Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reissue Patent
2000-08-30
2003-03-04
Lee, John D. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
C385S078000
Reissue Patent
active
RE038011
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector, more particularly, to an optical fiber connector which can be manufactured by a simple process and having a low cost.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical fibers have been widely used in the field of communication such as video, audio transmission, since such a transmission medium has many known advantages such as high accuracy. However, the optical fiber cannot be connected to an optical fiber connector in the same way as the metal wire which can be directly soldered to a connector. A specifically designed optical fiber connector is necessary for the optical fiber so that the optical fiber can be conveniently connected to a device via the optical fiber connector.
A conventional optical fiber connector is shown in FIG.
4
. The optical fiber connector comprises a casing
50
, a lower hemicylindrical piece
51
extending from the casing
50
, an upper hemicylindrical piece
55
to be engaged with the lower hemicylindrical piece
51
, a connection head
60
, a flexible portion
62
, and an exterior tube
65
. As can be seen in
FIG. 4
, an optical fiber
70
is enclosed by a shield
75
and extends to an end of the connection head
60
.
The lower hemicylindrical piece
51
has a pair of projections
52
respectively formed on a front portion of each of two edges thereof, a pair of recesses
53
respectively defined in a rear portion of each of the two edges, and a flange
54
formed on a middle portion of an inner wall thereof. The upper hemicylindrical piece
55
has a pair of recesses
56
(only one is shown) respectively defined in a front portion of each of two edges thereof, another pair of recesses
57
(only one is shown) respectively defined in a rear portion of each of the two edges thereof, and a tongue
59
defined by two slots
58
defined therein. The tongue
59
has an engaging piece
590
. When the upper hemicylindrical piece
55
is combined with the lower hemicylindrical piece
51
, the two projections
52
extend into the two recesses
56
, respectively, to engage the lower hemicylindrical piece
51
and the upper hemicylindrical piece
55
with each other. Each of the two recesses
53
and a corresponding one of the two recesses
57
define a slot when the lower hemicylindrical piece
51
and the upper hemicylindrical piece
55
are combined together.
The connection head
60
is used for holding the optical fiber
70
with the shield
75
provided therearound. The connection head
60
is disposed on a base
61
. A stepped neck
63
is provided following the base
61
. The stepped neck
63
has a pair of posts
64
formed thereon to extend into the two slots respectively defined by the recesses
53
and
57
when the connection head
60
extends into a central through hold defined in the casing
50
. The flexible portion
62
is provided behind the stepped neck
63
to allow the optical fiber
70
to flex.
For assembling the optical fiber connector, as mentioned above, the connection head
60
extends through the central through hole of the casing
50
, the upper hemicylindrical piece
55
is engaged with the lower hemicylindrical piece
51
by the projections
52
extending into the recesses
56
, and the two posts
64
extend into the two slots defined by the recesses
53
and
57
. Finally, the resultant product extends into the exterior tube
65
and the engaging piece
590
extend through an engaging slot
66
defined in the exterior tube
65
, so that the exterior tube
65
is firmly combined with the resultant product, and an optical fiber connector is completed.
As can be seen from FIG.
4
and the above descriptions, the structure of the conventional optical fiber connector is very complicated. In addition, defective products are often generated in the injection molding process, since some components of the conventional optical fiber connector have many projections and recesses, and the manufacture cost is also increased.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
One object of the present invention is to provide an improved optical fiber connector having a simple structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved optical fiber connector which can be easily manufactured.
In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, the optical fiber connector comprises a head lid, a connection head, an interior tube, and an exterior tube combined with each other to enclose an end of an optical fiber in a simple manner.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4579418 (1986-04-01), Parchet et al.
patent: 4730891 (1988-03-01), Poorman
patent: 5293582 (1994-03-01), Beard et al.
Kang Juliana K.
Lee John D.
Pelton, Esq. William E.
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