Optical waveguides – With disengagable mechanical connector – Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-30
2001-09-25
Font, Frank G. (Department: 2877)
Optical waveguides
With disengagable mechanical connector
Optical fiber/optical fiber cable termination structure
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293709
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
The invention lies in the field of single-channel or multi-channel optical connections. Use is made thereby of optical connectors—also designated ferrules or endpieces—for connecting one or more optical fibers for optical coupling. Within the scope of the present invention, an optical fiber is understood as a conductor capable of guiding and relaying an optical signal, such as optical fiber sets, optical fiber ribbons or optical conductors constructed on a substrate. The connector may be constructed as a plug-in connector, a socket-contact or mixed form, and can form a coupling-capable optical port of a circuit or printed circuit board, or a termination of an optical fiber cable.
The invention, particularly, pertains to a connector for the optical connection of one or more optical fibers. The connector has a basic body with a coupling end face, at which the optical fiber or fibers terminate. At least one separate aligning element is fastened on the basic body and extends beyond the coupling end face.
Such an optical connector has become known from U.S. Pat. No. 5,416,868 to Kakii et al. (European published patent application EP 0 642 043 A1). A basic body of that optical connector comprises two complementary shells and a plastic injection coating. The basic body has parallel V-grooves for holding individual optical fiber ends, which end with their coupling end faces on a common coupling end face of the basic body. Further V-grooves, which are situated opposite one another to form a receptacle for centering pins (aligning element), are worked into the two shells. The aligning elements are fixed in the V-grooves by casting or bonding and serve to align the optical connector accurately in position with reference to a corresponding coupling partner. In order to achieve a high coupling efficiency, the aim is thus to ensure that the optical fiber ends are aligned precisely with reference to optical elements (for example further optical fiber ends) of the coupling partner.
When assembling the prior art connector, it is necessary, at least during the application and the curing of the casting material, to have precise holding devices for positioning the aligning elements (centering pins) in order actually to retain the aligning elements in the desired position relative to the optical fiber ends. In terms of production engineering, the connector is complicated with regard to manipulation, metering and application of the casting medium for fixing the aligning elements. The overall effect of this is to increase the cycle times, the production period and thus the production costs.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an optical connector, which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type and in which the assembly and fastening of the aligning element on the basic body is substantially simplified.
With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in accordance with the invention, an optical connector, comprising:
a basic body formed with a coupling end face at which one or more optical fibers terminate; and
at least one aligning element fastened to the basic body and projecting beyond the coupling end face, the aligning element and the basic body being formed with mutually latching form-locking elements fastening the aligning element on the basic body.
In other words, the objects of the invention are satisfied in the context of the above-mentioned type of optical connector in that the aligning element(s) and the basic body are provided with cooperating form-locking elements that fasten the aligning element on the basic body by latching.
Within the scope of the present invention, the term “aligning element” is to be understood as all components which, in a way familiar to the person skilled in the art, lead to the aim of the mutual positioning with corresponding geometries of the coupling partner. Bodies with elongated geometries, for example cylindrical pins, pins or rods with a polygonal cross section or bolts prove, in particular, to be aligning elements suitable for this purpose.
Within the scope of the present invention, form-locking elements are to be understood as all geometries or configurations of a structural element which, in a way familiar to a person skilled in the art, accomplish the aim of positioning and fixing in a form-locking fashion in at least one degree of freedom. Cutouts, widened or thickened material parts, sawtooth configurations, slot/key combinations, pins with shoulders and corresponding bores, for example, prove to be particularly suitable for this purpose.
A substantial advantage of the connector according to the invention resides in the substantial simplification of the assembly and fixing of the aligning element. Further, the assembly can be quite accelerated with high reliability even by unpractised staff or in a completely automated fashion so the choice of suitable simple contours and geometries are accompanied by the principle (latching principle) which is simple in terms of production engineering. A particularly advantageous aspect is that the connector according to the invention merges completely without casting means or adhesives for fixing the aligning element, and is thus independent of curing processes. It is advantageously possible for the form-locking elements to be dimensioned in such a way that when specific tensile or compressive forces—which do not occur during normal connecting cycles—are exceeded, the aligning element can be separated from the basic body without being destroyed. If, however, fixing of the aligning element is ensured even in the case of very severe stresses, this can be safeguarded by additional connecting measures of a bonding type; in this case, as well, the additional measures can be undertaken in a secondary fashion and separately from fastening the aligning element.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the form-locking elements of the basic body are formed from a thermoplastic. This feature leads to particularly favorable properties with regard to the latching operation.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, the form-locking element of the basic body includes an elastically expandable opening and a holding opening aligned with the expandable opening for receiving the aligning element, and the aligning element is formed with a constriction latching in the expandable opening. This embodiment of the inventive connector is preferred in terms of production engineering. Here, the expandable opening is aligned with a holding opening of the basic body for the aligning element and a constriction of the aligning element latches in the expandable opening. Owing to the flush alignment of the expandable opening with the holding opening, when pushed into the holding opening the aligning element itself can ensure the expansion of the opening. As the insertion continues, the opening springs back over the restriction in the aligning element, and thus latches the aligning element on the basic body. In the final assembly, the aligning element is properly fastened and aligned both in the axial direction and the radial direction.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the basic body is formed with an opening having a widened inner segment, and the aligning element is provided with a correspondingly thickened segment for latching in the widened inner segment of the opening. This is essentially an inverse configuration—that is to say thickening of a section of the aligning element and a corresponding holding ability of the basic body.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a connector, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and wi
Melchior Lutz
Sander Reinhard
Font Frank G.
Greenberg Laurence A.
Infineon - Technologies AG
Lerner Herbert L.
Mooney Michael P.
LandOfFree
Optical connector does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Optical connector, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Optical connector will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2466955