Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-27
2003-02-04
Bovernick, Rodney (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C385S072000, C385S078000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06513989
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a ferrule container for holding a multiple optical fiber disposed in a ferrule, and to a connecting configuration for connecting multiple optical fibers.
Rising data rates and transmission bandwidths are increasingly being implemented in modern data communications and telecommunications. The limits of performance of purely electronic systems have already been reached. In order to be able to handle the data rates that will be required in the future, operations are turning more and more to optical transmission systems. Thus far, individual fiber connections have been the prevailing way of approaching a solution for these systems, since previously lasers that were used could only be produced as individual components. With modern lasers, cost-effective, so-called laser arrays can be produced and tested, so that there is an increasing shift in optical transmission systems from serial transmission to parallel transmission.
Existing ferrule containers and connecting configurations for connecting multiple optical fibers are disadvantageous because only low packing densities can be achieved. Moreover, electric connector systems cannot be integrated in the existing connecting configurations. Finally, the flexibility of the existing connecting configurations is limited, and this necessitates complicated configurations to enable simultaneous connection of optical conductors arriving with different orientations.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a ferrule container and a connector for connecting optical fibers, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantageous of the heretofore-known devices of this general type.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a ferrule container and a connector for connecting multiple optical fibers so that a high packing density can be obtained.
Furthermore, the aim is to achieve a high flexibility, in which case optical and electrical connections are to be provided as far as possible in one system. A simple connection of multiple optical fibers is also to be ensured, the aim being to observe the narrow tolerances for optical connections.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a ferrule container for holding a plurality of ferrules retaining a multiplicity of optical fibers. The ferrule container includes outer walls defining a plurality of parallel ferrule passageways for holding a plurality of ferrules, and a ferrule holder including a spring holder and a compression spring. The spring holder and one of the outer walls are formed with mutually cooperating structure including a latching nose and a latching nose opening cooperating to orient and hold the spring holder in at least one of the ferrule passageways.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the ferrule container is constructed such that a plurality of optical fibers respectively disposed in ferrules can be held. Because of this configuration, a high packing density can be obtained, since a single ferrule container is already sufficient enough for connecting a plurality of multiple optical fibers. It is advantageously possible to hold both ferrules with multiple fibers and ferrules with single fibers together in the ferrule container according to the invention. It is also conceivable, furthermore, to accommodate both optical and electrical connections together in one ferrule container.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the ferrule container according to the invention advantageously has ferrule passageways or shafts extending parallel to one another for holding the ferrules. The ferrule shafts have at least in each case one, in particular operable, ferrule holding device for fixing the ferrules.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the ferrule holding device is subdivided into a spring holder which can be held in a ferrule shaft, into a compression spring, and into spring holder latching noses provided in the holding shaft. The spring holder latching noses advantageously being of operable construction. With the aid of such a ferrule holding device, it is possible for a ferrule to be fastened in the ferrule container in a particularly simple fashion. The provision of a compression spring acting on the ferrule ensures backlash compensation. To be specific, the compression spring is disposed between the ferrule and the spring holder such that the ferrule is pressed by the compression spring against a stop in the ferrule shaft. If the free end face of the ferrule comes into contact with the free end face of the multiple optical fibers of a further ferrule, the ferrule can escape rearward into the ferrule container against the deformation of the compression spring and compensate for positional inaccuracies in this way.
If the spring holder latching noses are constructed in an operable fashion, the ferrule can be removed from the ferrule container in a simple way. On the other hand, it is possible in a simple way for a ferrule to be mounted in the ferrule container with the aid of the ferrule container thus constructed.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the ferrule container has on the outside, locking elements which are constructed such that the ferrule container can be fixed, particularly detachably, in a board housing or in a connecting housing. As a result, it is possible to achieve a firm connection between the ferrule container and a board housing or a connecting housing. When a connecting housing is provided, reliable connections that can quickly be loosened are achieved between multiple optical fibers with an extremely high packing density.
In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, a plurality of ferrule shafts are provided with a rectangular inner shape. Two ferrule shafts can then be disposed such that one of their longer inner edges are in each case situated directly next to one another. The result is a ferrule container with a particularly high packing density. In this case, the ferrule container essentially has a square outer shape in cross section. Consequently, it is possible to achieve a standardized design of the ferrule container according to the invention, with the result that connecting configurations of a modular type can be assembled in a simple way. Precisely in the case of a ferrule container with an essentially square cross section, it is advantageous when outside of the ferrule container are provided ferrule container coding elements which are constructed such that they can be used to establish an insertion direction of the ferrule container in a board housing or in a connecting housing. It is therefore possible to avoid mounting errors from the very start in a simple way if the correct orientation is established as early as when designing a connecting configuration.
In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the ferrule container can also have a rectangular outer shape. Consequently, of a total of four possible positions of the ferrule container in a connecting element only two orientations are left, resulting in a particularly simple coding.
Again, by providing appropriate coding elements it is also possible for the ferrule container to be coded in terms of direction on the board side, on the side of the cable plug and/or, in particular, also on the side of the spring holder if present.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, a shield against electromagnetic influences is also provided in the region of the plug-in shaft or the plug-in shafts and/or in the region outside of the ferrule container. It is precisely in the case of combined provision of electrical and optical connections that a reliable shielding is thereby ensured for the electrical connections, and that trouble-free operation of the ferrule container is ensured.
In accordance with yet a further feature of the invention, the ferrule container according to the invention has in the region of an end fa
Bleck Oliver
Schmidt Helge
Bovernick Rodney
Greenberg Laurence A.
Locher Ralph E.
Stahl Michael J.
Stemer Werner H.
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