Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector
Reexamination Certificate
2003-05-28
2004-11-02
Nasri, Javaid H. (Department: 2839)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Reexamination Certificate
active
06811318
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates generally to the field of connectors. More specifically, the invention relates to an optical connector incorporating a shutter assembly for excluding dust and other contaminants.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Optical connectors terminate fiber-optic cables and often are used to facilitate the interconnection of fiber-optic cables, which encase optical fibers. Optical connectors also are used to facilitate the interconnection of fiber-optic cables and devices that transmit and/or receive optical signals. Typically, an optical connector includes a housing, which encloses one end of a fiber-optic cable that is coupled to a ferrule. When two optical connectors are connected together, the ferrules within the optical connectors interface with one another. Similarly, when an optical connector is connected to an optical device, the ferrule within the optical connector interfaces with optical components included in the optical device.
However, when the optical connector is not coupled to another optical connector or device, the optical connector's housing is open and the ferrule is exposed to dust, dirt, and other contamination from outside of the housing. Exposure of the ferrule to contaminants is disadvantageous because such exposure can result in the contaminants depositing on the ferrule, and can adversely affect the optical path between the ferrule and another adjacent ferrule or other optical device. In particular, contaminants can attenuate or block the optical transmission capabilities both into and out of the ferrule. Accordingly, contaminants must be periodically removed from the ferrule. The removal of contaminants can be time consuming and can result in abrasions or other damage to the ferrule's highly-polished surface. Another concern related to the ferrule being open to the environment outside of the housing, is protecting the user from exposure to high-intensity light emitted from the ferrule.
Prior efforts to limit the amount of time that the ferrule is exposed to the environment outside of the optical connector's housing have resulted in the use of dust covers and end caps to seal optical-connector housings. Also, rigid shutters having an iris, like that of a camera, have been used. Other rigid shutters that pivot into and out of a sealing position also have been used. However, the removal of dust covers or end caps requires additional manual effort by the user. Furthermore, after the dust covers and end caps are removed, the optical connector's housing is open and the ferrule is exposed to the environment outside of the housing. A similar problem occurs with the use of rigid shutters, since the ferrule again is exposed to the environment outside of the housing after the shutter is opened. Rigid shutters also pose the problem of contact between the ferrule and the rigid shutter which may result in the highly-polished surface of the ferrule being scratched or broken. Furthermore, a rigid shutter may provide regions where dust accumulates, and thus, may contribute to contamination of the ferrule should it contact the rigid shutter.
Accordingly, there is a need for an optical connector that can be mated and unmated with other optical connectors or optical devices with a low risk of damage to the ferrule and with little to no exposure of the ferrule to the environment outside of the optical connector's housing. The present invention satisfies these needs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is embodied in a shutter assembly used in an optical connector, which can be mated and unmated with other optical connectors or optical devices with a low risk of damage to the ferrule and with little to no exposure of the ferrule to the environment outside of the optical connector. More particularly, an exemplary system that embodies the invention is a shutter assembly configured to be moveable between a closed position, when an optical device is not inserted into the shutter assembly, and an open position, when the optical device is inserted into the shutter assembly. The shutter assembly includes a first flexible layer, second flexible layer, first coupling ring, and second coupling ring. The first flexible layer has a plurality of slits formed therein, wherein, when the shutter assembly is in the closed position, the first flexible layer is substantially planar, a longitudinal axis perpendicularly passes through the first flexible layer, and the first flexible layer's slits meet at a first location. The second flexible layer has a plurality of slits formed therein, wherein, when the shutter assembly is in the closed position, the second flexible layer is located adjacent to the first flexible layer, the second flexible layer is substantially planar, and the second flexible layer's slits meet at a second location, laterally spaced from the first location. The first coupling ring is located adjacent to the first flexible layer, and the second coupling ring is located adjacent to the second flexible layer. Both the first and second flexible layers are located between the first and second coupling rings. The first and second coupling rings support the first and second flexible layers with a sealed space located behind the first and second flexible layers. Both the first and second flexible layers form a seal with the optical device when the shutter assembly is in its open position.
In other, more detailed features of the invention, each of the slits included in the first flexible layer's plurality of slits extends radially from the first location, and each of the slits included in the second flexible layer's plurality of slits extends radially from the second location. Also, both the first and second coupling rings are c-shaped. In addition, the shutter assembly is configured to exclude contaminants from the sealed space located behind the first and second flexible layers. Furthermore, the first and second flexible layers are made of high-resilience silicone rubber.
In other, more detailed features of the invention, the shutter assembly further includes a third flexible layer and a fourth flexible layer. The third flexible layer has a plurality of slits formed therein, wherein, when the shutter assembly is in a closed position, the third flexible layer is located adjacent to the second flexible layer, the third flexible layer is substantially planar, and the third flexible layer's slits meet at a third location, laterally spaced from both the first and second locations. The fourth flexible layer has a plurality of slits formed therein, wherein, when the shutter assembly is in a closed position, the fourth flexible layer is located adjacent to the third flexible layer, the fourth flexible layer is substantially planar, and the fourth flexible layer's slits meet at a fourth location, laterally spaced from the first, second, and third locations. The second coupling ring is located adjacent to the fourth flexible layer. The first, second, third, and fourth flexible layers are located between the first and second coupling rings, and the first and second coupling rings support the first, second, third, and fourth flexible layers with the sealed space located behind the first, second, third, and fourth flexible layers. The first, second, third, and fourth flexible layers form the seal with the optical device when the shutter assembly is in its open position. Also, each of the slits included in the third flexible layer's plurality of slits extends radially from the third location, and each of the slits included in the fourth flexible layer's plurality of slits extends radially from the fourth location.
Another exemplary system that embodies the invention is an optical connector configured to be matable with an optical device. The optical connector includes a housing and a shutter assembly. The housing defines a cavity having a longitudinal axis and an opening. A ferrule is located generally coaxially within the cavity and recessed from the opening. The ferrule optically engage
Hollis Dale R.
Wu Simon H.
Nasri Javaid H.
Reynolds Industries Inc.
Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP
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