CA1269553A - Fiber optic cable connector - Google Patents
Fiber optic cable connectorInfo
- Publication number
- CA1269553A CA1269553A CA000512403A CA512403A CA1269553A CA 1269553 A CA1269553 A CA 1269553A CA 000512403 A CA000512403 A CA 000512403A CA 512403 A CA512403 A CA 512403A CA 1269553 A CA1269553 A CA 1269553A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- termination
- connector
- fiber
- fiber optic
- assembly
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired
Links
Abstract
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE
A connector for fiber optic cables includes an elongated tubular housing and a pair of termination assemblies which surround the end of each fiber optic cable. A lens element is adjacent one end of each termination assembly, and a sleeve surrounds each lens element and a portion of the termination assembly, and a lip on the sleeve spaces and coaxially aligns the lens elements one from the other.
A connector for fiber optic cables includes an elongated tubular housing and a pair of termination assemblies which surround the end of each fiber optic cable. A lens element is adjacent one end of each termination assembly, and a sleeve surrounds each lens element and a portion of the termination assembly, and a lip on the sleeve spaces and coaxially aligns the lens elements one from the other.
Description
r' ~26~;53 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
- This invention relates to a connector for fiber optic cables.
Fiber optic cables are well known in the art.
Such cables consist of very small diameter glass or plastic fibers independently buffered and covered with opague cladding material and are used for conducting optical signals from one place to another. Because the optic signal carried is immune to elect:rlcal noise and other interference, fiber optic cables are increasingly being used as a substitute for high speed data transmission and as we~l as audio and video transmission.
When it is desired to separ~bly connect two fiber optic cable ends, it i5 necessry to secure the ends of fibers in exact axial alignment with one another, or with the focal point of a lens, in the case of lens-type connectors, in order to achieve maximum signal transmission. The holding device for the ends of the fiber must be able to be easlly assembled onto the delicate fibers and must be capable of holding the fibers straight, secure, and concentric with ~ach other without undue pressure. Most prior art connectors employ drilled holes or channels between rods to position the ~ibers. Tolerance variations in the fiber ; diameters and drill diameters adversely affect the ability to easily assemble the fiber while maintaining absolute fiber concentricity with such prio~ art constructions.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a connector for fiber optic cables comprises a tubular housing and a pair of multi-part termination assemblies. Each termination assembly receives the end of a fiber optic cable, and is mounted in the connector housing. A pair ;.
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of lens elements are located within the housing by sleeves which coaxially align the lens elements one with the other. The metal sleeves also receive the forward 4 end of the termination assemblies to align the optic fiber mounted in the termination assembly with the focal point of the lens element.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a connector for f iber optic cables which comprises multi-part termination assemblies which mount on the cable ends and are received by a tubular housing.
It is another object of the in~ention to provide a connector for fiber optic cables which comprises opposed lens elements held ~n axial alignment by sleeves which are mounted in a housing and which additionally receive the end of termination as~emblies attached to the flber optic cable.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, of the drawings, wherein reference numerals used throughout the description designate like or corresponding parts shown on the drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION O~ THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partial sectional view exploded of a fiber optic connector according to the invention.
~igure 2 is an exploded view of the termination assembly shown in Figure 1.
DESCRITPI~N OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI~ENT
Turning now to the drawing figures there is shown in Figure 1 a fiber optic connector generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The connector comprises an elongated tubular housing 12 which may be treaded at each end 13 as shown for reception of a ~:~ reta.ining nut 15. The housing 12 includes a through ;
- ~ ' ' .
~' bore 14 which extends from one threaded end 13 to the other.
The connector additionally comprises a pair of sleeves 16 which are inserted into the through bore 14 from either end of the housing, Each sleeve 16 may comprise a precision drawn metal shell which includes a lip 17 on one end and a flange 18 on the other end. The sleeves 16 are di~ensioned to receive a lens e~ement 21 which may comprise molded plastic. The front surface of each lens element 21 comprises a convex Iens 22 which is surrounded by a seating surface 23. The back of each lens element 21 is formed with a circular recess 24.
The fiber optic connector additionally includes two termination assemblies 26~ Each termination assembly 26 compr~ses three identical termination portions 27. Each termlnation portion comprises a forward section including a plurality of angularly dlsplaced arcuate lobes 28, and a rear arcuate portion 29 which when the termination portions 27 are assemhled with one another form an entry port 31 on one `~ end and a small fiber positioning channel 36 on the other end. The entry port 31 is dimensioned to receive the end of a fiber optic cable 32. Between the entry port 31 and the fiber positioning channel 36 is a tapered guideway 34 which diminishes in size from the size of the entry port 31 to the size of the Eiber positioning channel 36 formed by the lobes 28.
METHOD OF USE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Three termination portions may be grouped as shown in Figure 1 to form a termination asse~bly 26 including an entry port 31 at one end thereof and a fiber positioning channel 36 at the other end. Once three termination portions have been assembled~ 2 fiber optic cable having a short length of the protective :: ~
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i3 cladding removed from the end thereof may be inserted into the entry port 31. The tapered guideway 34 feeds the optic fiber 33 into the fiber positioning channel 36 until the end of the optic fiber is flush with the front face of the termination assembly 26.
The use of three termination portions 27 to form the fiber positioning channel 36 obviates the need to drill a long, thin bore in the term;ination assembly to receive the optic fiber. Also, because the lobes 28 of the several termination portions interlock with one - another, there is no gap or slot along the fiber positioning channel 36 into which the optic fiber can slip. If desired, the fiber optic cable 32 can be positioned in the termination assembly so that the optic fiber 33 protrudes slightly from the fiber positioning channel 36. The end of the optic fiber can then be ground down and polished ~lush with the end of the termination assembly or, in the alternative, the fiber may be cleaved flush with the end of the termination assembly. A small amount of adhesive ~e may used to secure the portions 27 of the termination assembly to one another and to secure the fiber optic cable 32 in : place within the assembly.
The sleeve 16 surrounds each lens element 21 and abutting termination assembly 26 within the housing - . 12. A precision drawn metal sleeve is preferred since tolerances can be held very exact for such a construction, and the alignment and spacing ~of the lens elements and termination asemblies are controlled by the sleeve. The lip 17 on the forward portion of each sleeve 16 provides a reerence plane against which the seating surface 23 of the lens element 21 abuts, and the precise fit of the two sleeves 16 in the bore 14 acts to coaxially align the lens elements 21 with one another.
.
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~L2~ 3 ~ 6 --The forward lobe o the termination assembly 26 butts against the rear surface of the lens e~.ement 21. The recess 24 formed in the rear surface of the lens ele~ent 21 prevents the optic fiber held by the termination assembly from coming into contact with and scratching or being scratched by the lens element 21~ A pair of threaded fasteners (only one shown) may be tightened onto the threaded surfaces 13 to hold the termination assemblies within the housing 12.
Having thus described the invention, various modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to those skil~ed in the art, which modifications and alterations are intended to be within the scope of the invention as de~ined by the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
. . .
. ~
..
- This invention relates to a connector for fiber optic cables.
Fiber optic cables are well known in the art.
Such cables consist of very small diameter glass or plastic fibers independently buffered and covered with opague cladding material and are used for conducting optical signals from one place to another. Because the optic signal carried is immune to elect:rlcal noise and other interference, fiber optic cables are increasingly being used as a substitute for high speed data transmission and as we~l as audio and video transmission.
When it is desired to separ~bly connect two fiber optic cable ends, it i5 necessry to secure the ends of fibers in exact axial alignment with one another, or with the focal point of a lens, in the case of lens-type connectors, in order to achieve maximum signal transmission. The holding device for the ends of the fiber must be able to be easlly assembled onto the delicate fibers and must be capable of holding the fibers straight, secure, and concentric with ~ach other without undue pressure. Most prior art connectors employ drilled holes or channels between rods to position the ~ibers. Tolerance variations in the fiber ; diameters and drill diameters adversely affect the ability to easily assemble the fiber while maintaining absolute fiber concentricity with such prio~ art constructions.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention, a connector for fiber optic cables comprises a tubular housing and a pair of multi-part termination assemblies. Each termination assembly receives the end of a fiber optic cable, and is mounted in the connector housing. A pair ;.
, ~ .
.
. .
,: :
, :
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of lens elements are located within the housing by sleeves which coaxially align the lens elements one with the other. The metal sleeves also receive the forward 4 end of the termination assemblies to align the optic fiber mounted in the termination assembly with the focal point of the lens element.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a connector for f iber optic cables which comprises multi-part termination assemblies which mount on the cable ends and are received by a tubular housing.
It is another object of the in~ention to provide a connector for fiber optic cables which comprises opposed lens elements held ~n axial alignment by sleeves which are mounted in a housing and which additionally receive the end of termination as~emblies attached to the flber optic cable.
These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, of the drawings, wherein reference numerals used throughout the description designate like or corresponding parts shown on the drawing figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION O~ THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a partial sectional view exploded of a fiber optic connector according to the invention.
~igure 2 is an exploded view of the termination assembly shown in Figure 1.
DESCRITPI~N OF THE PREFERRED EMBODI~ENT
Turning now to the drawing figures there is shown in Figure 1 a fiber optic connector generally designated by the reference numeral 10. The connector comprises an elongated tubular housing 12 which may be treaded at each end 13 as shown for reception of a ~:~ reta.ining nut 15. The housing 12 includes a through ;
- ~ ' ' .
~' bore 14 which extends from one threaded end 13 to the other.
The connector additionally comprises a pair of sleeves 16 which are inserted into the through bore 14 from either end of the housing, Each sleeve 16 may comprise a precision drawn metal shell which includes a lip 17 on one end and a flange 18 on the other end. The sleeves 16 are di~ensioned to receive a lens e~ement 21 which may comprise molded plastic. The front surface of each lens element 21 comprises a convex Iens 22 which is surrounded by a seating surface 23. The back of each lens element 21 is formed with a circular recess 24.
The fiber optic connector additionally includes two termination assemblies 26~ Each termination assembly 26 compr~ses three identical termination portions 27. Each termlnation portion comprises a forward section including a plurality of angularly dlsplaced arcuate lobes 28, and a rear arcuate portion 29 which when the termination portions 27 are assemhled with one another form an entry port 31 on one `~ end and a small fiber positioning channel 36 on the other end. The entry port 31 is dimensioned to receive the end of a fiber optic cable 32. Between the entry port 31 and the fiber positioning channel 36 is a tapered guideway 34 which diminishes in size from the size of the entry port 31 to the size of the Eiber positioning channel 36 formed by the lobes 28.
METHOD OF USE OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Three termination portions may be grouped as shown in Figure 1 to form a termination asse~bly 26 including an entry port 31 at one end thereof and a fiber positioning channel 36 at the other end. Once three termination portions have been assembled~ 2 fiber optic cable having a short length of the protective :: ~
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i3 cladding removed from the end thereof may be inserted into the entry port 31. The tapered guideway 34 feeds the optic fiber 33 into the fiber positioning channel 36 until the end of the optic fiber is flush with the front face of the termination assembly 26.
The use of three termination portions 27 to form the fiber positioning channel 36 obviates the need to drill a long, thin bore in the term;ination assembly to receive the optic fiber. Also, because the lobes 28 of the several termination portions interlock with one - another, there is no gap or slot along the fiber positioning channel 36 into which the optic fiber can slip. If desired, the fiber optic cable 32 can be positioned in the termination assembly so that the optic fiber 33 protrudes slightly from the fiber positioning channel 36. The end of the optic fiber can then be ground down and polished ~lush with the end of the termination assembly or, in the alternative, the fiber may be cleaved flush with the end of the termination assembly. A small amount of adhesive ~e may used to secure the portions 27 of the termination assembly to one another and to secure the fiber optic cable 32 in : place within the assembly.
The sleeve 16 surrounds each lens element 21 and abutting termination assembly 26 within the housing - . 12. A precision drawn metal sleeve is preferred since tolerances can be held very exact for such a construction, and the alignment and spacing ~of the lens elements and termination asemblies are controlled by the sleeve. The lip 17 on the forward portion of each sleeve 16 provides a reerence plane against which the seating surface 23 of the lens element 21 abuts, and the precise fit of the two sleeves 16 in the bore 14 acts to coaxially align the lens elements 21 with one another.
.
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~L2~ 3 ~ 6 --The forward lobe o the termination assembly 26 butts against the rear surface of the lens e~.ement 21. The recess 24 formed in the rear surface of the lens ele~ent 21 prevents the optic fiber held by the termination assembly from coming into contact with and scratching or being scratched by the lens element 21~ A pair of threaded fasteners (only one shown) may be tightened onto the threaded surfaces 13 to hold the termination assemblies within the housing 12.
Having thus described the invention, various modifications and alterations thereof will become apparent to those skil~ed in the art, which modifications and alterations are intended to be within the scope of the invention as de~ined by the appended claims.
What is claimed is:
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..
Claims (12)
1. A connector for fiber optic cables comprising:
an elongated tubular housing having a bore therethrough, a termination assembly surrounding the end of each fiber optic cable for positioning the fiber optic cables in said housing, a lens element adjacent one end of each termination assembly, a sleeve surrounding each lens element and a portion of said termination assembly, and means on said sleeve for spacing said lens elements one from the other, wherein said sleeves are mounted in the bore of said housing to coaxially align said lens elements one with the other, and to space said lens elements one from the other.
an elongated tubular housing having a bore therethrough, a termination assembly surrounding the end of each fiber optic cable for positioning the fiber optic cables in said housing, a lens element adjacent one end of each termination assembly, a sleeve surrounding each lens element and a portion of said termination assembly, and means on said sleeve for spacing said lens elements one from the other, wherein said sleeves are mounted in the bore of said housing to coaxially align said lens elements one with the other, and to space said lens elements one from the other.
2. The connector of claim I wherein each termination assembly includes:
an entry port which surrounds said fiber optic cable, a fiber centering means which surrounds the optic fiber of said fiber optic cable, and a tapered guideway joining said entry port to said fiber positioning channel.
an entry port which surrounds said fiber optic cable, a fiber centering means which surrounds the optic fiber of said fiber optic cable, and a tapered guideway joining said entry port to said fiber positioning channel.
3. The connector of claim 2 further comprising:
a plurality of separable termination portions comprising each termination assembly, each termination portion being identical to the other termination portions and having an axial length which is equal to the axial length of said termination assembly.
a plurality of separable termination portions comprising each termination assembly, each termination portion being identical to the other termination portions and having an axial length which is equal to the axial length of said termination assembly.
4. The connector of claim 3 wherein each termination portion comprises an arcuate segment of the termination assembly.
5. The connector of claim 4 further comprising:
a plurality of lobes formed on each termination portion, said lobes being angularly displaced with each other to interlock with the lobes on the other termination portions, said lobes being positioned on said termination portions to form said fiber centering means when assembled with said other termination portions.
a plurality of lobes formed on each termination portion, said lobes being angularly displaced with each other to interlock with the lobes on the other termination portions, said lobes being positioned on said termination portions to form said fiber centering means when assembled with said other termination portions.
6. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:
a convex lens formed on said lens element, and a seating surface surrounding said convex lens.
a convex lens formed on said lens element, and a seating surface surrounding said convex lens.
7. The connector of claim 6 further comprising:
a lip formed on the end of each sleeve, wherein contact between the lip and the seating surface and between two abutting lips in an assembled connector spaces the lens elements from one another.
a lip formed on the end of each sleeve, wherein contact between the lip and the seating surface and between two abutting lips in an assembled connector spaces the lens elements from one another.
8. The connector of claim 1 further comprising:
a precision drawn metal sleeve comprising said sleeve, whereby the axial alignment between the termination assemblies and lens elements may be accurately controlled by said sleeve.
a precision drawn metal sleeve comprising said sleeve, whereby the axial alignment between the termination assemblies and lens elements may be accurately controlled by said sleeve.
9. A termination assembly for mounting on the end of a fiber optic cable, the assembly comprising:
an entry port which surrounds said fiber optic cable, a fiber centering means which surrounds the optic fiber of said fiber optic cable, and a tapered guideway joining said entry port to said fiber positioning channel.
an entry port which surrounds said fiber optic cable, a fiber centering means which surrounds the optic fiber of said fiber optic cable, and a tapered guideway joining said entry port to said fiber positioning channel.
10. The connector of claim 9 further comprising:
a plurality of separable termination portions comprising each termination assembly, each termination portion being identical to the other termination portions and having an axial length which is equal to the axial length of the termination assembly.
a plurality of separable termination portions comprising each termination assembly, each termination portion being identical to the other termination portions and having an axial length which is equal to the axial length of the termination assembly.
11. The connector of claim 10 wherein each termination portion comprises an arcuate segment of the termination assembly.
12. The connector of claim 11 further comprising:
a plurality of lobes formed on each termination portion, said lobes being angularly displaced with each other to interlock with the lobes on the other termination portions, said lobes being positioned on said termination portions to form said fiber centering means when assembled with said other termination portions.
a plurality of lobes formed on each termination portion, said lobes being angularly displaced with each other to interlock with the lobes on the other termination portions, said lobes being positioned on said termination portions to form said fiber centering means when assembled with said other termination portions.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000512403A CA1269553A (en) | 1986-06-25 | 1986-06-25 | Fiber optic cable connector |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000512403A CA1269553A (en) | 1986-06-25 | 1986-06-25 | Fiber optic cable connector |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1269553A true CA1269553A (en) | 1990-05-29 |
Family
ID=4133432
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000512403A Expired CA1269553A (en) | 1986-06-25 | 1986-06-25 | Fiber optic cable connector |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1269553A (en) |
-
1986
- 1986-06-25 CA CA000512403A patent/CA1269553A/en not_active Expired
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |