Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-18
2001-07-03
Lee, John D. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C385S056000, C385S074000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06254281
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns an optical connecting housing for optical transmission lines, as well as a connecting method.
The invention is used for short-distance optical connections between optical transmission lines, e.g. beam waveguides, fibers, leads, cables, or an optical transmission line with optical converters, e.g. transmitter modules and receiver modules.
Different types of connectors exist for the detachable connection of optical transmission lines or for connecting these lines to optical converters. Inserting a plug pin
1
into a guide sleeve
2
determines the lateral positioning and the axial alignment of the beam axis for the optical transmission line, wherein the jacket surface of the sleeve serves to guide and align the plug pin and the optical transmission line
3
(FIG.
1
), which is arranged in its center. The plug pin must be inserted with a sufficient length into the sleeve to ensure a good axial guidance. Connectors of this type must have an additional free space for joining or separating this connection, so that the pin can be inserted into or pulled from the sleeve and the optical transmission line can be deflected lengthwise and to the side, taking into consideration the permissible curvature radius of the optical transmission line.
Furthermore, lens-type connectors with expanded parallel beam are known, for which a short free beam distance is bridged between the optical transmission lines inside the guide sleeve. In order to avoid coupling losses caused by the expanded bundle of light rays exiting the optical transmission line, collimation lenses are arranged between the line ends, in such a way that parallel light bundles bridge the free beam distance.
It is the object of the invention to provide a connecting housing for optical transmission lines, which housing has a short, compact structural design, as well as to specify a method for the simple and flexible connecting and separating of the optical transmission lines.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The connection according to the invention between optical transmission lines or the joining of optical transmission lines to optoelectronic modules occurs in the manner of a snap fastener. The connecting housing consists of an upper and a lower housing part with a circular housing bottom and a housing wall. The housing parts can be joined by snapping them together under pressure and can be separated again by pulling them apart. Consequently, the connecting housing has a compact design with a diameter of approximately 15 mm and a height of approximately 5-10 mm. The optical transmission lines are advantageously inserted into the connecting housing, parallel to the housing bottom, through openings in the housing wall, so that the joining and separating of the housing parts take place perpendicular to the line direction. As a result, the optical transmission lines can be connected or separated perpendicular to the line axis.
A further advantage is that once assembled, the upper and lower housing parts can be rotated freely in the contact plane, thereby allowing an optional change for the direction of the optical transmission lines in one plane.
The invention is described in the following with the aid of exemplary embodiments and by taking into account schematic drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4470662 (1984-09-01), Mumzhiu
patent: 4621895 (1986-11-01), Motsko
patent: 4712863 (1987-12-01), Heng et al.
patent: 5446814 (1995-08-01), Kuo et al.
patent: 5544273 (1996-08-01), Harrison
patent: 3729075C2 (1989-03-01), None
patent: 4240460C2 (1994-06-01), None
Huber Hans-Peter
Rode Manfred
Daimler-Chrysler AG
Kunitz Norman N.
Lee John D.
Venable
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