CN218272807U - Adapter assembly for fiber optic cables - Google Patents

Abstract

The present application relates to an adapter assembly for a fibre optic cable comprising a first adapter (100) and a second adapter (300), the first adapter comprising: a receiving portion (110) having a receiving cavity for receiving a second adapter; a connection portion (120) for connecting with an optical power meter probe; and a plate (130) having a through opening; the second adapter includes a receiving groove for receiving the bare fiber clamp (200). When the first adapter is connected with the optical power meter probe, the second adapter receives the at least one part of the optical fiber connector or the bare fiber clamp, and the second adapter is received in the receiving chamber, an optical path passing through the through opening can be formed between an optical fiber core wire of the optical fiber cable and the optical power meter probe, and an optical axis of the optical fiber core wire at an end portion facing the optical power meter probe has a predetermined inclination angle between 2 ° and 10 ° with respect to a normal line of a light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe.

Description

Adapter assembly for fiber optic cables

Technical Field

The present application relates to an adapter assembly for fiber optic cables.

Background

Optical performance verification of optical fiber cables can be performed during the manufacturing process of the optical fiber cables, or in the inspection of the product quality of the optical fiber cables, or when the optical fiber cables are used. The optical fiber cable may be provided with an optical fiber connector on at least one end thereof. Various fiber optic cables with various fiber optic connectors may have different losses, such as different insertion losses, which may be used as the performance parameters to be measured for the fiber optic cable under test.

The loss of the fiber optic cable may be measured by an optical power meter. In optically testing the fiber optic cable under test, the fiber optic cable under test may be connected between a light source and the optical power meter probe. In practice, it is often necessary to connect a reference fiber optic cable between the light source and the fiber optic cable under test to avoid or reduce plugging at the joint of the light source, thereby minimizing wear at the joint.

Therefore, it is first necessary to connect one end of the reference fiber optic cable to the light source and the other end of the reference fiber optic cable directly to the optical power meter, which then measures the loss caused by the reference fiber optic cable itself and takes the loss as a reference value for subsequent measurements, a process which may also be referred to as reference zeroing of the optical power meter. Subsequently, the reference fiber optic cable can be detached from the optical power meter probe and the fiber optic cable under test can be interposed between the reference fiber optic cable and the optical power meter, and the loss caused by the fiber optic cable under test itself is measured by the optical power meter.

In general, the above-mentioned reference zeroing procedure can be carried out without problems, since the optical fiber connectors of the same type, in particular in the form of the same ferrule end faces, are provided at both ends of a typical optical fiber cable, respectively, and the reference optical fiber cable used also has the same type of optical fiber connector. However, for an optical fiber cable provided with different types of optical fiber connectors at both ends, respectively, measurement errors may be caused due to the difference in the form of the ferrule end faces of the two optical fiber connectors. Such a measurement error may occur, for example, when measuring an optical fiber cable provided with an APC (inclined plane physical contact) connector at one end and a non-APC connector at the other end, or when measuring an optical cable pigtail provided with an APC connector at one end.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

It is an object of the present application to provide an adapter assembly for a fiber optic cable that enables improved measurement accuracy.

The task is solved by an adapter assembly for a fiber optic cable according to the present application, comprising a first adapter and a second adapter, wherein the first adapter comprises: a receiving portion having a receiving cavity configured to receive a second adapter; a connection portion configured to connect a first adapter with an optical power meter probe; and a plate having a through opening; the second adapter includes a receiving groove configured to receive at least a portion of a fiber optic connector of a fiber optic cable or to receive a bare fiber clamp in which a free end section of a fiber optic core of the fiber optic cable can be received; wherein, when the first adapter is connected with the optical power meter probe, the second adapter receives the at least one part of the optical fiber connector or the bare fiber clamp, and the second adapter is received in the receiving chamber, an optical path through the through opening can be formed between the optical fiber core of the optical fiber cable and the optical power meter probe, and an optical axis of the optical fiber core of the optical fiber cable at an end thereof facing the optical power meter probe has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a normal of a light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe, the inclination angle being between 2 ° and 10 °, for example between 3 ° and 9 °, for example about 5 °.

The adapter assembly for the optical fiber cable according to the application can enable the optical fiber core wire of the optical fiber cable received in the second adapter to point to the light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe at a preset inclination angle at least at the end part of the optical fiber facing the optical power meter probe, so that the measurement error caused by the fact that the optical fiber end surface of the reference optical fiber cable plugged on the optical power meter probe is not matched with the optical fiber end surface of the optical fiber cable to be measured plugged on the optical power meter probe during actual measurement when the reference zeroing is carried out is reduced.

In some embodiments, the receiving groove may have a profile matching the bare fiber clip such that the bare fiber clip can be positioned in the receiving groove.

In some embodiments, the second adapter may have a main body with a flat upper surface, the upper surface of the main body being parallel to a normal of a light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe when the first adapter is connected with the optical power meter probe and the second adapter is received in the receiving chamber, the receiving groove being provided in the main body, and the receiving groove having a flat bottom inclined at the inclination angle with respect to the upper surface of the main body.

In some embodiments, the second adapter can have an axial projection on its end side facing the first adapter, the axial projection having a first orientation face which is parallel to the bottom of the receiving groove.

In some embodiments, a distance between the first orientation face and the bottom of the receiving groove may correspond to a distance between a groove of the bare fiber clamp for accommodating the optical fiber core and a bottom surface of the bare fiber clamp.

In some embodiments, the second adapter may have a clip holder pivotable relative to the main body between a first position in which the bare fiber clip can be placed in or removed from the receiving groove and a second position in which the clip holder can hold the bare fiber clip in the receiving groove.

In some embodiments, the clamp holder may have a second orientation face facing and parallel to the first orientation face in the second position of the clamp holder, the end section of the optical fiber core protruding from the bare fiber clamp being clamped between the first and second orientation faces.

In some embodiments, the receiving section, the connecting section and the plate can each be designed as a separate component, wherein the plate holds the connecting section in a captive manner on the receiving section.

In some embodiments, at least two of the receiving portion, the connecting portion, and the plate may be integrally formed.

In some embodiments, the connection portion may have internal threads configured for threaded connection with an optical power meter probe.

In some embodiments, the connection portion may have a bayonet fitting configured for connection with a corresponding bayonet mechanism of an optical power meter probe.

In some embodiments, the connection portion may have a snap connection member (e.g., a snap hook) configured for connection with a corresponding snap connection member (e.g., a snap slot) of the optical power meter probe.

In some embodiments, the receiving portion may comprise a cylindrical body portion having a receiving chamber and a neck portion, preferably the cylindrical body portion transitions to the neck portion by an annular face forming an axial stop for the second adapter.

In some embodiments, the connecting part can be fitted movably onto the neck, the plate being fixed on the end face of the neck, an edge part of the plate projecting radially from the neck forming an axial stop for the connecting part, which edge part cooperates with an inner flange of the connecting part in such a way that the connecting part is held captive on the receiving part.

In some embodiments, the plate may have an alignment pin configured such that the plate has a predetermined angular position relative to the optical power meter probe when the first adapter is connected with the optical power meter probe.

In some embodiments, the plate may be detachably fastened on the end side of the neck by a plurality of screws.

In some embodiments, the plate may have three alignment pins evenly distributed around the through opening, the alignment pins configured such that the plate has a predetermined angular position relative to the optical power meter probe when the first adapter is connected with the optical power meter probe; and the plate is detachably fastened to the end face of the neck by three screws distributed uniformly around the through opening.

In some embodiments, the neck may have a first bore section surrounded by the annular face and a second bore section of reduced diameter next to the first bore section, the second adapter having an axial projection on its end side facing the first adapter, the axial projection being received in the second bore section when the second adapter is received in the receiving chamber.

In some embodiments, the receiving chamber and the second adaptor may have a non-circular cross-section such that the second adaptor can only be inserted into the receiving chamber in a predetermined angular position relative to the receiving chamber.

In some embodiments, the receiving portion may have a first plane defining a portion of a peripheral wall of the receiving chamber, and the second adapter may have a second plane cooperating with the first plane when the second adapter is engaged or disengaged with the first adapter.

In some embodiments, the fiber optic cable may be a fiber optic cable pigtail.

In some embodiments, the fiber optic cable may be a ribbon-like fiber optic cable.

Additional features and advantages of the subject technology of the present application will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the subject technology of the present application. The advantages of the subject technology of the present application will be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the subject technology of the present application, as claimed.

Drawings

The various aspects of the present application will be better understood upon reading the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an adapter assembly for a fiber optic cable in an assembled state with a bare fiber clamp according to one embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the prior art fiber end face in relation to the light receiving face of an optical power meter probe when performing reference zeroing and performing measurements.

Fig. 3 shows a schematic view of a fiber end face and a light receiving face of an optical power meter probe when using an adapter assembly for fiber optic cables according to the present application.

Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of a first adapter of the adapter assembly according to fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a rear perspective view of the first adapter according to fig. 4.

Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of the first adapter according to fig. 4.

Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of a second adapter of the adapter assembly according to fig. 1.

Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of the second adapter according to fig. 7 from another angle of view.

FIG. 9 shows a perspective view of the second adapter according to FIG. 7 receiving a bare fiber clamp.

Fig. 10 shows a perspective view of a bare fiber clamp accommodating optical fiber cores of an optical fiber cable.

Fig. 11 shows a perspective view of the first adapter, the second adapter, and the bare fiber clamp in an assembled state.

Fig. 12 shows a cross-sectional view of the first adapter, the second adapter, and the bare fiber clamp in an assembled state.

Detailed Description

The present application will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate several embodiments of the present application. It should be understood, however, that the present application may be embodied in many different forms and is not limited to the embodiments described below; rather, the embodiments described below are intended to provide a more complete disclosure of the present application and to fully convey the scope of the present application. It is also to be understood that the embodiments disclosed herein can be combined in various ways to provide further additional embodiments.

It should be understood that throughout the drawings, like reference numerals refer to like elements. In the drawings, the size of some of the features may be varied for clarity.

It is to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the application. All terms (including technical and scientific terms) used in the specification have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art, unless otherwise defined. Well-known functions or constructions may not be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

As used in this specification, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" include plural referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. The terms "comprising," "including," and "containing" as used in this specification specify the presence of stated features, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features. The term "and/or" as used in this specification is inclusive of any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. The terms "between X and Y" and "between about X and Y" as used in the specification should be construed to include X and Y. The term "between about X and Y" as used herein means "between about X and about Y" and the term "from about X to Y" as used herein means "from about X to about Y".

In the description, when an element is referred to as being "on," "attached" to, "connected" to, "coupled" to, or "contacting" another element, etc., another element may be directly on, attached to, connected to, coupled to, or contacting the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being "directly on," "directly attached to," directly connected to, "directly coupled to," or "directly contacting" another element, there are no intervening elements present. In the description, one feature is disposed "adjacent" another feature, and may mean that one feature has a portion overlapping with or above or below an adjacent feature.

In the specification, spatial relations such as "upper", "lower", "left", "right", "front", "rear", "high", "low", and the like may explain the relation of one feature to another feature in the drawings. It will be understood that the spatial relationship terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, features originally described as "below" other features when the device in the drawings is turned over may now be described as "above" the other features. The device may also be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the relative spatial relationships may be interpreted accordingly.

Exemplary embodiments of the present application are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in fig. 1, an adapter assembly 10 for a fiber optic cable according to the present application comprises a first adapter 100 and a second adapter 300, wherein the first adapter 100 is configured for connection with an optical power meter probe, and the second adapter 300 is configured for receiving a fiber optic cable 2, in particular at least a portion of a fiber optic connector of the fiber optic cable 2 to be tested, or a bare fiber clamp 200 in which a free end section of an optical fiber core of the fiber optic cable 2 can be received. When the first adapter 100 is connected with an optical power meter probe, not shown, the second adapter 300 receives the at least a portion of the optical fiber connector or the bare fiber clamp 200, and the second adapter 300 is received in the first adapter 100, the optical axis of the optical fiber core of the optical fiber cable 2 at its end facing the optical power meter probe has an inclination angle of a predetermined inclination angle, for example, between 2 ° and 10 °, for example, between 4 ° and 9 °, for example, about 5 °, with respect to a normal to the light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe.

Thus, the adapter assembly 10 for an optical fiber cable according to the present application can incline the optical fiber core wire with respect to the normal of the light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe toward the end section of the optical power meter probe, thereby reducing the measurement error caused by the mismatch of the optical fiber end face of the reference optical fiber cable used at the time of reference zeroing and the actually measured optical fiber end face of the optical fiber cable 2. This will be described in more detail below in conjunction with fig. 2 and 3 and the specific structure of an adapter assembly 10 for fiber optic cables according to one embodiment of the present application.

Fig. 2 shows a schematic diagram of the relative relationship of the fiber end face and the light receiving face 1 of an optical power meter probe in the prior art when performing reference zeroing and measurement. In the related art, when measuring an optical fiber cable provided with different types of optical fiber connectors at both ends, respectively, for example, an optical fiber cable 2 provided with an APC connector at one end and a non-APC connector at the other end, with an optical power meter, first, for example, a reference optical fiber cable 3 provided with an APC connector is used for reference zeroing, in which case the optical axis of the reference optical fiber cable 3 is perpendicular to the light receiving surface 1 of the optical power meter probe. Since the ferrule end face of the APC connector is ground to have an inclination angle of 8 °, the fiber end face 4 of the reference fiber optic cable 3 facing the light receiving surface 1 of the optical power meter probe also has a corresponding inclination angle 5 with respect to the light receiving surface 1. In such a case the reference zeroing is done. Then, the APC connector of the optical fiber cable 2 to be measured is connected with the APC connector of the reference optical fiber cable 3, and the other end of the optical fiber cable 2 to be measured is connected with the optical power meter probe. Here, since the fiber end face 6 of the other end of the optical fiber cable 2 to be measured is substantially flush, in the case where the optical axis of the optical fiber cable 2 is perpendicular to the light receiving surface 1 of the optical power meter probe, the fiber end face 6 of the optical fiber cable 2 to be measured is also substantially parallel to the light receiving surface 1 of the optical power meter probe. In which case the measurement of the optical fibre cable 2 is done. Here, a measurement error, particularly a so-called "gain", is caused by the mismatch between the fiber end face 4 of the reference optical fiber cable 3 and the fiber end face 6 of the optical fiber cable 2, so that the actual loss level of the optical fiber cable 2 to be measured cannot be reflected truly.

In contrast, as shown in fig. 3, the adapter assembly 10 for an optical fiber cable according to the present application can tilt the optical fiber cable 2 to be measured with respect to the normal N of the light receiving surface 1 of the optical power meter probe so that the optical fiber end face 6 of the optical fiber cable 2 has an appropriate tilt angle with respect to the light receiving surface 1 of the optical power meter probe, which can substantially eliminate or at least reduce measurement errors caused by mismatch of the optical fiber end face 4 of the reference optical fiber cable 3 and the optical fiber end face 6 of the optical fiber cable 2.

An adapter assembly 10 for fiber optic cables according to one embodiment of the present application is described in more detail below with reference to fig. 4-12.

First, as shown in fig. 4 to 6, the first adaptor 100 of the adaptor assembly 10 includes a receiving portion 110, a connecting portion 120, and a plate 130. The receiving portion 110 has a receiving cavity 111, the receiving cavity 111 being configured for receiving the second adapter 300. The connection portion 120 is configured for connecting the first adapter 100 with an optical power meter probe. The plate 130 has a through opening 131.

When the first adapter 100 is connected with an optical power meter probe, the second adapter 300 receives at least a portion of the fiber optic cable 2, and the second adapter 300 is received in the receiving chamber 111, an optical path can be formed between the optical fiber of the fiber optic cable 2 and the optical power meter probe through the through port 131. In this case, the receiving part 110, the connecting part 120 and the plate 130 can each be designed as a separate component, wherein the plate 130 can hold the connecting part 120 on the receiving part 110 in a loss-proof manner.

To connect the first adapter 100 to the optical power meter probe, the connecting portion 120 may have internal threads configured for connection with corresponding external threads on the optical power meter probe. In some embodiments, the connection portion 120 may also be connected to the optical power meter probe by a bayonet connection or by magnetic action, depending on the different configurations of the adapter of the optical power meter probe.

As best shown in fig. 6, the receiving portion 110 may include a cylindrical body portion 112 and a neck portion 113, the cylindrical body portion 112 having a receiving chamber 111, and the cylindrical body portion 112 transitioning to the neck portion 113 through an annular face 114. The annular surface 114 may form an axial stop for the second adapter 300. The connection part 120 can be movably mounted on the neck 113 and the plate 130 can be fixed on the end side of the neck 113 facing the optical power meter probe. The edge portion 132 of the plate 130 projecting radially from the neck 113 forms an axial stop for the connecting portion 120. The edge portion 132 may cooperate with an internal flange of the connecting portion 120 such that the connecting portion 120 is retained captive on the receiving portion 110. The connecting portion 120 may be configured to be movable along the neck 113 in an axial direction between an extended position and a retracted position in which the internal threads of the connecting portion 120 are positioned around the neck 113.

The plate 130 can be detachably fastened on the end face of the neck 113 by a plurality of screws 133, for example three screws 133 distributed uniformly around the passage opening 131, as shown in fig. 4. For this purpose, through holes for the screws 133 to pass through may be provided in the plate 130, while corresponding threaded holes may be provided in the neck 113. In order to ensure a defined angular position of the first adapter 100 relative to the optical power meter probe, the plate 130 can have positioning pins 134, for example three positioning pins 134 distributed uniformly around the passage opening 131, which positioning pins 134 are configured such that, when the first adapter 100 is connected to the optical power meter probe, the plate 130, and thus the first adapter 100, has a predetermined angular position relative to the optical power meter probe. For the sake of clarity, only one positioning pin 134 is provided with a reference numeral in fig. 4. Here, three screws 133 and three positioning pins 134 may be arranged alternately in the circumferential direction around the through opening 131.

As shown in fig. 6, the neck 113 may have a first bore section 116 surrounded by the annular surface 114 and a second bore section 117 of reduced diameter next to the first bore section 116, the second adapter 300 having an axial projection 330 on its end side facing the first adapter 100 (see fig. 7 to 9), the axial projection 330 of the second adapter 300 being receivable in the second bore section 117 when the second adapter 300 is received in the receiving chamber 111. In some embodiments, first bore segment 117 may be configured for receiving, at reference zeroing, a corresponding segment of an additional adapter configured for receiving at least a portion of a fiber optic connector of a reference fiber optic cable.

In order to define a defined angular position of the second adapter 300 inserted into the receiving chamber 111 of the first adapter 100 relative to the first adapter 100 and thus relative to the optical power meter probe, it may be provided that the receiving chamber 111 and the second adapter 300 have a non-circular cross section such that the second adapter 300 can only be inserted into the receiving chamber 111 in a predetermined angular position relative to the receiving chamber 111. As shown in fig. 5, the receiving portion 110 of the first adapter 100 may have a first flat surface 118, the first flat surface 118 defining a portion of the peripheral wall of the receiving chamber 111, and as shown in fig. 8, the second adapter 300 has a second flat surface 353, the second flat surface 353 cooperating with the first flat surface 118 when the second adapter 300 is engaged with or disengaged from the first adapter 100.

Fig. 7 and 8 each show the second adapter 300 separately in a perspective view. The second adapter 300 may include a receiving groove 322, the receiving groove 322 being configured to receive at least a portion of the optical fiber connector of the optical fiber cable 2 or to receive the bare fiber clamp 200. The receiving groove 322 may have a profile matching the at least one portion of the optical fiber connector or the bare fiber clamp 200 such that the at least one portion of the optical fiber connector or the bare fiber clamp 200 can be positioned in the receiving groove 322.

Fig. 10 shows an exemplary bare fiber clamp 200 in which the optical fiber core of the optical fiber cable 2 is accommodated, where the bare fiber clamp 200 may have a flat shape, a free end section of the optical fiber core of the optical fiber cable 2 can be accommodated in the groove 210 of the bare fiber clamp 200, and the distal end portion 21 of the optical fiber core may protrude from the front end of the bare fiber clamp 200. Here, the fiber optic cable 2 may be a ribbon-like fiber optic cable pigtail, and it should be understood that the adapter assembly 10 according to the present disclosure may be used not only for ribbon-like fiber optic cable pigtails, but also for other types of single or multi-core fiber optic cables. In some embodiments, the bare fiber clamp 200 may be a bare fiber clamp for an optical fiber fusion splicer. The second adapter 300 shown in this embodiment is adapted to receive the bare fiber clamp 200 shown in fig. 10, but the application is not limited thereto, and in practical applications, those skilled in the art can adapt the bare fiber clamp 200 to be used or the optical fiber connector of the optical fiber cable 2 to be tested according to the specific form thereof without departing from the scope of the application.

As shown in fig. 7 and 8, the second adapter 300 has a main body 320 with a flat upper surface, and when the first adapter 100 is connected with the optical power meter probe and the second adapter 300 is received in the receiving chamber 111, the upper surface 321 of the main body 320 is parallel to the normal of the light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe, and the receiving groove 322 is provided in the main body 320. To match the bottom surface 220 of the bare fiber clamp 200, the receiving groove 322 may have a flat bottom 323 inclined with respect to the upper surface 321 of the main body 320, and the bottom 323 of the receiving groove 322 may be inclined with respect to the upper surface 321 of the main body 320 at the same angle as a desired inclination angle of the optical axis of the distal end portion 21 of the optical fiber cable 2 with respect to the normal of the light-receiving surface of the optical power meter probe.

In order to define more well the inclination angle of the optical axis of the distal end portion 21 of the optical fiber cable 2 with respect to the normal of the light receiving face of the optical power meter probe, the second adapter 300 may have an axial protrusion 330 on its end side toward the first adapter 100, and the axial protrusion 330 has a first orientation face 331 parallel to the bottom 323 of the receiving groove 322. With the bare fiber holder 200 accommodating the optical fiber of the optical fiber cable 2 received in the receiving groove 322, the distal end portion 21 of the optical fiber protruding from the front end of the bare fiber holder 200 may rest on the first orientation face 331. In order to allow the optical fiber of the optical fiber cable 2 to naturally extend from the bare fiber clamp 200 to the axial protrusion 330, or the first orientation face 331, of the second adapter 300, and to avoid bending of the optical fiber core, the distance between the first orientation face 331 and the bottom 323 of the receiving groove 322 may correspond to the distance between the groove 210 for accommodating the optical fiber core of the bare fiber clamp 200 and the bottom face 220 of the bare fiber clamp.

In order to well hold the bare fiber clip 200 on the second adapter 300, the second adapter 300 may have a clip holder 340 pivotable relative to the main body 320 between a first position (see fig. 7 and 8) in which the bare fiber clip 200 can be placed in or taken out from the receiving groove 322 and a second position (see fig. 9) in which the clip holder 340 can hold the bare fiber clip 200 in the receiving groove 322. Here, the clip holder 340 is hingedly connected to the main body 320 at one side of the receiving groove 322, and in the second position, the clip holder 340 is bridged from the one side of the receiving groove 322 (i.e., the side where the clip holder 340 is hingedly connected to the main body 320) to the other side of the receiving groove 322 over the bare fiber clip 200, thereby holding the bare fiber clip 200 between the clip holder 340 and the receiving groove 322. Here, the clamp holder 340 may have a profile matching the bare fiber clamp 200 at least in part.

In order to further define well the angle of inclination of the optical axis of the terminal portion 21 of the fiber optic cable 2 with respect to the normal of the light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe, the clamp holder 340 may have a tongue 341 on its side facing the first adapter 100, on which tongue 341 a second orientation face 342 is configured. In the second position of the clamp holder 340, the second orientation face 342 faces the first orientation face 331 and is parallel to the first orientation face 331, and the bare fiber clamp 200, or the distal end portion 21 of the optical fiber core protruding from the front end of the bare fiber clamp 200, is clamped between the first orientation face 331 and the second orientation face 342, for which reference can be made to fig. 12.

The main body 320 of the second adapter 300 may have a fitting portion 350 for fitting with the receiving chamber 111 of the first adapter 100, and the fitting portion 350 may abut against at least a part of a peripheral wall of the receiving chamber 111 when the second adapter 300 is received in the receiving chamber 111. As shown in fig. 8, the fitting portion 350 may have, as seen in cross section, cylindrical surfaces 351 and 352 on both sides matching a portion of the cylindrical surface of the receiving chamber 111, while having, between the cylindrical surfaces 351 and 352, a second plane 353 at the bottom of the fitting portion 350, the second plane 353 cooperating with the first plane 118 of the first adaptor 100 when the second adaptor 300 is engaged or disengaged with the first adaptor 100, so that the second adaptor 300 can only be inserted into the receiving chamber 111 in a predetermined angular position with respect to the receiving chamber 111. Furthermore, when the second adapter 300 is engaged with the first adapter 100, the end face 354 of the mating portion 350 facing the first adapter 100 can abut against the annular face 114 of the receiving portion 110 of the first adapter 100, so that an axial stop for the second adapter is formed (see fig. 12).

Fig. 11 and 12 show a perspective view and a sectional view of the first adapter 100, the second adapter 300, and the bare fiber clamp 200 in an assembled state, respectively. In this case, the first adapter 100 is connected to an optical power meter probe, not shown, while the second adapter 300 is received in the receiving chamber 111 of the first adapter 100, the end face 354 of the mating portion 350 of the second adapter 300 facing the first adapter 100 rests on the annular surface 114, and the axial projection 330 of the second adapter 300 is received in the second bore section 117.

Further, the free end section of the optical fiber core wire of the optical fiber cable 2 is accommodated in the bare fiber jig 200, and the bare fiber jig 200 is disposed in the second adapter 300 obliquely with respect to the normal line (i.e., the horizontal direction in fig. 12) of the light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe. The distal end portion 21 of the optical fiber core wire protruding from the front end of the bare fiber clamp 200 is clamped between the first orientation face 331 and the second orientation face 342, and the distal end portion 21 is directed substantially straight to the through opening 131 of the plate 130 or passes through the through opening 131, wherein an optical path passing through the through opening 131 can be formed between the optical fiber core wire of the optical fiber cable 2 and the optical power meter probe. Here, by the fitting of the bare fiber holder 200 with the receiving groove 322 of the second adapter 300 and by the fitting of the first orientation face 331 with the second orientation face 342, the optical axis of the optical fiber core wire of the optical fiber cable 2 at the end thereof facing the optical power meter probe has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to the normal of the light receiving face of the optical power meter probe.

Although exemplary embodiments of the present application have been described, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications can be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present application without substantially departing from the spirit and scope of the present application. Accordingly, all such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the present application.

Claims (20)

1. Adapter assembly for fiber optic cables, characterized in that it comprises a first adapter (100) and a second adapter (300), wherein,

the first adapter includes:

-a receiving portion (110) having a receiving chamber (111) configured for receiving a second adapter;

-a connection portion (120) configured for connecting a first adapter with an optical power meter probe; and

-a plate (130) having a through opening (131);

the second adapter comprises a receiving groove (322) configured for receiving at least a portion of a fiber optic connector of a fiber optic cable or a bare fiber clamp (200) in which a free end section of a fiber optic core of the fiber optic cable is receivable;

wherein, when the first adapter is connected with the optical power meter probe, the second adapter receives the at least a part of the optical fiber connector or the bare fiber clamp, and the second adapter is received in the receiving chamber, an optical path passing through the through opening can be formed between the optical fiber core wire of the optical fiber cable and the optical power meter probe, and an optical axis of the optical fiber core wire of the optical fiber cable at an end thereof facing the optical power meter probe has a predetermined inclination angle with respect to a normal of a light receiving surface of the optical power meter probe, the inclination angle being between 2 ° and 10 °.

2. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 1, wherein the angle of inclination is between 3 ° and 9 °.

3. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 1, wherein the receiving groove has a profile that matches a bare fiber clamp such that the bare fiber clamp is positionable in the receiving groove.

4. An adapter assembly for fibre optic cables according to claim 3, wherein the second adapter has a body with a flat upper surface which is parallel to the normal of the light receiving face of the optical power meter probe when the first adapter is connected with the optical power meter probe and the second adapter is received in the receiving chamber, the receiving slot being provided in the body and having a flat bottom which is inclined at the inclined angle relative to the upper surface of the body.

5. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 4, wherein the second adapter has an axial projection on an end side thereof facing the first adapter, the axial projection having a first orientation plane parallel to the bottom of the receiving slot.

6. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 5, wherein a distance between the first orientation face and the bottom of the receiving groove corresponds to a distance between a groove of a bare fiber clamp for receiving an optical fiber and a bottom surface of the bare fiber clamp.

7. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 5, wherein the second adapter has a clip retainer (340) pivotable relative to the main body between a first position in which a bare fiber clip can be placed in or removed from the receiving slot and a second position in which the clip retainer can retain the bare fiber clip in the receiving slot.

8. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 7, wherein the clamp holder has a second orientation face facing and parallel to the first orientation face in the second position of the clamp holder, the bare fiber clamp or an end section of the fiber core protruding from the bare fiber clamp being clamped between the first and second orientation faces.

9. An adapter assembly for fibre optic cables according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the receiving portion, the connecting portion and the plate are each constituted as separate components, wherein the plate retains the connecting portion captive on the receiving portion.

10. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of any of claims 1-8, wherein the connecting portion has internal threads configured for threaded connection with an optical power meter probe.

11. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of any of claims 1-8, wherein the receiving portion includes a cylindrical body portion (112) having a receiving chamber and a neck (113), the cylindrical body portion transitioning to the neck through an annular face (114) that forms an axial stop for the second adapter.

12. An adapter assembly for fibre optic cables according to claim 11, wherein the connecting portion is removably fitted over the neck, the plate being secured to an end side of the neck, an edge portion of the plate projecting radially from the neck forming an axial stop for the connecting portion, the edge portion cooperating with an internal flange of the connecting portion to retain the connecting portion captive on the receiving portion.

13. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the plate has an alignment pin (134) configured such that the plate has a predetermined angular position relative to the optical power meter probe when the first adapter is connected with the optical power meter probe.

14. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 12, wherein the plate is removably secured to the end side of the neck by a plurality of screws.

15. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 12, wherein the plate has three alignment pins evenly distributed around the through opening, the alignment pins configured such that the plate has a predetermined angular position relative to the optical power meter probe when the first adapter is connected to the optical power meter probe; and the plate is detachably fastened to the end face of the neck by three screws distributed uniformly around the through opening.

16. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 12, wherein the neck has a first bore section (116) surrounded by the annular face and a second reduced diameter bore section (117) immediately adjacent the first bore section, the second adapter having an axial projection on an end side thereof facing the first adapter, the axial projection being received in the second bore section when the second adapter is received in the receiving chamber.

17. An adapter assembly for fibre optic cables according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the receiving chamber and the second adapter have a non-circular cross-section such that the second adapter can only be inserted into the receiving chamber in a predetermined angular position relative to the receiving chamber.

18. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of claim 17, wherein the receiving portion has a first planar surface (118) defining a portion of a peripheral wall of the receiving chamber, and the second adapter has a second planar surface (353) that cooperates with the first planar surface when the second adapter is engaged or disengaged with the first adapter.

19. An adapter assembly for a fibre optic cable according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the fibre optic cable is a fibre optic cable pigtail.

20. The adapter assembly for fiber optic cables of any of claims 1-8, wherein the fiber optic cable is a ribbon-like fiber optic cable.

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