Optical connector

Details Optical connector Optical connector

1999-05-10

2001-08-14

Chang, Audrey (Department: 2872)

Optical waveguides

Accessories

External retainer/clamp

C385S065000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06275642

ABSTRACT:

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to the field of connectors for optical fibers.
More precisely, the invention relates to a device for positioning the ends of optical fibers, in particular those belonging to a ribbon-type bundle, and also to the use of such a positioning device in making an optical connector and in making a splice device for splicing together a plurality of bundles of optical fibers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
More and more high performance systems are being made in which information is conveyed in the form of optical signals. For this purpose, optical fibers have been developed that present ever increasing performance, and have ever increasing numbers of active optical components for emitting light and for receiving it. In particular, optical connectors have been developed that enable two bundles of optical fibers to be connected together or that enable a bundle of optical fibers to be connected to optical apparatus (an emitter, a receiver, an attenuator, a sensor, etc.).
Optical connectors are components which serve to provide relative and absolute positioning between the ends of optical fibers in a bundle of optical fibers in a manner that is very accurate. To obtain such very accurate positioning, optical connectors generally comprise a large number of parts that are machined with very great precision so as to obtain the required positioning for the ends of the optical fibers. This means that such connectors are relatively expensive to manufacture. This cost situation can be accepted when connectors form portions of relatively sophisticated systems which are themselves of relatively high cost.
However, in the context of less elaborate optical systems becoming more widespread, the cost of manufacturing optical connectors is becoming a critical point in the cost of such systems.
There thus exists a real need for optical connectors which, while still providing acceptable positioning for the ends of optical fibers, are of lower manufacturing cost and are thus compatible with manufacturing techniques that make mass production possible.
OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is provide a device for positioning the ends of optical fibers in a bundle where the manufacturing cost of the device is reduced.
According to the invention, this object is achieved by a device for positioning the ends of optical fibers in a bundle, the device comprising an elongate one-piece solid body in which a slot is formed that passes right through the body in a length direction, the section of said slot in planes perpendicular to the length direction being a closed curve having a first side and a second side that extend substantially parallel to each other, at least one of said sides being of undulating shape, being constituted by alternating peaks and troughs, the space defined between a trough and the facing portion of the other side being suitable for receiving an optical fiber with little clearance, the spaces corresponding to peaks being unsuitable for receiving respective fibers.
It will be understood that because the positioning device is essentially constituted by a one-piece body in which there is formed a slot defined by mutually parallel generator lines, it is possible to manufacture the body using extrusion or molding techniques applied to a plastics material or to a metal, which naturally makes it possible to reduce manufacturing cost very considerably.
It will also be understood that the slot is constituted, in right section, by alternating spaces suitable for receiving a single fiber each and spaces of dimensions that do not enable them to receive a fiber at all. This greatly simplifies inserting the ends of optical fibers into the positioning device.
In a preferred embodiment, the second side of the right section of the slot is also constituted by alternating peaks and troughs in which the troughs of the first side are in register with the peaks of the second side.
In this preferred embodiment, it will be understood that while still providing the same quality of positioning, the slot has a right section of dimensions that are larger and that make it possible to use an extrusion or molding core having improved mechanical characteristics, thus making use thereof considerably more easy.
The invention also provides the use of the positioning device in making an optical connector element, in which use said body has a face for connection with another connector element, and said face is provided with means for positioning it relative to the other connector element.
The invention also provides the use of the above-defined positioning device in making a splice block between at least two optical fiber ribbons, in which use said body has first and second end faces into which said slot opens out, and means for securing each end of the two bundles of optical fibers to be connected with the body of the splice block.


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patent: 4643540 (1987-02-01), Kawasaki et al.
patent: 5080461 (1992-01-01), Pimpinella
patent: 5703714 (1997-12-01), Kojima
patent: 5896224 (1999-04-01), Kapitza
patent: 0 505 197 (1992-09-01), None
patent: 0 786 834 (1997-07-01), None

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