super high-speed signals, such as 10 Gb/s signals, cannot be transmitted through conventional 1.3 &mgr;m optical fibers over a long distance, due to the optical wavelength dispersion. This problem can be solved by using high performance optical fibers, such as 1.55 &mgr;m DSFs (Dispersion Shifted Fibers), for restricting wavelength dispersion. However, a large expense is required for laying such optical fibers.
In view of these facts, apparatuses which employ a WDM (Wavelength Division Multiplexing) system are becoming the mainstream to solve the above-mentioned problems and to achieve high-density and large-volume information transmission.
In the WDM system, optical signals are multiplexed on the optical wavelength axis. At present, 45 wavelengths is standardized by the ITU standards. Accordingly, at the rate of 10 Gb/s, a large volume (10 G×45=450 G) of information can be transmitted through one optical fiber. In the future optical multiplexing communication system, 45 waves can be handled both on the multiplexing side and the separation (or demultiplexing) side. Therefore, as many as 90 optical fibers may be employed in one system. This trend toward a larger number of optical fibers is continuing.
An optical multiplexing communication apparatus basically has a transmitting side (multiplexing side) and a receiving side (separation side). The transmitting side comprises a transmitting unit (OS), an ATT unit, and an optical MUX. The ATT unit adjusts and optimizes the levels of optical signals from the OS. The optical MUX then multiplexes optical signals having different optical wavelengths &lgr;
1
to &lgr;n, and then transmits the multiplexed optical signals. When transmitting optical signals over a long distance, an optical AMP unit is employed, where necessary, to directly amplify the optical signals.
The receiving side comprises an optical DMUX unit, an ATT unit, and a receiving unit (OR). The optical DMUX unit separates the individual optical signals in accordance with the different optical wavelengths &lgr;
1
to &lgr;n. The ATT unit then adjusts and optimizes the level of each optical signal, and the OR outputs separated signals. On the receiving side, an optical AMP unit for directly amplifying received optical signals is also employed, where necessary.
Two optical fibers each provided with an optical connector can be detachably connected to each other. The two optical connectors are brought into contact facing each other, thereby optically connecting the corresponding optical fibers to each other.
FIG. 29A
is a perspective view of a first example of an optical connector adapter. This optical connector adapter
1
has flanges
2
in the middle, and is attached to an L-shaped attachment metal fitting
3
with attaching screws
4
. The attachment metal fitting
3
is secured to desired positions on the apparatus.
Optical connectors are inserted into both ends of the optical connector adapter
1
, and the ferrules of the optical connectors are pressed and optically coupled to each other inside a sleeve (not shown). SC-type optical connectors can be inserted into and connected to both ends of the optical connector adapter
1
.
FIG. 29B
is a perspective view of the optical connector adapter
1
with an SC-type optical connector
5
-
1
inserted into one end and another SC-type optical connector
5
-
2
which is yet to be inserted into the other end. A single-core optical fiber
6
is introduced into each of the optical connectors
5
-
1
and
5
-
2
. When inserted, the SC-type optical connectors
5
-
1
and
5
-
2
are locked to the optical connector adapter
1
in an insertion position. The SC-type optical connectors
5
-
1
and
5
-
2
can easily be released from the optical connector adapter
1
.
FIG. 30A
is a perspective view of a second example of an optical connector adapter. This optical connector adapter
7
has flanges
8
in the middle, and is attached to the L-shaped attachment metal fitting
3
with the attaching screws
4
. The attachment metal fitting
3
is secured to desired positions on the apparatus.
Optical connectors are inserted into both ends of the optical connector adapter
7
, and the ferrules of the optical connectors are pressed and optically coupled to each other inside a sleeve (not shown). An SC-type optical connector can be inserted into and connected to one end of the optical connector adapter
7
, and an FC-type optical connector can be inserted into and connected to the other end of the optical connector adapter
7
.
FIG. 30B
is a perspective view of the optical connector adapter
7
with an SC-type optical connector
5
inserted into one end and an FC-type optical connector
9
which is yet to be inserted into the other end. A single-core optical fiber
6
is introduced into each of the optical connectors
5
and
9
. When inserted, the SC-type optical connector
5
is locked to the optical connector adapter
7
in an insertion position. The SC-type optical connector
5
can easily be released from the optical connector adapter
7
. The FC-type optical connector
9
is attached to the optical connector adapter
7
by tightening a ring nut
12
to a screw
11
formed around the optical connector adapter
7
, and is detached by loosening the ring nut
12
.
FIG. 31A
is a perspective view of a third example of an optical connector adapter. This optical connector adapter
14
has flanges
15
in the middle, and is attached to the L-shaped attachment metal fitting
3
with the attaching screws
4
. The attachment metal fitting
3
is secured to desired positions on the apparatus.
Optical connectors are inserted into both ends of the optical connector adapter
14
, and the ferrules of the optical connectors are pressed and optically coupled to each other inside a sleeve (not shown). An SC-type optical connector can be inserted into and connected to one end of the optical connector adapter
14
, and an ST-type optical connector can be inserted into and connected to the other end of the optical connector adapter
14
.
FIG. 31B
is a perspective view of the optical connector adapter
14
with an SC-type optical connector
5
inserted into one end and an FC-type optical connector
16
which is yet to be inserted into the other end. A single-core optical fiber
6
is introduced into each of the optical connectors
5
and
16
. When inserted, the SC-type optical connector
5
is locked to the optical connector adapter
14
in an insertion position. The SC-type optical connector
5
can easily be released from the optical connector adapter
14
. The ST-type optical connector
16
is attached to the optical connector adapter
14
by rotatably covering a protrusion
17
on the optical connector adapter
14
with a ring
19
having a helix in a bayonet-like manner.
FIG. 32
is a perspective view of a conventional optical multiplexing comm
Fujita Kazuo
Hayashi Mitsuaki
Kadoya Hiroshi
Katou Hiroshi
Kusuda Kiyonori
Font Frank G.
Mooney Michael P
Staas & Halsey , LLP
LandOfFree
Electronic apparatus does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Electronic apparatus, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Electronic apparatus will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3120225