Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
Patent
1996-11-25
1998-06-16
Palmer, Phan T. H.
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber to a nonfiber optical device connector
385 89, 385 90, 385 92, G02B 636
Patent
active
057684596
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an optical waveguide coupling device.
A coupling device for connecting opto-electrical components to waveguides is well known. This coupling device essentially consists of a bottom part and a top part fixed to it. Both bottom and top parts are provided with recesses which, when the two parts are assembled, form guides for the end of an optical waveguide and accommodate two opto-electrical components. The end of an optical waveguide is fitted with such a coupling device by inserting the optical waveguide end with its individual conductors into the respective guides provided in the bottom part. Then the top part is put in place and screwed on so that the optical waveguide is clamped between the bottom part and top part.
It is disadvantageous that the installation of such a coupling device to the end of an optical waveguide is complicated because several individual elements must first be positioned in respect to each other and then connected with each other. In addition, a tool, for example a screwdriver for screwing together the bottom part with the top part, is required. A further disadvantage is that this device does not provide any measures for screening the cable guide, neither for the case where an optical waveguide is not fitted, nor for the case where the housing is opened. Due to possible problems with intrusion of parasitic light or with trapping electromagnetic waves, the optical waveguide coupled with opto-electrical components can thus not be exchanged during operation.
Based on this, it is an object of the present invention, to provide such developments and improvements to an optical waveguide coupling device that it can be handled easily and quickly. It is a further object of the invention to provide--taking into consideration electromagnetic compatibility and screening against parasitic light--a plug-in coupling which enables repeated unplugging under operating conditions as well as generally; that provides strain relief for the optical waveguide and enables exact positioning of the optical components.
These objects are solved by an optical waveguide coupling device with a housing, comprising on one side an insertion aperture for an optical waveguide and on another side connecting means, whereby the insertion aperture is connected with the connecting means by way of a cable guide in the interior of the housing and whereby the cable guide, in the vicinity of the insertion aperture, is provided with a resiliently mounted clamping element for holding the optical waveguide, which allows the optical waveguide to move in the direction of the housing and prevents it from moving in the opposite direction.
A particular advantage of this coupling device is that it can be connected to the end of an optical waveguide without the need to position various components of the coupling device in relation to each other and to connect them with each other. Nor are there any tools required for this. Connection is merely by sliding the end of the optical waveguide directly into the coupling device. As soon as the optical waveguide is inserted into the insertion aperture, the clamping element protects it against pulling out. In this manner, the time required for connecting an optical waveguide to the coupling device is significantly shortened.
As an example, the connecting means can be provided for the ends of optical waveguides or for electro-optic elements seated in plugs or developed as plugs. But it is also possible to design the connecting means as optical waveguide take-ups. Thus quick, simple and reliable coupling of optical waveguides is made possible.
In an advantageous embodiment the cable-guide branches via at least one splice element to guides towards the connecting means, in this at least one splice plane of the splice element is allocated to each guide. During insertion into the insertion aperture, a multi-conductor optical waveguide is led through the cable guide onto the splice element. Thereby it is spliced by the splice element in such a way that the individual cond
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Henke Dieter
Wolter Klaus
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