Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
Reexamination Certificate
1998-09-14
2001-06-19
Kim, Robert H. (Department: 2877)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection
C385S058000, C385S070000, C385S092000, C385S094000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06247849
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a protection cap, and more particularly to a protection cap for a fiber coupler for preventing dust and foreign debris from soiling the fiber coupler.
DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART
Referring to
FIG. 3
, a conventional fiber coupler
60
comprises a coupling housing
68
. The coupling housing
68
defines a recess
66
for securely receiving a fiber plug (not shown) therein. A guiding slot
64
is defined on a sidewall
68
a
thereof for correctly receiving a guiding wedge (not shown) of the fiber plug. A top surface
68
b
of the housing
68
defines a retaining recess
62
for engaging with a fastening tab of the fiber plug. By this arrangement, the fiber plug can be fixedly attached to the housing
68
by the engagement between the fastening tab and the retaining recess
62
.
However, when the fiber plug is not inserted into the recess
66
of the housing
68
, the recess
66
and the guiding slot
64
are exposed without any protection to an exterior thereof. Thus, dusts, debris and even insects may easily enter the housing
68
. Once the housing
68
is soiled, the light transmission capability and accuracy of the coupler
60
may be adversely affected. In order to protect the housing
68
from being soiled, a plug
70
is inserted into the recess
66
before the fiber plug is inserted. When the plug
70
is seated, the guiding slot
64
is also sealed. Before the fiber plug is inserted, the plug
70
is firstly removed therefrom. However, the plug
70
may be easily misplaced, and when the fiber plug is removed, the housing
68
is remains open to an exterior thereof and may become soiled. Furthermore, since a laser beam continuously passes through the fiber, an operator's eyes may easily be injured after the plug
70
is removed.
Referring to
FIG. 4
, another conventional fiber coupler
80
is shown. The coupler
80
includes a coupling housing
88
, a metal retaining plate
82
, a protection lid
84
, and a coil spring
86
. The housing
88
defines a recess
884
for receiving a fiber plug therein. A metal retaining plate
82
is seated in a top face
88
b
of the housing
88
which also defines a fastening recess
882
. A guiding slot
886
is defined in a side wall
88
a
of the housing
88
for receiving a guiding wedge of a fiber plug therein.
The protecting lid
84
forms a pair of mounting lugs
840
on a side thereof. The top face
88
b
further includes a pair of supporting lugs
820
corresponding to the mounting lugs
840
. The protecting lid
84
is pivotally assembled to the housing
88
by means of a pin shaft
822
which extends through the supporting lug
820
and the mounting lug
840
. The coil spring
86
is arranged on the pin shaft
822
such that the recess
884
is sealed by the protecting lid
84
. By this arrangement, the housing
88
is be protected by the lid
84
and the laser beam is also confined therein. However, the guiding slot
886
is still uncovered when the fiber plug is not seated, thus foreign matter may still enter the housing
88
. Furthermore, the assembly of the coupler
80
is complicated because the metal plate
82
needs to be installed in the fastening recess
882
before the protecting lid
84
and the coil spring
86
are assembled which increases manufacturing costs. This increases the manufacturing cost. Furthermore, the mounting plate
82
is not securely attached to the housing
88
and may become lost after a period of usage.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An objective of this invention is to provide a protection cap for preventing foreign debris from settling within a housing of the coupler.
In order to achieve the objective set forth, the protection cap includes a cap housing defining a recess for receiving a portion of a fiber coupler therein. The cap housing includes a fastening tab adapted for engaging with a portion of the fiber coupler thereby providing a seal to the coupler.
These and additional objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the appended drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5348487 (1994-09-01), Marazzi et al.
patent: 5506922 (1996-04-01), Grois et al.
patent: 5883995 (1999-03-01), Lu
patent: 6041155 (2000-03-01), Anderson et al.
patent: 6076973 (2000-06-01), Lu
Alliance Fiber Optics Products, Inc.
Kim Robert H.
Lee Andrew H.
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