CN213903865U - Adapter for testing and testing optical connectors - Google Patents

Abstract

An adapter for testing and testing an optical connector for facilitating testing and testing of the optical connector by a testing and testing apparatus includes a larger first housing portion and a smaller elongated second housing portion extending from the first housing portion to define a T-shaped cavity. The T-shaped cavity includes a first elongated cavity and a second elongated cavity extending from a mid-portion of the first elongated cavity. The first elongated cavity is configured to receive the optical connector and the second elongated cavity defined within the second housing portion is configured to be inserted into a receiving end of the testing and testing device such that when the connector is received in the first elongated cavity and the second housing portion is inserted into the receiving end of the testing and testing device, the second elongated cavity provides optical coupling between the optical connector and the testing and testing device.

Description

Adapter for testing and testing optical connectors

Technical Field

The present application relates to an adapter for testing and inspecting optical connectors.

Background

There is a need in the art for an adapter for testing and testing optical connectors.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

In some aspects of the present description, an optical adapter for facilitating testing and testing of an optical connector with a testing and testing device is provided that includes a larger first housing portion and a smaller elongated second housing portion extending from the first housing portion to define a T-shaped cavity in the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The T-shaped cavity includes a first elongated cavity and a second elongated cavity extending from a mid-portion of the first elongated cavity. The first elongated cavity is defined within the first housing portion and extends in a first direction between a first closed end inside the first housing portion and an opposite second open end at the first surface of the first housing portion. The first elongated cavity is configured to receive at least a portion of the optical connector therein. The second elongated cavity is defined within the second housing portion and extends in a second direction between a third open end at the middle of the first elongated cavity and an opposite fourth open end at a second surface of the second housing portion. The second housing portion is configured to be inserted into a receiving end of the testing and testing device such that when the connector is received in the first elongated cavity and the second housing portion is inserted into the receiving end of the testing and testing device, the second elongated cavity provides optical coupling between the optical connector received in the first elongated cavity and the testing and testing device.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical assembly including an optical adapter for facilitating testing and detecting an optical connector according to one embodiment of the present description;

fig. 2A and 2B are perspective views of the optical adapter of fig. 1 according to one embodiment of the present description;

FIG. 3A provides a cross-sectional view of the optical assembly of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present description;

FIG. 3B provides an exploded perspective view of an optical adapter mated with a testing and detection device according to one embodiment of the present description;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional top view of the optical assembly of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present description;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the optical assembly of FIG. 1 according to one embodiment of the present description;

6A-6C illustrate perspective views of an optical ferrule according to one embodiment of the present description; and is

Fig. 7 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an optical assembly including an optical connector housing and an optical ferrule according to one embodiment of the present description.

Detailed Description

In the following description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof and in which is shown by way of illustration various embodiments. The figures are not necessarily to scale. It is to be understood that other embodiments are contemplated and may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the present description. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

According to some aspects of the present description, an optical adapter for facilitating testing and testing of an optical connector with a testing and testing device includes a larger first housing portion and a smaller elongated second housing portion extending from the first housing portion, thereby defining a T-shaped cavity in the first housing portion and the second housing portion. The T-shaped cavity includes a first elongated cavity and a second elongated cavity extending from a mid-portion of the first elongated cavity. In some embodiments, a first elongated cavity may be defined within the first housing portion and extend in a first direction (e.g., with respect to an x-axis defined by the adapter) between a first closed end inside the first housing portion and an opposing second open end at the first surface of the first housing portion.

In some embodiments, the first elongated cavity may be configured to receive at least a portion of an optical connector therein. In some embodiments, a second elongated cavity may be defined within the second housing portion and extend in a second direction (e.g., a y-axis substantially perpendicular to the x-axis) between a third open end at a middle of the first elongated cavity and an opposite fourth open end at the second surface of the second housing portion.

In some embodiments, the second housing portion may be configured to be inserted into a receiving end of the testing and testing device such that when the connector is received in the first elongated cavity and the second housing portion is inserted into the receiving end of the testing and testing device, the second elongated cavity provides optical coupling between the optical connector received in the first elongated cavity and the testing and testing device.

In some embodiments, the optical adapter may further comprise a handle configured to be grasped by a user. In some embodiments, the handle may extend from a first housing portion opposite a second housing portion.

In some embodiments, the first housing portion may include at least one engagement feature (e.g., a protrusion, tab, slot, channel, etc.) such that when the optical connector (or a portion thereof) is received in the first elongated cavity of the first housing portion, the first engagement feature engages a corresponding engagement feature (e.g., a feature designed to engage or mate with the first engagement feature) of the optical connector. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the at least one first engagement feature is located inside the first elongated cavity.

In some embodiments, the second housing portion includes at least one second engagement feature (e.g., a protrusion, tab, slot, channel, etc.) such that when the second housing portion (or a portion thereof) is inserted into the receiving end of the testing and testing device, the second engagement feature engages a corresponding engagement feature of the testing and testing device (e.g., a feature designed to engage or mate with the second engagement feature). In some embodiments, the at least second engagement feature may be located on an exterior surface of the second housing portion.

In some embodiments, an optical connector may include an optical ferrule optically connected to at least one optical waveguide (e.g., an optical fiber). In some embodiments, the optical ferrule may include an input surface for receiving light from the at least one optical waveguide. In some embodiments, the optical ferrule may further include a redirecting surface for receiving light from the optical waveguide in a first optical direction and redirecting the received light in a second optical direction different from the redirected light. In some embodiments, the optical ferrule may further include an output surface, wherein the redirected light exits the optical ferrule as output light in an output direction. In some embodiments, when the optical connector is received in the first elongated cavity and the second housing portion is inserted in the receiving end of the testing and detection device, the output light may propagate in the output direction in the second elongated cavity.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 provides a perspective view of an optical assembly including an optical adapter for facilitating testing and testing of an optical connector according to the present description. The optical adapter 100 provides a connection point between the optical connector 200 and the test and detection device 300. In some embodiments, the optical adapter 100 may accept an input optical signal (e.g., an optical signal) from the optical connector 200 in a first direction and redirect the received optical signal into the test and detection device 300 in a second direction (e.g., a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction).

Fig. 2A provides a perspective view of an optical adapter, such as optical adapter 100 of fig. 1. Fig. 2B provides a cut-away perspective view of the optical adapter 100 showing additional internal details. Referring to fig. 2A and 2B together, an optical adapter 100 may include a larger first housing portion 10 and a smaller elongated second housing portion 20. In some embodiments, a smaller second housing portion 20 may extend from first housing portion 10 such that the two housing portions together define a T-shaped cavity (see T-shaped cavity 30, fig. 2B). In some embodiments, the optical adapter 100 may further include a handle 60, the handle 60 extending from the larger first housing portion 10 and configured to be grasped by the user 70. In some embodiments, the handle 60 may extend from the first housing portion 10 on a side of the first housing portion 10 opposite the second housing portion 20.

Referring to FIG. 2B, T-shaped cavity 30 may include a first elongated cavity 40 and a second elongated cavity 50. In some embodiments, the second elongated cavity 50 may extend from the middle portion 41 of the first elongated cavity 40. In some embodiments, a first elongated cavity 40 may be defined within first housing portion 10 and may extend in a first direction (e.g., the x-axis shown in fig. 2B) between a first closed end 42 inside first housing portion 10 and an opposing second open end 43 at first surface 11 of first housing portion 10. In some embodiments, the first elongated cavity 40 may be configured to receive an optical connector or a portion thereof therein.

In some embodiments, a second elongated cavity 50 may be defined within the second housing portion 20 and may extend in a second direction (e.g., the y-axis shown in fig. 2B) between a third open end 51 at the middle 41 of the elongated cavity 40 and an opposite fourth open end 52 at the second surface 21 of the second housing portion 20. In some embodiments, the second housing portion 20 may be configured to be inserted into a receiving end of a testing and inspection device.

In some embodiments, the optical connector is then received in the first elongated cavity 40 and the second housing portion 20 is inserted into the receiving end of the testing and testing device, and the second elongated cavity 50 can provide optical coupling between the optical connector and the testing and testing device. Additional details regarding this are provided elsewhere herein.

In some embodiments, the first housing portion 10 may include one or more first engagement features 12, 13 such that when the optical connector is received in the first elongated cavity 40 of the first housing portion 10, the one or more first engagement features 12, 13 engage corresponding engagement features of the optical connector (see, e.g., features 211, 212, fig. 4). In some embodiments, at least a portion of one or more first engagement features 12, 13 are located inside the first elongated cavity 40.

In some embodiments, the second housing portion 20 may include one or more second engagement features 22, 23 such that when the second housing portion 20 is inserted into the receiving end of the testing and testing device, the one or more second engagement features 22, 23 engage corresponding engagement features of the testing and testing device (see, e.g., features 301, 302, fig. 5). In some embodiments, one or more second engagement features 22, 23 may be located on an outer surface 24, 25 of the second housing portion 20.

Fig. 3A provides a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the optical assembly of fig. 1, showing additional details. At least a portion 210 of the optical connector 200 is shown inserted into the first elongated cavity 40 of the first housing portion 10 of the optical adapter 100, and the second housing portion 20 is shown inserted inside the receiving end 310 of the testing and inspection device 300. In some embodiments, the optical connector 200 includes an optical ferrule 80 connected to one or more optical waveguides 90 (e.g., a plurality of optical fibers). When connected as shown in fig. 3A, a signal in the form of light may travel from the optical waveguide 90 into the optical ferrule 80 in the first elongated cavity 40, and the light is redirected by the optical ferrule 80 into the second elongated cavity 50 in the second housing portion 20, where the light may be detected by the test and detection device 300. In some embodiments, light may travel in the opposite direction from the test and detection device 300 into the optical ferrule 80, where the light is redirected into the optical waveguide 90. That is, the T-shaped cavity defined by the first elongated cavity 40 and the second elongated cavity 50 in the optical adapter 100 (see T-shaped cavity 30, fig. 2B) defines an optical path between the optical connector 200 and the test and detection device 300. Additional details regarding the optical ferrule 80 and the optical pathway are provided elsewhere herein in the discussion of fig. 7.

Fig. 3B provides an exploded perspective view of one embodiment of the optical adapter 100 mated with the testing and detection device 300, which provides additional detail. In some embodiments, the optical adapter 100 includes a first housing portion 10, a second housing portion 20, and a handle 60. When mated with the testing and testing device 300, at least a portion of the second housing portion 20 is inserted into the receiving end 310 of the testing and testing device 300.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional top view of an embodiment of the optical assembly of fig. 1. The optical connector 200, which is brought to the right in fig. 4, is inserted into the first elongated cavity 40 of the first housing part 10 of the optical adapter 100. The first engagement features 12, 13 engage with corresponding engagement features 211, 212, respectively, of the optical connector 200. The second housing portion (see, e.g., second housing portion 20 of fig. 2A) extends down into the page and is thus hidden under the larger first housing portion 10 in the top view of fig. 3. The second housing portion 20 will be inserted into the test and detection device 300. In some embodiments, the optical connector 200 houses an optical ferrule 80 that is connected to one or more optical waveguides 90 (e.g., a plurality of optical fibers).

Fig. 5 provides a cross-sectional side view of an embodiment of the optical assembly of fig. 1. It should be noted that the view of fig. 5 is a view orthogonal to the top view of fig. 4, focusing on the cooperation of the optical adapter 100 with the test and detection device 300. The second housing portion 20 is shown inserted and mated into the testing and testing device 300 (i.e., the second housing portion 20 of the optical adapter 100 is inserted into the receiving end 310 (shown in fig. 3B) of the testing and testing device 300). Second engagement features 22 and 23 provided on the outer surfaces 24 and 25, respectively, of the second housing portion 20 engage with corresponding engagement features 301 and 302 of the test and detection device 300. When so mated, the second elongated cavity 50 of the second housing portion 20 is aligned and engaged with the test and detection device 300. In some embodiments, the handle 60 extends from the first housing portion 10 of the optical adapter 100 in a direction substantially opposite to the direction of extension of the second housing portion 20. The end of the optical connector 200 is shown inserted into the first housing part 10 such that the optical ferrule 80 is aligned with the second elongated cavity 50.

Fig. 6A-6C illustrate perspective views of one embodiment of an optical ferrule that may be used with the optical connector 200 of fig. 1. Referring to fig. 6A-6C together, in some embodiments, the optical ferrule 80 may include an input surface 81 for receiving light from the optical waveguide 90 (and/or transmitting light to the optical waveguide 90) in a first optical direction; a redirecting surface 82, the redirecting surface 82 for receiving light from the input surface 81 and redirecting the received light in a second, different optical direction; and an output surface 83, wherein redirected light from the redirecting surface 82 exits the optical ferrule 80. It should be noted that, as described elsewhere herein, in some embodiments, the optical path defined between the input surface 81, the redirection surface 82, and the output surface 83 may be bi-directional. Terms such as "input surface" and "output surface" are used to describe different surfaces of the optical ferrule 80, but are not intended to be limiting in any way.

Finally, fig. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the optical assembly of fig. 1, which provides details about the optical ferrule and the optical path it defines therein. As discussed elsewhere herein, the optical assembly includes an optical adapter 100, the optical adapter 100 providing a connection between an optical connector 200 inserted into the first housing portion 10 and a second housing portion 20 inserted into the testing and inspection device 300 and defining an aligned optical path. In some embodiments, an optical ferrule 80 is disposed in the optical connector 200 and attached to one or more optical waveguides 90 (e.g., a plurality of optical fibers). In some embodiments, light 91 (e.g., a light beam defining a data signal) exits the optical waveguide 90 and enters the optical ferrule 80 via the input surface 81. The light is transmitted through the input surface 81 to the redirection surface 82 along a first optical direction 92 and redirected through the redirection surface 82 into output light 94 along a second, different optical direction 93. Output light 94 exits optical ferrule 80 via output surface 83 in an output direction 95. Output light 94 enters second elongated cavity 50 in second housing portion 20 of optical adapter 100 and travels toward testing and detection device 300.

Terms such as "about" will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art in the context of the use and description herein. If the use of "about" in the context of the use and description herein is unclear to those of ordinary skill in the art as applied to quantities expressing feature sizes, quantities, and physical characteristics, then "about" will be understood to mean within 10% of the specified value. An amount given as about a specified value may be exactly the specified value. For example, if it is not clear to a person of ordinary skill in the art in the context of the use and description in this specification, an amount having a value of about 1 means that the amount has a value between 0.9 and 1.1, and the value can be 1.

Those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that terms such as "substantially" are used and described in the context of this specification. If the use of "substantially equal" is unclear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context of the use and description in this specification, then "substantially equal" will refer to the situation where about is approximately as described above. If the use of "substantially parallel" is not clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context of the use and description herein, then "substantially parallel" will mean within 30 degrees of parallel. In some embodiments, directions or surfaces that are described as being substantially parallel to each other may be within 20 degrees or within 10 degrees of parallel, or may be parallel or nominally parallel. If the use of "substantially aligned" is not clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context of use and description in this specification, "substantially aligned" will refer to alignment within 20% of the width of the alignment object. In some embodiments, objects described as substantially aligned may be aligned within 10% or within 5% of the width of the aligned object.

All cited references, patents, and patent applications cited above are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety in a consistent manner. In the event of inconsistencies or contradictions between the incorporated reference parts and the present application, the information in the preceding description shall prevail.

Unless otherwise indicated, descriptions with respect to elements in the figures should be understood to apply equally to corresponding elements in other figures. Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that a variety of alternate and/or equivalent implementations may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown and described without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the specific embodiments discussed herein. Accordingly, the disclosure is intended to be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.

Claims (8)

1. An optical adapter for facilitating testing and testing of an optical connector by a testing and testing device, the optical adapter comprising a larger first housing portion and a smaller elongated second housing portion extending from the first housing portion, the first and second housing portions defining a T-shaped cavity therein, the T-shaped cavity comprising a first elongated cavity and a second elongated cavity extending from a mid-portion of the first elongated cavity,

the first elongated cavity being defined within the first housing portion and extending in a first direction between a first closed end inside the first housing portion and an opposing second open end at a first surface of the first housing portion, the first elongated cavity being configured to receive at least a portion of the optical connector therein,

the second elongated cavity is defined within the second housing portion and extends in a second direction between a third open end at the middle of the first elongated cavity and an opposite fourth open end at a second surface of the second housing portion, the second housing portion configured to be inserted into a receiving end of the test and detection device such that when the optical connector is received in the first elongated cavity and the second housing portion is inserted in the receiving end of the test and detection device, the second elongated cavity provides optical coupling between the optical connector received in the first elongated cavity and the test and detection device.

2. The optical adapter of claim 1, further comprising a handle configured to be grasped by a user, the handle extending from the first housing portion opposite the second housing portion.

3. The optical adapter of claim 1, wherein the first housing portion includes at least one first engagement feature such that when the at least a portion of the optical connector is received in the first elongated cavity of the first housing portion, the at least one first engagement feature engages a corresponding engagement feature of the optical connector.

4. The optical adapter of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the at least one first engagement feature is located inside the first elongated cavity.

5. The optical adapter of claim 1, wherein the second housing portion includes at least one second engagement feature such that when the second housing portion is inserted in the receiving end of the testing and testing device, the at least one second engagement feature engages a corresponding engagement feature of the testing and testing device.

6. The optical adapter of claim 5, wherein the at least one second engagement feature is located on an exterior surface of the second housing portion.

7. The optical adapter of claim 1, wherein the optical connector comprises an optical ferrule optically connected to at least one optical fiber, and wherein the optical ferrule comprises:

an input surface for receiving light from the at least one optical fiber;

a redirecting surface for receiving light from the at least one optical fiber through the input surface in a first optical direction and redirecting the received light in a second, different optical direction; and

an output surface, wherein the light redirected by the redirection surface exits the optical ferrule as output light propagating along an output direction.

8. The optical adapter of claim 7, wherein the output light propagates in the output direction in the second elongated cavity when the optical connector is received in the first elongated cavity and the second housing portion is inserted in the receiving end of the test and detection apparatus.

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