Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-29
2002-04-02
Ngo, Hung N. (Department: 2874)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
C385S056000, C385S059000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06364534
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates in general to optical fiber cables, optical fiber connectors, and the connection of the optical fiber connectors to mounting panels. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved panel mounting assembly used for mounting optical fiber connectors to a mounting panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The use and construction of optical fiber cables, as well as the construction of optical fiber connectors used to terminate these cables, is well known. Optical fiber cables are terminated at their ends with cable end connection devices, which devices may be fabricated as one of the LC, SC, ST®, and and/or FC types of connectors. These cable end connectors are constructed such that they may be fastened to a device known as a buildout, also referred to as an adapter, used to join or couple the separate optical fiber cables together, as well as for aligning the cable ends so that the optical signal may be passed from one cable to another. Oftentimes the buildout is constructed such that it is used to secure itself and the optical fiber connector or connectors fastened thereto to a mounting panel or other mounting device or structure. The mounting panel is also referred to as a backplane, or a backplane coupling by those skilled in the art.
In addition to passing the optical signal from one cable to another, the optical signal may also be passed through the optical fiber cable, as well as the cable end connector, to or from an optical component, for example an amplifier or to a transceiver used to convert the optical signal into a digital signal. However to do this, it is oftentimes necessary to pass the end of the optical fiber cable through some kind of a mounting structure in which the optical and/or electronic component is housed. This has typically been accomplished, as described above, by adapting the buildout for being mounted or fastened to the mounting panel , or the backplane, of the structure housing the components to which the optical fiber cables will be connected, and then connecting the optical fiber cables themselves to the buildout.
An early example of an optical fiber buildout adapted for being fastened to a mounting panel is illustrated in patent, U.S. Pat. No. 5,067,783, entitled Optical Fiber Connector Buildout System. As shown in FIG. 2 of the '783 patent, here dealing with the ST® type connector, a threaded portion of the connector is passed through an opening defined in a mounting panel, whereupon a threaded nut is passed over the threaded portion of the buildout from the other side of the mounting panel for securing the buildout to the mounting panel.
Additional types of buildout constructions, and of mounting panel systems, are illustrated in U.S. Pat. No. 5,274,729 to King, et al., entitled Universal Optical Fiber Buildout System. More particularly, as shown in FIG. 1 thereof, two differing types of panel mount assemblies are shown, namely the threaded type of connection described in the '783 patent above used for an ST® and an FC type of optical fiber connector, and a snap-fit type of construction for the SC family of optical fiber connectors.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,384,885, to Diner, entitled Variable Attenuation Optical Fiber Coupling, shows yet another construction of an optical fiber buildout fastened to a mounting panel. FIG. 1 of the '885 patent, illustrates a buildout having a pair of mounting pieces that are positioned on opposite sides of a mounting panel. A threaded connector, in this instance a screw, is passed through each of the components of the buildout, as well as the mounting panel, for securely affixing the buildout to the mounting panel.
Yet another type of buildout and panel mount construction is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,634 to Anderson, et al., entitled Connector For Optical Fiber. As shown in FIG. 5 of the '634 patent, the buildout is constructed such that the mounting panel can be received on either side of the center plane of the buildout, the buildout being constructed such that it has a ratcheting type of arrangement for allowing the buildout to be snap-fit snuggly, and securely, to the mounting panel.
What is sometimes desirable in these mounting panel constructions, but not always available, is the ability to move the buildout, or panel mount assembly, in the X and Y directions, i.e., along the horizontal and/or the vertical directions, across the surface plane of the mounting panel in order to make it easier to align the optical fiber connectors with one another based on how slack or taught are the optical fiber cables as they are passed into the buildout, and/or extended through the mounting panel for being fastened to an optical or electronic device within a housing or structure enclosing such a device. As singlemode optical fibers are typically aligned with one another on the order of one micron (0.001 mm), it is desirable to be able to move the cable end connectors into alignment with one another as precisely as possible. Additionally, the ability to move the buildout or adapter in the X and Y directions may also allow the side load forces on the optical fiber connectors and cables to be lessened by allowing a degree of “give” during the connection of the optical fiber cables to the buildout/adapter.
It is possible with some the earlier types of buildout screw mount assemblies, for example the type of assembly shown in the '783 and '729 patents, that the nut of the buildout can be threaded loosely over the barrel or extension of the buildout passed through the mounting panel so that there is some flex or give in the cables when being aligned with one another. The problem, however, with the threaded screw type panel mount assemblies is that if it is desired to leave the nut threaded loosely to allow some “give” in the buildout and/or connection of the optical fiber cables, the screw could possibly back off of the threaded portion of the buildout, and allow the buildout to fall out of its proper mounting position, thus possibly moving the optical fiber cables and or connectors out of alignment with one another allowing a corresponding degradation in the quality of the optical signal passed therethrough.
Similarly, with the device of Diner shown in the '885 patent, while it may be possible to loosely connect the optical fiber buildout to the mounting panel, again, the problem is present that the threaded fasteners may walk out of the mounting panel and/or the buildout halves, or vibration may allow the adapter to move so much that the optical fiber signal is once again degraded. In the “snap-fit” type of optical fiber buildouts, and/or mounting panel constructions, it is typically not possible to have a “loose” fit in the mounting panel, as the buildouts are constructed such that a positive snap-fit occurs once the appropriate portion of the buildout is passed into the mounting panel so that the buildout is securely and rigidly held in position on the mounting panel. Thus, although these types of snap-fit constructions offer ease of construction and simplicity of use in the field, they do not allow X and Y movement in the plane of the mounting panel when attempting to align the optical fiber connectors, or for reducing side load forces on the connectors and optical fiber cables as they are passed through the mounting panel.
What is needed, but apparently unavailable in the art, is an improved panel mount assembly adapted for use with optical fiber cable connectors which can be quickly and easily assembled and held in a secure position on a mounting panel, and which will hold optical fiber connectors as rigidly as desired within a mounting panel opening, but which will also allow movement of the optical fiber connectors in the X and Y directions of the plane of the mounting panel, as desired, for ease of aligning the optical fiber cables, as well as for reducing or limiting side load forces on the optical fiber connectors and/or cables themselves, and which will not otherwise allow the optical fiber connector, or the panel mount assembly, to walk o
Fails, Esq. Charles H.
Lucent Technologies - Inc.
Needle & Rosenberg P.C.
Ngo Hung N.
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