CA1117335A - Optical waveguide connectors for multiple waveguide cables - Google Patents

Abstract

OPTICAL WAVEGUIDE CONNECTORS FOR MULTIPLE WAVEGUIDE CABLES

ABSTRACT
A multiple waveguide cable connector assembly is disclosed for coupling the opposing pluralities of protectively-jacketed optical fiber waveguides contained within a pair of multi-fiber cables.
Each of the two connectors forming the connector assembly contains a plurality of axially extending fiber-guiding channels sized to freely accommodate respective fibers, and a like plurality of transversely displaceable finger-like elements extending inwardly from the outer connector periphery into respective channels. The finger-like elements securely engage the protectively jacketed fibers against the channel walls when transversely displaced.
One of the connectors projectingly holds the bared fiber tips from one cable in a predetermined pattern at its mating end. The other connector internally holds the bared fiber tips of the second cable in an abuttment region, and freely accommodates the projecting fiber tips from the first connector upon mating therewith.
The second connector additionally includes a plurality of transversely displaceable finger-like elements extending from the outer connector project into respective channels within the abuttment region to securely align the abutting fiber tips within the channels when transversely displaced.
Means for displacing the jacket-engaging and fiber-engaging finger-like elements are provided in the form of sleeve members concentrically mounted about the connectors.

The inner walls of the sleeve members engage outwardly extending portions of the finger-like elements to transversely displace them into a substantially flush relationship with the outer connector peripheries.

Description

r ~ L7~33~ii This invention is a division of application Serial No. 287,510 filed September 26, 1977.
This invention relates general.ly to optical fiber . waveguides and, more specifically, to connectors for coupling a pair of multi-fiber cables.
Optical fiber waveguides have potential use in : communication systems for guiding light beams carrying :.
voice, television and high speed data signals. One important area of technology that is required if optical . 10 fiber communication systems are to be implemented, is the development of useful techniques for fiber coupling.
. Efficient coupling of a pair of optical fibers demands . minimal lateral and longitudinal separation of the fiber tips, and angular alignment thereof. The tolerance j.
for longitudinal separation is generally the least critical of the three owing to the small degree of divergence of the light travelling between the tips, and to the divergence-reducing effect of an index-matching fluid which may be deposited be-tween the fiber tips~
2b Angular misalignment may be minimized by properly ~':
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locating the fibers within channels. Lateral sepa~ation, :
., that is to say the non-coincidence of the optical axes of the coupled fibers, is the most critical parameter and must therefore be held withln very exacting tolerances I 25 when a pair of optical fibers are to be coupled. For example, a coupling loss of 0.1 db requires a separation of no more than about 10~ of the fiber core radius or approximately 0.0001 inch for a typical fiber.

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As a practical matter, optical communication systems often requi.re the use of multi-fiber cables comprising a plurality of protectively jacketed optical fiber wave-guides enclosed by a cable sheath. Many cable connections within each optical communications system, such as those to terminal equi.pment and routing lnterconnections will additionally require connectors having disconnect/
reconnect capabilities SUMMAR~ OF THE PRIOR ART :~
In U.S. Patent 3,861,781, there is shown a ~:~ separable optical fiber connector comprising a terminal member having an axial through-hole which ineludes a first portion having a relatively large diameter equal ~.
to the diameter of the thermoplastic coated protectively jacketed optical fiber, and a narrow-diameter seeond portion having a diameter equal to that of the optieal ;~ fiber without the eoating. The fiber is inserted into the through-hole until it protrudes at the other end, whereupon it is affixed to the end surface of the terminal member and polished until it is flat therewith.
In U.S. Patent 3,902,785, there is diselosed a . dielectrie optical waveguide coupler comprising a pair of identieal plugs engaged in a double socket. Eaeh plug eonsists of a sleeve and capillary bore glass tube within -the sleeve arranged so that an annular spaee exists between an interior wall of the sleeve and an exterior ; wall of the tube. A dielectric optieal waveguide is threaded through the capillary bore and rigidly fixed therein. A slide, consisting of a tube, ean slide ~73~
within the ~nnular space. A second length of capillary bore tube is fixed withln the slide and the dielectric optical waveguide is partially inserted within, ancl is free to slide with respect to, the bore of this tube. The socket consists of a third length of capillary bore tubes surrounded by a collar. On inserting the plugs into the socket, the slide moves backwards causing two lengths of dielectric optical waveguide, one from each plug, to enter the bore of the third length of capillar~- bore tube. When the two lengths of dielectric optical waveguide abut, an optical coupling is formed and the plugs can be locked in position.
In U.S. Patent No. 3,948,582, there is shown an optical fiber connector comprising separately formed bodies of substantially elongate form, each having an axial bore in which an optical fiber can be fitted.
The end of one body defines a flared socket adapted to mate with the conical plug shaped end of the second body. An optical fiber waveguide is protrudingly held by the plug shaped body and is pushed into the bore of the flared socketed body as the plug mates with the socket.
In an article entitled `'Optical Fiber Connector"
by J.F. Dalgleish, et al. (Electronics Letters Vol. 11, No. 1 (January 9, 197S)), bared fiber ends are located radially at the bottom of an axially extending V-groove formed in one of a pair of interlocking housings. ~ ~
The second housing fits over the first and provides , two fiber-accommodating slots transverse to the length of the V-groove, and a pair of fiber-retaining wires which push the fiber ends to the bottom of the groove.

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It may be appreciated in the foregoing U.S. patents that it is necessary to push the optical ~iber waveguide in-to the tight capillary bore required to obtain accurate alignment of the fibers. This is a rather precarious procedure owing to the fragility of the optical fiber waveguides; there is a tendency for the fibers to break when pushed through a tight capillary. Additionally, for the devices of U.S. Patents 3,9Q2,285 and 3,948,582, the stresses to which the spliced fibers are subjected are transmitted along the individual fibers and the resistances of these splices to the stresses are thereby limited by the relatively weak strength of the optical fibers. None of these techniques utilize the practical aspect of telecommunication systems whereby optical fiber waveguides will be grouped in multiple fiber cables. Accordingly, none of these references treat the eonsideration that the eable sheath may be safely anchored as part of the connection to distribute the l stresses induced by the coupler.
; 20 A few connectors having disconnect/reconnect eapability and adapted for use with multi-fi~er cables are known in the art. One -type requires the ~ibers to be fabricated into ribbons in which the fibers must be co-planar, very accurately spaced, and have outer diameters and core centerings whieh match to approximately 1%. Examples of these conneetors may be found in Bell System Tech. Journal; Vol 54, pp. 471-479, (1971).
In U.S. Patent 3,864,018, a connector is disclosed whieh requires the staeking of rows of fibers alternatively with grooved plates.

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3~5 It should be noted that the fiber-accomodating channels oE the above described devices are rigid and consequently do not allow for the variations in fiber diameters which occur in manufacturing. These variations cause lateral misalignment of opposing fiber tips with the substantial resulting coupling losses indicated above.

In a connector assembly described in Electronics Vol. 48, p. 29 (August 21, 1975) the wall of each fiber is held in an opening formed by the sides of three compressible plastic cylindrical alignment structures.
One of the cylinders extends axially along the interior of one connector and rests on two adjacent cylinders extending axially along the interior of a laterally mating connector, the groove between the two adjacent cylinders being thereby enclosed by the surface of said one cylinder to define the opening. ~lthough this assembly allows for fiber diameter variations because of its flexible grooves, it has several disadvantages.
The fibers of one cable associated with the two-cylinder connector, must be individually inserted into the appropriate grooves with the accompanying substantial risk of fiber breakage. The fibers of the second cable, associated with the one-cylinder connector, do not sit in grooves,- -but remain on the top surface of the appropriate Fylinder ~ ~ ' ~ r~ r 733~ii and fall into the grooves of the two-cylinder connector when the connectors are mated.

The connectors used for coupling multi-fiber cables to each other or to system equipment should have certain general characteristics. Cable and fiber-end preparation should be simple and fibers should be easily inserted into the connector with a minimal danger of breakage. Fibers having diameter variations within reasonable manufacturing tolerances should be accommodated with minimal coupling loss. The connector should be rugged and installed on the cable in a manner which minimi~es the possibility of fiber damage during handling or coupIing of the connectors. The light throughput efficiency of the coupled connectors should be high, pre~erably greater than 95%. F.inally/ the connectors should be easily mated.
Accordingly, a multi-fiber cable connector assembly is disclosed for coupling the opposing pluralit.ies of protectively jacketed optical fiber waveguides contained within a pair of multi-fiber cables. The connector assembly comprises an opposing pair of mating connectors, each containing a plurality of axially extending fiber-guiding channels si~ed to freely accommodate respectively inserted fibers. The connectors each further contain a like plurality of internal and transversely displaceable jacket-engaging surface members which project inwardly -into the respective channels. One of the connectors is adapted to accommodate the jacketed fibers from one of the cable pair and to projectingly hold the bared fiber tips in a predetermined pattern at its mating end.

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The second connector is adapted to accommodate the jacketed fib~rs from the other cable and to internally hold the bared fiber tips thereof in a similar pattern, The second connector is further adapted to freely accommodate the projecting fiber tips from the first housing upon ma-ting therewith to hold the opposing pairs of fiber tips in abuttment. The second connector additionally includes a plurality of internal and transversely displaceable fiber-engaging surface members arranged to project into respective channels within the abuttment area to securely align the abutting fiber ~ ~ -tips. The cable connector assembly further comprises first means for transversely displacing the jacket-engaging surfaces of each housing to secure the accommodated fibers within their respective channels and second means for transversely displacing the fiber engaging surfaces of the second housing to securely align the abutting fiber tips.
Either of the connectors may additionally be utilized to couple a multi-fiber cable to system terminal connectors. Additionally, a connector assembly for coupling a pair of single fiber waveguides and including a pair of connectors having a single fiber-accommodating channel is also within the purview of the inventicn. These and other features of a multi-fiber cable connector assembly constructed in accordance~
with the invention disclosed herein will be more fully described in the following description which is to be ' read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. ~-_9_ 3~5 One embodiment oE the invention will now be described, by way oE example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a partially sectioned view of an assembled mul~iple optical fiber cable connector assembly constructed in accordance with the in~ention.
Figure 2 is a partially sectioned view, showing a disassembled one of mating connectors forming the connector assembly of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a partially sectioned view showing the disassembled second mating connector forming the connector assembly of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view showing features of the jacket-engaging finger-like elements in Figs. 1-3.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first mating connector taken along line 5-5 in Figure 2.
! It should be noted that like reference numerals will be used throughout the Figures to dèsignate identical elements of the multiple optical fiber cable connector assembly.
, With initial reference to Figure 1, there lS shown a multi-fiber cable connector assembly 10, constructed in accordance with the invention, for coupling the opposing pluralities of protec-tively jacketed optical ;~ fiber waveguides 12 and 14 contained within a pair of multi-fiber cables 16 and 18. The connector assembly 10 .

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, comprises ~n opposing pair of mating connectors 20 and 22 whicl~, for the sake of clarity, will be individually described below.
Figure 2 is a partially sectioned view of one of the mating connectors forming the connector assembly of Figure 1 and shown in disassembly so that its various components and their interrelationships may be more readily appreciated.
The first connector 22, hereinafter referred to as the female connector, comprises a rigid housing 50, formed from a metal or a plastic such as acetal or polycarbonate, and having a generally cylindrical shape and an axially extending throughbore 51 between and in communication with, its mating face 60 and its fiber-receiving face 61. As will be more fully described below, a plurallty of axially extending, generally V-shaped, fiber-accommodating channels, illustratively shown as 56a-f, are disposed within the bore and serve to individually guide the optical fiber waveguides 1 through the housing 50 and internally hold the bared wa~eguide 14 tips in a predetermined pattern in an abuttment region 26. As will also be explained in greater detail below, the waveguides 14 are secured within their respective channels by a plurality of transversely displaceable jacket-engaging surfaces formed ; by finger-like members 62a-f which extend inwardly into respective channels from a common base 64 located ;
interjacent the end portions 50a, 50b of the housing 50.
At least a portion of the common base 64 forms a generally .

~L733~ii wedge-shaped cam surface 6~a extending slightly outward from the housing 50 periphery.
In the preferred embodiment, the finger-like elements 62a-f are outwardly spaced from the channel surface so that the waveguides may be freely inserted and withdrawn, and are inwardly displaceable so as to contact the protective jacketing of the waveguides 14 and securely press the waveguides into their respectlve channels subsequent to insertion. The pressure exerted by the fingers on the jacketing is sufficient to secure the fibers against movement but incapable of damaging them owing to the protective nature of the fiber jacketing which precludes the waveguides from being scratched or nicked and additionally distributes the forces exerted thereon.
A like plurality of finger-:Like elements 58a-f, similar to the elements 62a-f are provided within the abuttment region 26. The finger elements !;8a-f are also outwardly biased from the channel surfaces to ~reely accommodate the insertion or withdrawal of the fiber tips. Unlike the jacket-engaging surfaces of finger elements ~2a-f, however, the surfaces of the finger-like elements 58a-f are adapted to engage the bared fibers when inwardly displaced and serve, in a manner more fully described hereinbelow, to align the plurality of abuttingly held fiber tips in the region 26 when the connectors 20 and 22 are mated. Accordingly, the fiber-engaging surfaces of the finger-like elements 58a-f are formed from a resilient material such as polypropylene or ~0 polyethylene, which deforms slightly when in pressing contact with the bare waveguide tips. In the preferred embodiment, many features of finger elements 62a-f and 56a-f are identical and the features described immediately 3;~5 below with reference to Figures 4 and 5 are common to bo-th unless otherwise indicated.
Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the finger-like elements 58a-f of Figure 2. The finger-elements 58a-f are shown extending from a common base 59, the outer peripheral portion of which includes a generally wedge-shaped cam surface 59a and a generally linear supporting leaf spring 64. In the preferred embodiment, leaf spring 64 is integral with the base 59 and comprises iO a resilient material such as polypropylene or polyethylene.
The leaf spring 64 rests upon a contoured shoulder 66 surrounding a slot 88 that extends inwardly from the housing 50 periphery to the housing through-bore 51.
The leaf spring 64 may thereby be deformed against ~`
the shoulder 66 by the application of an inwardly directed force against the cam surface 59a to permit the inward displacement of the finger-like elements 58a-f into the channels 56a-f. The channels 56a-f and finger-like elements 58a-f are depicted with greater - `
clarity in Figure 5. i Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the housing 50 of Figure 2 taken along line 5-5 therein. The through-bore 51 of the housing 50 contains a plurality of generally V-shaped fiber-accommodating channels 56a-f and a like plurality of finger-like elements 58a-f, each extendiny into a respective channel from a common base 59;
The channels are depicted as comprising a linear array, although as will be apparent, any of a variety of patterns may be chosen. The clearance between each finger 58a-f and the base of the respective channels 56a-f prior to any inward displacement of the fingers is :-, -13-73~

such that an optical fiber waveguide may be freely inserted, within each channel, through the housing 50 to be internally held within the abuttment region 26.
The subsequent inward displacement of the fingers 6~a-f (Figure 2) -thereby secures the individual waveguides within their respective channels by engaging the protectively jacketed portion thereof, while the fingers 58a-f engage the bared fiber tips for optical alignment with the abutting fibers of a mating connector in a manner hereinafter described.
In the preferred embodiment, both the finger-like elements 58a-f and the channels 56a-f are formed from a resilient material such as polypropylene or polyethylene which deforms slightly when in pressing contact with the waveguides. Consequently, the waveguide tips may be firmly secured without the exertion thereon of potentially damaging forces. The deformation of the resilient V-shaped channel material additionally allows self-centering of waveguides having di-Efering diameters ~0 within manufacturing tolerances.
To ~ully support each fiber and preclude unnecessary bending, the inner dimensions of the channels 56a-f are provided with a stepped dimensional change adjacent to the abuttment region to compPnsate for the relatively smaller diameter of the bared fiber tip compared to that of the jacketed length of the fiber. The step additionally provides the means for accurately locating - the tips within the abuttment region by engaging the leading edge of the fiber ~acket to control the depth of insertlon into the housing 50, 73~3cj .
To conveniently manufac-ture rigid connectors with resilient channels, the channels may be formed as an insert of resilient material which, as depicted in Fiyure 5, may be inserted into the housing bore 51.
Returning to Figure 2, it may be additionally appreciated that the channels 56a-f may extend axially beyond the fiber-receiving end 50b of the housing 50 to define a shelf 55 that facilitates the placement of the waveguides 1~ within the channels 38a-f.
Turning now to the means by which the finger-like elements 62a-f are transversely displaced, it may be seen from Figures 1 and 2 that the inwardly directed force exerted upon the cam surface 64a to secure the jacketed fibers in the channels is derived from a first -partially internally threaded sleeve-like member 52 which is tightened onto the fiber-receiving end 50b of the housing 50 by engaging the external threads 68 formed thereon for that purpose. ~s the sleeve member 52 is tightened onto the housing 50, the unthreaded forward - 20 portion 70 of its inner periphery contacts the cam surface 6~a and pushes it inwardly into a substantially flush relationship with the housing 50 periphery. To prevent the internally threaded region of the sleeve 52 from abrasively contacting the cam surface 64a, the 25 - tightening of the sleeve member 52 onto the housing 50 may be limite~ by si~ing the housing end portion 50a, located ad~acent to the mating face 2~a, with a larger outer diameter ~han the internal diameter of the sleeve member 52.
In addition to inwardly displacing the fingers 58a-f the sleeve member 52 securely supports the multi-~iber cable 18 by means of a cable-securing ~aw 72 at its 3;3~

cable-receiving end. The jaw 72 comprises a plurality of cantilevered elements, depicted as 7~a, 72b extending from a common externally threaded shaft 74. The cantilevered elements are spaced apart to freely admit the multi-fiber cable 18 and function in a manner similar to a drill chuck to secure the cable 18. Accordingly, a ~
second internally threaded sleeve member 54 is sized to ~ -tighten onto the externally threaded shaft 74. The second sleeve member 54 has a conically tapered bore 76 adapted to radially compress the cantilevered elements 72a, 72b, as the sleeve member 54 is tightened onto the shaft 74, to securely and firmly engage the multi-fiber cable 18. -~ttention will next be turned to Figure 3 which is a partially sectioned view of the other mating connector 20 in disassembly. Many of the ~eatures of the connector 20, hereinafter referred to as the male connector, are similar to those described with reference to the female connector 22; ~or the sake of brevity, onl~ differences in the male connector 20 will be discussed.
The male connector 20 is shown to comprise a male housing 24, and a pair of sleeve-like members 26, 28, respectively similar in appearance and function to the sleeve-like members S2, 54 discussed above. The male housing 24 has an axially extending through-bore 30 containing a pluralit~ of generall~ V-shaped channels 38a-f arranged in a pattern substantially identical to those of the female housing 50.
The male housing 24 is, however, adapted to projectingly hold the bare tips of the fiber waveguides 14 ~L3L733~

in respective channels. ~he clearance between the female connector channels 56a-f and fingers 5~a-f is such that the projectingly-held b~re fibe~ tips from the male connec-tor 20 are freely admitted into, and accommodated within, the female housing 50 when the housings 2~, 50 are mated.
Each of the abutting pairs of fiber tips are securely aligned within their respective channel and in the aforementioned manner by the transverse displacement of the fingers 58a-f. The transverse displacement is induced by the engagement of the cam surface 59a with the interior periphery of a connector interface sleeve 76 mounted concentrically about the male connector housing 2~. The sleeve 76 is partially internally threaded to mate with external threads 62, respectively provided for that purpose on the mating end of the female housing 50. The forward portion of the interior sleeve 76 periphery is preferably unthreaded to minimize the wear upon the cam surface 59a. As may be seèn with reference to Figure 1, the connector interface sleeve 76 insures a secure and rigid connection while precluding the inadvertent decoupling of the male and female connectors.
Having thus described the structural features of ~5 the multi-fiber cable connector assembly, attention is directed to the manner in which the connector assembly is utilized to couple a pair of such cables. As is known in the art, multi-fiber cables contain a plurality o~ protectively jacketed optical fiber waveguides.
The protective jacketing serves to protect the fragile waveguides from inadvertently caused scratches and nicks, 33~

and additionally serves to distribute potentially damaging stresses. In the coupling process, this protective jacketing must first be removed from the fiber tips.
Accordinyly, a portion of the outer cable sheath is removed and drawn back and the fibers splayed out to form an essentially linear array, on a simple support plate. The individual fibers' protective jacketing can then be removed by any means known in the art as, for example, by a hot wire stripper. The fibers can then be scored and broken simultaneously. Although the fibers may be splayed subsequent to scoring and breaking, prior splaying yields fibers with ends having the same length and minimizes the handling of bare fibers and consequently, the possibility of fiber breakage.
The male connector 20 may then be assembled by slipping the sleeve member 28 and the sleeve member 26 onto the cable 16 and inserting the waveguides 12 of the cable 16 into the V-grooved channels of the housing 24 until the bared fiber tips protrude beyond the face 24a by a predetermined amount. Since the fibers in the V-grooves of the housing are protectively jacketed while the protruding fiber tips are bare, the depth of insertion of the waveguides may be controlled by internal stops in the housing 24 which contact the ends of the fiber ¦ jacketing. It may be appreciated that the V-grooved -extension shelf 55 facilitates the placement of each waveguide into an appropriate channel. Each V-groove ~ -in the housing 24 is deep enough to preclude, in combination with undisplaced finger elements, the jumping of c~annels by -the fibers.

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The sleeve member 26 is then slid along the cable toward the housing 24 and tightened thereon while the cable is held in a manner which prevents its rotation.
As the sleeve 26 is tightened onto the housing 24, the cam surface 36a is depressed so that the finger like members 34a-f clamp the protectively jacketed fibers at the bottom of the channels 38a-f. The sleeve member 28 is subsequently tightened onto the opposite remaining end of the sleeve member 26 to solidly clamp the cable 16 by means of the jaws 44. In this manner~ support and strain relief for the fibers are provided; in other ~
words, the fibers are isolated from tensions applied ;
on the cable beyond the connector.
The female connec-tor 22 is similarly assembled.
However, the tips of the fiber waveguides 14 inserted into the female housing 50 are recessed from the mating face 60 by a predetermined distance corresponding to the distance by which the waveguides 12 of the housing 24 project.
- 20 The male and female connectors 20, 22 are subsequently mated. Means for accurately aligning the pro~ectingly-held fiber tips with the channels of the female connector are provided by a pair of guide pins 78 in the male connector which mate with guide holes 80 in the female connector.
I 25 Potentially damaging handling of the waveguides associated ! with conventional couplers during mating is thereby - ;
advantageously eliminated. Although the bare fibers slide freely into the V-grooves of the emale housing 50, the clearance between the fingers 58a-f and the channels is such that the opposing fiber tips will butt against each other rather than pass each other by. Any take-up ~19 -3~i of extra fiber will occur in accumulation chambers provided on either side of the fingers 58a-f. The connector interface sleeve 76 is then tightened onto the female housing 50 to make a firm connection.
A covered access hole through the connector housing may be provided for the application of index matching fluid, or the fluid can be preloaded into the V-grooves of the housing 24, 50.
¦ As explained above, the connector interface sleeve 76 ¦ 10 causes the fingers 58a-F to align and clamp the opposing ¦ fiber tips down into the V-groove channels. Because the fingers and channels comprise a soft resilient material to compensate for variations of the fiber diameters within manufacturing tolerances, a high coupling efficiency is provided. Additionally, the connector halves may be disconnected and reconnected or disassembled and reassembled as needed.
It may be appreciated that either of the connectors 20, 22 ~escribed above may be utili~ed in conjunction with the terminal connector associated with the hardware comprising a particular system. As a practical matter, the terminal connector would be similar to the female housing 50 described herein and internally hold a plurality of fiber waveguides protected by the housing structure. A multi-fiber cable terminating in a male connector, such as hereindescribed connector 20, could be coupled to the system in the manner described above.
Additionally, a connector and connector assembly of the type described hereinl but having a single channel may be used for coupling single fiber waveguides.

, ~73~i While the preferred embodiment of a multi-fiber cable coupler has been described above, it is apparent that numerous variations and modifications are obvious to one skilled in the art. These variations and modifications are included within the scope of the present invention which are defined and limited only by the appended claims.

Claims (6)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY
OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:

1. A multi-fiber cable connector for coupling the plur-ality of optical fiber waveguides of a multi-fiber cable to an array of optical fiber waveguides dispersed within a connecting means, the multi-fiber cable connector comprising:
a housing adapted to mate with the connecting means and containing a plurality of axially extending fiber-guiding through-channels sized to freely accommodate respectively inserted optical fiber waveguides and arranged to hold the waveguides in a pattern similar to that of the array, whereby the fibers of the mating housing and connecting means are in opposing abutment;
a plurality of transversely displaceable finger-like elements, each extending inwardly into a respective channel from the periphery of the housing and spaced from the channel bottom in its first position to permit the unrestrained inser-tion and withdrawal of a fiber waveguide from the channel and in its second position to secure the fiber therein;
means for transversely displacing the finger-like elements; and means for securing the housing in mating relationship with the connecting means.

2. The connector of claim 1 wherein the housing includes an axial through-bore and the channels are formed in an insertable material inserted within the through-bore.

3. The connector of claim 2 wherein the material is resilient.

22 D-23167 4. The connector of claim 3 wherein the resilient material is selected from the group consisting of polyethylene and polypropylene.

5. The connector of claim 1 wherein the channels have generally V-shaped bottom surfaces; and the finger-like elements each extend into the respective channels and are spaced from the bottom surfaces when in the first position to permit the unrestrained insertion and withdrawal of fiber waveguides from the channels while preventing the fiber waveguides from jumping channels.

6. The connector of claim 1 wherein the second positions .GAMMA. of the finger-like elements are their transversely displaced positions.