MX2007001825A - Fiber tip detector apparatus and related methods - Google Patents

Abstract

A system and method are described for controlling acceptance of a fiber connector. A configurable adapter (100) is employed for connecting fiber connectors to a laser housing. A specific version of the adapter (100) permits connecting both general-purpose and specific-purpose fiber connectors to the laser housing. A less versatile configuration of the adapter (100) permits connecting general-purpose fiber connectors to the laser housing, but rejects specific-purpose Fiber connectors.

Description

FIBER POINT DETECTOR DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED REQUESTS This application claims the benefit of the US Patent application. Serial number 60 / 587,915, all the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. This application relates to the U.S. Patent. Number 6,829,427, all the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates generally to cutting and treatment devices and more particularly to housings receiving different types of waveguides, such as fibers and fiber tips. 2. Description of the Related Art Optical cutters are well known in medical, dental and industrial environments. In general, optical cutters employ an electromagnetic energy source such as a laser source, and a fiber-optics system connected to the laser source. The fiber optic system is configured to direct a laser beam through one or more fibers of the laser to a surface to be cut. The optical fiber system can be contained within a tube of optical fibers. The fiber optic tube may have a device at one end (a distal end) for controlling the supply of electromagnetic energy to a surface to be cut. Another end (a proximal end) of the fiber optic tube may include a fiber connector for connecting to the laser source, which may be contained within a laser housing.

The fiber tubes may contain one or more optical fibers that differ in certain physical properties. The properties of the fibers and their connectors can be selected according to an application in which the optical cutter will be used. For example, optical fibers of a generic medical nature can be selected from surgical applications in general. As another example, a specialized fiber and associated connector can serve to operate as a handpiece for tooth whitening. A fiber used in medical applications in general may cost less than a fiber designed for a more specialized or advanced surgical procedure. A relatively expensive laser source can accept a whole group of fibers including both general purpose and specialized fibers. A relatively less expensive laser source can accept only general-purpose fibers. There is a need for a device capable of differentiating between general-purpose and specialized fibers, so that, for example, relatively expensive specialized fibers can not be used with relatively inexpensive laser sources. There is an additional need for a device capable of accepting both general purpose and specialized fibers. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention addresses these needs and provides, in accordance with one embodiment, apparatuses and methods to avoid acceptance of a specialized fiber by a relatively inexpensive laser source. An alternate modality provides an apparatus and method for accepting both general purpose and specialized fibers.

According to one implementation, the present invention may comprise a method for accepting a fiber connector. The implementation may comprise providing an adapter configured in one of a general configuration and a specific configuration. The implementation further comprises accepting a specific purpose fiber connector. when the adapter is configured in a specific way. The further implementation comprises accepting one of a general purpose fiber connector and a specific purpose fiber connector, when the adapter is configured in a specific manner. Another implementation of the method comprises rejecting a specific purpose fiber connector when an adapter configured in the general configuration is provided. The present invention further comprises a system for controlling acceptance of a fiber connector. The system can comprise, according to one embodiment, an adapter capable of being configured in one of a general configuration and a specific configuration. When configured in a general manner, the adapter is capable of accepting a general purpose fiber connector. When configured specifically, the adapter is capable of accepting one of a general purpose fiber connector and a specific purpose fiber connector. While the apparatus and method have or will be described for reasons of grammatical fluency, with functional explanations, it will be expressly understood that the claims, unless expressly formulated under 35 USC 112, shall not be construed as necessarily limited in any way by the construction of limitations of "means" or "stages" but they must be granted the full scope of meaning and definition equivalents that are provided by the claims under the judicial doctrine of equivalents and in the case where the claims are expressly formulated under 35 USC 112 they must be granted complete statutory equivalents under 35 USC 112. Any characteristic or combination of characteristics described herein are included within the scope of the present invention, provided that the features included in any such combination are not mutually inconsistent as will be apparent from the context, this specification and the knowledge of a person skilled in the art. In addition, any feature or combination of features can be specifically excluded from any mode of the present invention. For purposes of summarizing the present invention, certain aspects, advantages and novel features of the present invention are described. Of course, it will be understood that not necessarily all of these aspects, advantages or features will be incorporated in any particular implementation of the present invention. Advantages and additional aspects of the present invention are apparent in the following detailed description and claims that follow. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a flow chart illustrating an implementation of a method of the present invention; FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram of a portion of an embodiment of an adapter capable of recognizing a terminal configuration; FIG. 3a is an illustrative diagram of a four-terminal housing, suitable for fibers used in general surgical applications; FIG. 3b is an illustrative diagram of a two terminal housing suitable for fibers used in special or advanced purpose applications; FIG. 4 is a top view of one embodiment of a suitable apparatus for connecting a fiber housing to a link housing according to the present invention; FIG. 5 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 4 configured to connect either fibers used in general surgical applications or fibers used in advanced applications to a laser housing; and FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the embodiment of the adapter of Fig. 4 configured to connect only fibers used in general surgical applications to a laser housing. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Where possible, like or similar reference numbers are used in the drawings and description, to refer to the same or similar parts. It should be noted that the drawings are in simplified form and not at precise scale. With reference to the present description, for purposes of convenience and clarity only, directional terms such as upper, lower, left, right, above, below, above, above, below, below, posterior, frontal, northwest, northeast, southwest and southeast, may be employed with respect to the accompanying drawings. These directional terms shall not be considered to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

Although the present description refers to certain illustrated modalities, it will be understood that these modalities are presented only by way of example and not by way of limitation. The intention of the following detailed description, although discussing exemplary modalities, will be considered to cover all modifications, alternatives and equivalents of the modalities that may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. It will be understood and appreciated that the structures described here do not cover a complete description, for example of laser housings. The present invention may be practiced in conjunction with various devices and methods that are conventionally employed in the art and only as to the commonly practiced structures and steps included herein or as necessary to provide an understanding of the present invention. The present invention has applicability in the field of devices for treatment and disposal of material and processes in general. For illustrative purposes, however, the following description refers to a modality comprising an exemplary device and method for differentiating between fiber connectors for general purposes and specific purposes. Although the present disclosure relates for example to a fiber detecting apparatus for detecting and providing information regarding optical fibers that are connected to a laser source that is used, for example to remove material from surfaces, such as biological surfaces, the apparatuses and methods of the present invention will not be limited to said descriptions. The apparatus may be used to detect waveguides (for example fibers) or other connections in any system, when, for example, the physical properties of the waveguides or connections may be relevant determinants in the operation or applicability. general or specific system. Additionally, in the case of fibers, other energy sources can be transmitted through the fibers, and the devices can be used to remove material from various types of surfaces susceptible to these processes. For example, in addition to medical applications, the apparatus can be used in devices that are used to etch material from non-biological surfaces such as metal or silicon chips. In addition, the apparatus of the invention can be used for example in various optical systems employing waveguides (for example optical fibers) to direct energy (for example light energy) to a surface to be examined. With reference more particularly to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating an aspect of a method of the present invention. The illustrated implementation discriminates between first types of connections such as general purpose surgical fiber connectors (referred to as general purpose fiber connectors) and second types of connections, such as fiber connectors designed for specialty applications (referred to as fiber connectors). of specific purposes). The discrimination can be controlled according to an adapter configuration, the adapter is provided in step 10. In accordance with an illustrative embodiment, the adapter can be used to connect a fiber connector to a laser source. As more particularly described below with reference to FIGS. 3a and 3b, a fiber connector can be formed as a cube comprising a collection of terminals that can be arranged in a circle. The adapter may comprise surfaces containing pins or conductive terminals, which are electrically isolated from each other and which are arranged in a portion of the adapter that makes mechanical contact with the hub. The fiber connector terminals can realize electrical contact with the surfaces that contact adapter terminals. For example, the adapter may comprise four surfaces that contact conductive terminals arranged in a circle. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, mechanical and / or electrical characteristics of the terminals of a fiber connector and of the surfaces contacting terminals of the adapter, may be designed to allow the adapter to distinguish between general-purpose fiber connectors and fiber connectors for specific purposes. In an exemplary embodiment, the adapter can be configured into one of a general configuration and a specific configuration. Step 15 of an implementation of the method illustrated in FIG. 1, comprises determining the configuration of the adapter. This determination can be carried out, for example, by the laser source. For example, the configuration of the adapter can be determined by the electrical characteristics of the terminal contact surfaces. If the adapter is configured in general, another test can be performed in step 20 to determine a type of fiber connector. The determination of the type of fiber connector can be carried out, for example, by the adapter and / or laser source. The type = of fiber connector, which can be one of a general purpose fiber connector and a specific purpose fiber connector, can be indicated by the mechanical and / or electrical characteristics of the terminals placed on the fiber connector. If the fiber connector is a general purpose fiber connector, then the fiber connector is accepted in step 30. The fiber connector is rejected in step 35, if the fiber connector is a specific purpose fiber connector. , when the adapter is configured in general. If the adapter is configured specifically, then a test is performed in step 25 to determine the type of fiber connector. A purpose fiber connector specific is accepted in step 40 and a general-purpose fiber connector is also accepted in step 45. In a typical embodiment, fiber connectors for specific purposes can be relatively expensive. The invention provides a method with which relatively expensive fiber connectors can be rejected by certain devices. For example, when configuring the adapter in a general configuration (for example low cost), fiber connectors for specific purposes may not be accepted by the adapter. On the other hand, when configuring the adapter in a specific configuration (for example high cost), a general-purpose or purpose-specific fiber connector can already be accepted. FIG. 2 is an illustrative diagram of a portion of an embodiment of an adapter 100 capable of recognizing a terminal configuration. The illustrated embodiment comprises four contact surfaces of conductive terminals 101, 102, 103 and 104 arranged in a circle. For convenience, the surface 101 can be referred to as a northeast surface. Similarly, the remaining surfaces 102, 103 and 104 can be referred respectively as southeast, southwest and northwest. The conductive surfaces 101, 102, 103 and 104 are electrically connected by respective electrical connections 107, 108, 109 and 110 with respective terminal areas 111, 112, 113 and 114. The terminal areas 1, 112, 113 and 14 can be connected in various ways. forms by sources 120, 125, 130 and 135, in order to establish a configuration of the adapter 100. For example, the bridge 120 can be electrically connected to the terminal areas 114 and 111, thereby establishing an electrical connection between the northwest surface 104 and the surface -north 101. Similarly, the bridge 125 can be electrically connected to the terminal pads 112 and 113, to establish a connection electrical between the southwest surface 103 and the southeast surface 102. As more particularly described below with reference to FIG. 3b connecting bridges 120 and 125 as described, can configure adapter 100 in a specific configuration. In certain implementations, when bridges are not connected between terminal areas 111, 112, 113 and 114, the adapter 100 may be said to be configured in a general manner. According to another embodiment, connecting the terminal areas 114 and 112 with a bridge 130 and connecting the terminal areas 111 and 113 with another bridge 135 can also configure the adapter 00 in a general manner. An illustrative diagram of a general purpose fiber connecting mode is illustrated in Figure 3a. The illustrated embodiment comprises a nominal cylindrical housing, which may be a housing of the SMA (Scale Manufacturers Association) 200, which supports 4 electrically conductive terminals 201, 202, 203 and 204. Each fiber connector may have a laser fiber connected thereto. , capable of receiving laser energy from a laser housing. The electrically conductive terminals 201, 202, 203 and 204 in the illustrated embodiment can be electrically connected in conjunction with electrical connections 211, 212, 213 and 214, which electrically connect each of the electrically conductive terminals 201, 202, 203 and 204 with a common point 215. In alternate form, the housing SMA 200 may be formed of conductive material such as metal connecting the electrically conductive terminals 201, 202, 203 and 204 together electrically. The illustrated embodiment further comprises a fiber guide portion 205 in which an optional key 206 may be formed. The fiber guide portion 205 may correspond to an opening 105 in the adapter 100 (FIG. 2). The general purpose fiber connector can be connected to the adapter 100 in such a way that the fiber guide portion 205 (FIG 3a) fits into the opening (FIG 2), such that the adapter 100 is aligned example mechanically aligns with the general purpose fiber connector). Additionally, the opening 105 may have a notch 106 that engages the key 206 (FIG 3a) in the fiber guide portion 205. When the key 206 engages in the notch 106 (FIG 2), the electrically conductive terminals 201, 202, 203 and 204 (FIG 3a) can make electrical contact with the contact surfaces of respective conductive terminals 101, 102, 103 and 104 (FIG 2). The fiber guide portion 205 may also have a size corresponding to that of an aperture 360 placed on a printed circuit board (PC = Printed circuit) fiber detector 305 as described further below with reference in Figures 4-7. . In modified embodiments, other alignment structures known to those skilled in the art or none at all of alignment structures, may be implemented alone or in combination with one or more of the fiber guide portion 205, key 206, opening 105, notch 106 and opening 360. In accordance with one embodiment, a key 206 and notch 106 are not used and an alternative structure (for example optics) and protocol are employed, for example to align the electrically conductive terminals 201, 202, 203 and 204 (FIG. 3a) with the contact surfaces of conductive terminals 101, 102, 103 and 104 (FIG 2). The embodiment of the illustrated adapter portion 100 of Figure 2 may facilitate acceptance rather than rejection of a general purpose fiber connector, which has been connected to the adapter 100. For example, with reference to Figure 2, the connections 141 and 144 respectively can connect to the northwest surface 104 and the southwest surface 103. The electrical connection 141 can be connected to a voltage or 5 V supply and a resistor and / or high impedance power of a decision device, which has for example a central processing unit (UPC = Central Processing Unit). The electrical connection 144 can also be connected to a ground terminal that can also be connected to the CPU. As it is currently incorporated, when there is no fiber connector connected to the adapter 100, there is no electrical path within the adapter 100 connecting the electrical connections 141 and 144. According to this a detected voltage Vs 150 in the illustrated embodiment acquires a value of approximately 5 V that can be interpreted by the CPU as a high logical state. The CPU can be designed to not accept a connector when a high logic state is present. When a general purpose fiber connector, for example the general purpose fiber connector illustrated in Figure 3a is connected to the adapter 100, a conduit path is established between the electrical connection 141, the conductive surface 104, terminal 204 ( FIG 3a), electrical connection 214, common point 215, electrical connection 213, terminal 203, conducting surface 103 and electrical connection 144. (It should be noted that in this exemplary embodiment, the identified conductive path is set independently of the configuration of bridges 120, 125, 130 and 135). Consequently, the detected voltage Vs 150 becomes essentially 0 volts, a value that can be detected by the CPU as a low logic state. The CPU can then cause the general purpose fiber connector to be accepted. Accordingly, regardless of the presence or configuration of bridges 120, 125, 130 and 135, the general purpose fiber connector of Figure 3a will be accepted by the CPU, which in the embodiment Current is configured to accept connectors before detection of a low logic state. Figure 3b is an illustrative diagram of one embodiment of another fiber connector to the illustrated fiber connector, which is a specific purpose fiber connector. In contrast to the architecture of the general purpose fiber connector of Figure 3a, the illustrated embodiment of Figure 3b comprises a nominally cylindrical housing, for example a housing SMA 220, supporting no. but 2 electrically conductive terminals 221 and 223. The electrically conductive terminals 221 and 223 are electrically connected together. For example, the electrically conductive terminals 221 and 223 can be electrically connected through respective electrical connections 231 and 233 which themselves connect to a common point 235. A fiber guide portion 225 and key 226 can facilitate the mechanical connection and aligning the specific purpose fiber connector with the adapter 100 (FIG.2) in the same manner as already described for the general purpose fiber connector illustrated in FIG. 3a. Now consider what happens when the specific purpose fiber connector of Figure 3b is connected to the adapter 100 of Figure 2 with the adapter 100 configured in a general manner. First, suppose that the adapter 100 is configured without bridges 120, 125, 130 and 135 connected. Due to the action of the key 226 and the notch 106, connecting to the specific purpose fiber connector of Figure 3b with the adapter 100 brings the terminal 221 in contact (for example electrical contact) with the conductive surface 101 and in addition it brings the terminal 223 in contact (for example electrical contact) with the conductive surface 103. It will be appreciated that no conductive path is established between the electrical connections 141 and 144 in this example. Similarly, if the adapter 100 is configured with bridges 130 and 135 connecting respectively the terminal pads 114 and 112 and the terminal pads 111 and 113, it will be noted that again there is no conduction path between the electrical connections 141 and 144 In both cases, the detection voltage Vs 150 acquires a value of approximately 5 V, which can be interpreted by the CPU as a high logic state. Accordingly, the CPU does not accept the purpose-specific fiber connector when the adapter 100 is configured in a general manner. Adapter 100 can be configured specifically by connecting jumper 120 (FIG.2) to connect terminal pads 114 and 111 and by connecting jumper 125 to connect terminal pads 112 and 113. When the purpose fiber connector specific of Figure 3b is connected to the adapter 100, the terminal 221 again contacts the driving surface 101, and the terminal 223 again contacts the conductive surface 103. Due to the action of the bridges 20 and 125 in this example, establishes a conductive path between the electrical connections 141 and 44. That is, the electrical connection 141 is connected to the surface 104 which is electrically connected by the conductive path 110 to the terminal area 114. The terminal area 114 is electrically connected through the bridge 120 with terminal area 111, which is electrically connected to surface 101 by conductive path 07. Conductive surface 101 makes electrical contact with terminal 221 (FIG. 3b), which is electrically connected to the terminal 223 through the electrical connection 231, common point 235 and the electrical connection 233. The terminal 223 is connected in turn to the conductive surface 103 which is connected to the electrical connection 144, in this way completing a conductive path between the electrical connection 141 and the electrical connection 144. The complete conductive path causes the detection voltage Vs 150 to be essentially 0, thus estimating a low logic state that can be detected by the CPU, which can cause the specific purpose fiber connector to be accepted. Similarly, the general purpose fiber connector illustrated in Figure 3a is similarly accepted by the CPU when the adapter 00 is specifically configured. That is, for example the electrical connection 141, electrically connects to the surface 104 electrically connecting to the conduction path 110, which electrically connects to the terminal pad 114, this electrically connect to the pin 120, which electrically connects to the terminal area 111, which connects to the driving path 107, this electrically connects with the conducting surface 101 which makes electrical contact with the terminal 201 (FIG 3a), which electrically connects with the electrical connection 211, which electrically connects to the common point 215, which electrically connects to the electrical connection 213, which electrically connects to the terminal 203, which makes electrical contact with the conducting surface 103, which electrically connects to the electrical connection 144. The newly established conduction path causes the voltage of the Vs 150 detection becomes essentially 0, which leads to accept the fiber connector of p General requests by the CPU. It will be appreciated that the combination of the fiber connectors of the types illustrated in Figures 3a and 3b and the adapter 100, as illustrated in Figure 2, comprises a system capable of controlling the acceptance by a laser source of a connector. of fibers. In particular, the system causes fiber connectors of specific purposes (ie, high cost) to be rejected when the adapter 100 is configured in a general manner. The system also causes acceptance of both general-purpose fiber connectors and connectors of fibers of specific purposes when the adapter 100 is configured in the special form. Figures 4-6 are illustrative diagrams showing a portion of a modality of a laser housing comprising an apparatus 300 capable of facilitating discrimination between connectors of general purpose fibers and specific purposes, according to the present invention. The connection of the laser housing apparatus 300 can effectively characterize the laser housing as a first type (for example version A) of laser housing or a second type (for example version B) of laser housing. In general, a version A laser housing can accept both general purpose and specific purpose fiber connectors, and a laser version B housing can accommodate only general purpose fiber connectors. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, fiber connectors of specific purposes may comprise (eg, a whole group of fibers may be formed, sold or manufactured with), while general purpose fiber connectors may comprise (e.g. can be formed, sold or manufactured with) only a subgroup of the entire group of fibers, such as fibers of a general surgical nature. In an exemplary embodiment, each fiber connection is provided (e.g., sold or connected) with a fiber, wherein each general purpose fiber connection may have a general purpose fiber connected and each specific purpose fiber connection may have a connection in the form of a fiber of specific purpose. The apparatus 300 can therefore be configured (for example by the adapter 100), to function as a laser housing version A, thus facilitating the accommodation of a whole group of fibers, and to function as a laser housing version B with what that the accommodation of only a subset of fibers is facilitated. (A laser housing version B typically rejects fibers that are not in the subgroup). For example, a laser housing version B may be a less expensive version that only hosts fibers of a general surgical nature, while a laser housing version A that may be more expensive, may be constructed to house in addition to fibers of a general surgical nature, at least an additional part of (and preferably a complete part of) another collection (for example more specialized, advanced and / or more expensive) of fibers throughout the group. An example of one of the fibers that can be housed by a laser housing version A and not by a laser housing version B is a whitening fiber connector that operates as a whitening handpiece when used with a laser housing version A. In this For example, both laser housings version A and version B can accommodate general surgical fibers. The embodiment of the apparatus 300 illustrated in Figure 4 comprises a fiber sensing circuit board 305 (illustrated in top view), which may comprise an SMA receptacle capable of accepting a fiber connector (see Figures 3a and 3b) implemented as an SMA accommodation. The SMA housing may comprise a fiber guide portion 205 (see Figure 3a) constructed to be inserted through an aperture 360 of the fiber detector printed circuit board and subsequently into a fiber guide receiving aperture (not shown) of a SMA receptacle of the laser housing. The illustrated embodiment of the printed circuit board 305 has conductive surfaces arranged circularly in quadrants 301, 302, 303 and 304. The respective quadrants 301, 302, 303 and 304 are electrically connected to terminals 311, 312, 313 and 314 that can pass through. through the printed circuit board fiber detector 305.

Conducting terminals 320 and 322 connect terminals 311 and 314 to a female socket 325. Female plug 325 can mechanically connect to plug 327, in this way electrically connecting the conductive terminal 320 with a supply voltage, for example + 5V 328, through a resistor 329. The socket 325 can also connect the conductive terminal 320 to a power supply of a detection device having for example a CPU typically positioned within the laser housing. The mechanical connection further connects the conductive terminal 321 to a ground terminal 326 equally located within the laser housing. According to an exemplary embodiment, the fiber detector printed circuit board 305 is mechanically coupled to the laser housing using screws (also not shown) passing through openings 350 351. A detection device, which may comprise a CPU, in the The laser housing can monitor a voltage Vs 335 between the lead terminals 320 and 321 when the socket 325 and the plug 327 are connected. The CPU can interpret a nominal value of 5V for Vs 335, to represent a high logic state. A nominal value 0 for Vs 335 can be interpreted as a low logic state by the CPU. A low basic logic state detected by the CPU may cause a fiber connector to be accepted as described more particularly below. A side view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 is illustrated in FIG. 5 and shows a connection 315 of the conductive terminal 320 to the terminal 311. A corresponding connection of the conductive terminal 321 to the terminal 314 is not illustrated. The connections can be used forming methods well known in the art. For example, a welding method can be used.

The apparatus 300 of FIG. 4 is illustrated in bottom view in FIG. 6, wherein one bridge 316 electrically connects terminal 311 to terminal 312 and another bridge 317 electrically connects terminal 313 to terminal 314. Bridges similar to bridges 3 6 and 317 can be selectively used to configure apparatus 300 into one of two versions. For example, a relatively more versatile version of the apparatus 300, for example an A version of the apparatus 300 may be able to accept either a general-purpose or a specific purpose fiber connection. A less versatile version, for example a Type B version of the apparatus 300 may be able to accept only a general purpose fiber connection. An apparatus of type B 300 version, it will be understood that it will not accept a fiber connection of specific purposes. According to an exemplary embodiment of the apparatus 300, placing the bridge 316 to connect the terminals 311 and 312 and placing the bridge 317 to connect the terminals 313 and 314, configures the apparatus 300 as type version A. Another embodiment of the apparatus 300 illustrated in FIG. 7 does not comprise bridges, thus configuring the apparatus 300 as a type B version. In an alternate mode (not shown) the apparatus 300 is configured as version B type by employing a first bridge to connect the terminal 311 with the terminal 313 and a second bridge for connecting terminal 312 with terminal 314. Apparatus 300 illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6 can be used in conjunction with fiber connectors similar to those illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. In particular, a connecting of general purpose fibers as illustrated in FIG. 3a can be connected to the apparatus 300 of FIG. 4, with the fiber guide portion 205 and (optionally) a key 206 oriented to engage with a coupling opening (optionally comprising a notch) 360 in the fiber-sensing printed circuit board 305. When so oriented, electrically conductive terminals 201, 202, 203 and 204 in the connector of FIG. 3a can respectively make electrical contact with the quadrants 301, 302, 303 and 304 on the fiber detector printed circuit board 305 of FIG. 4. With apparatus 300 configured as version A type (for example with bridge 316 connecting terminal 311 to terminal 312 and with bridge 317 connecting terminals 313 and 314 as illustrated in FIG. 6), forms a conduction path, for example by the conductive terminal 320, terminal 311, quadrant 301, terminal 201 (FIG 3a), electrical connection 211, common point 215, electrical connection 214, terminal 204, quadrant 304 (FIG 4) terminal 314 and conductive terminal 321. When the socket 326 is connected to the plug 327 (FIG 4), the conductive path causes a detected voltage Vs 335 to be essentially zero, a condition that can be interpreted by the CPU as a state low logic, thereby causing a laser housing having an A version version 300 device (ie a laser housing version A) connected to it to accept the general purpose fiber connector. In addition, an apparatus of type version A 300 is capable of accepting a fiber connector of specific purposes. To demonstrate with a fiber connector of specific purposes as illustrated in FIG. 3b connected to the apparatus 300 of FIG. 4, the apparatus 300 is configured as a version A-type terminal 221 (FIG 3b) makes electrical contact with the dial 301 (FIG 4), and the terminal 223 makes electrical contact with the dial 303 (FIG 4) when the Fiber guide portion 225 and key 226 (FIG.3b) are mechanically coupled with the opening and notch 360 (FIG.4) of the fiber detector printed circuit board 305. In this case, a conductive path is formed by the conductive terminal 320, terminal 311, quadrant 301, terminal 221 (FIG 3b), electrical connection 231, common point 235, electrical connection 233terminal 223, quadrant 303, terminal 313, bridge 317 (FIG 6), terminal 314 and conductive terminal 321. Connecting the socket 325 with the male plug 327 again causes the detected voltage Vs 335 to be essentially zero. The CPU can interpret the essentially zero voltage as a low logic state and can cause the laser housing to accept the connection of specific purpose fibers when the apparatus 300 is configured as version A type. When the apparatus 300 is configured as version B type, a general purpose fiber link can be accepted as illustrated in FIG, 3a, but a connecting of specific purpose fibers as illustrated in FIG. 3b can be rejected by a laser housing having a version B 300 type apparatus connected. Consider, for example, connecting the general-purpose fiber link of the type illustrated in FIG. 3a to the apparatus 300 as already described where the apparatus 300 is configured as version B type. In particular, consider that there are no jumpers connecting any of the terminals 311, 312, 313 and 314 with any of the same terminals 311, 312 , 313 and 314. A conductive path is formed in this case between the conductive terminal 320 and the conductive terminal 321, for example as follows. The conductive terminal 320 connects to the terminal 311 that connects to the quadrant 301, which contacts the terminal 201 (FIG 3a), which connects to the electrical connection 211 that connects to the common point 215, which connects to the electrical connection 214, which connects to terminal 204, which makes contact with dial 304 which connects terminal 314, which connects to conductive terminal 321. Accordingly, when socket 325 connects to plug 327, the detected voltage Vs 335 becomes Essentially zero, and the connecting of general purposes is accepted as already described. For him On the contrary, when the connection of specific purpose fibers (FIG 3b) connects with the version B 300 type apparatus, no conductive path is formed, the detected voltage Vs 335 maintains a value interpreted by the CPU as a high logical state, and the connecting fibers of specific purposes (FIG 3b) is not accepted. To sum up, when a two-terminal fiber connector (see FIG 3b) is coupled to a laser housing version B, the two terminals 221 and 223 contact the quadrants 301 and 303. In embodiments where a second key is placed in the fiber guide portion 205 opposite key 206, the two terminals 221 and 223 may contact either quadrants 301 and 303 or quadrants 303 and 301, respectively. In embodiments where the key 206 is not used, the two terminals 221 and 223 may contact the quadrants 301 and 303, quadrants 303 and 301, quadrants 302 and 304 or quadrants 304 and 302. In either of these cases, the quadrants 301 and 304 are not electrically connected, so that the laser housing will not accept the connection of two-terminal fibers. According to certain aspects of the present invention, similar or identical variant laser housings can be configured as either version A laser housings or laser housings version B simply by coupling the socket 325 (FIG 4) of a corresponding version A type apparatus. 300 (FIGS 4-6) or a version B 300 type apparatus (FIG 7) to the male plug 327 (FIG 4). As already described, a fiber sensing printed circuit board of an apparatus 300, configured as a version A or version B type can be mechanically coupled to a laser housing with screws inserted through openings 350 and 351. A user (eg example a customer) therefore you can buy a version A or B version hosting and you can also acquire / obtain various fibers connected to fiber connectors adapted to be connected to the laser housings. That is, since only four-terminal fiber connectors with a laser housing version B can be used in the illustrated embodiment, two-terminal fibers (ie two-terminal fiber connectors) will be rejected by a laser housing unless example, a client or user would improve it to a laser housing version A. For example, having already purchased a laser version B, the client can be presented subsequently with an option to pay an additional amount and improve their accommodation to function as a laser version A. The improvement can be achieved by replacing a laser housing version B with a laser housing incorporating a version type A 300 device. Corresponding or related structures and methods described in the following patents assigned to BioLase Technology, Inc., are hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, where this incorporation includes a corresponding related structure (and its modi fications) in the following patents that may be (i) operable with, (ii) modified by a person skilled in the art to be operable with, and / or (iii) implemented / used with or in combination with any or all parts of the present invention in accordance with this description, that / those of the patents and the knowledge and judgment of a person with skill in the art: US Patents No. 5,741,247; US Patents No. 5,785,521; US Patents number 5,968,037; US Patents 6,086,367; US Patents 6,231,567; US Patents 6,254,597; US Patents No. 6,288,499; US Patents 6,350,123; US Patents 6,389,193; US Patents 6,544,256; US Patents 6,561,803; US Patents number 6,567,582; Patents of ios E.U.A. 6,610,053; US Patents 6,616,447; US Patents number 6,616,451; US Patents 6,669,685; US Patents No. 6,744,790 and U.S. Pat. number 6,821,272. The above-described embodiments have been provided by way of example and the present invention is not limited to these examples. For example, some modalities can. use 3, 6, 8 or another number of terminals instead of 2 or 4, as used in the example presented here. Implementation of general purpose connectors and specific purposes can be modified in such a way that the general purpose connectors have two terminals and the specific purpose connectors have four terminals. In this case, the roles or functions of high and low logic states in the CPU (see Fig. 4) can be reversed. Other contact mechanisms between the connector and the adapter 100 (FIG.2) or the apparatus 300 (FIG.4) may be used. For example, inductive radiofrequency or optical magnetic methods / devices can be used in some embodiments. The present invention may have applicability in the context of various configurations and components, such as connectors and adapters, to provide discrimination between various types of users, processes, protocols and / or equipment. Although described in the context of a multi-state system to provide discrimination between two states (e.g. general purpose and specialized equipment) more than two states of various types may be provided in modified modes and / or applications (such as applications to provide identification of user, device, process or system). An example of this modified application may include implementation of radio frequency identification implementations (RFID = Radio-Frequency Identification) where, for example, RF signals are provided in addition to or as an alternative to the terminal terminals and contact surfaces described above. For example, in embodiments where terminals and contact surfaces of terminals discussed above are omitted, circuits and / or microprocessors may be used to facilitate communication (e.g., RFID communication using any type of communications protocol, meta or functionality known per se). those with skill in the art) between devices and / or users for various purposes including those set forth above and others, such as discrimination between (eg, identification of) different users and / or equipment. As already mentioned, according to other modifications, the key 206 and notch 106 implementations may not be required in some embodiments. Multiple variations and modification to the described modalities, to the extent not mutually exclusive, will occur to those with skill in the technique before considering the previous description. Additionally, other combinations, omissions, substitutions and modifications will be apparent to: the person skilled in the art in view of the present disclosure. Accordingly, the present invention will not be limited by the described embodiments, but will be defined by reference to the appended claims.

Claims (13)

1. CLAIMS 1. A method for accepting a fiber connector, the method is characterized in that it comprises: providing an adapter configured in one of a general configuration and a specific configuration; accept a general purpose fiber connector when the adapter is configured in general; and accept one of a general purpose fiber connector and a fiber connector of specific purposes when the adapter is configured in a specific manner.
2. 2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that it further comprises rejecting a fiber connector of specific purposes when the adapter is configured in a general manner.
3. 3. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the provision comprises providing an adapter configured in a general manner and having four contact surfaces of conductive terminals, arranged circularly in order such as northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest.
4. 4. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that a general purpose fiber connector comprises accepting a fiber connector having four terminals electrically connected as a whole, the four terminals are capable of making electrical contact with the four surfaces that contact conductive terminals.
5. 5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising: electrically connecting the contact surfaces of the northwest and southeast terminals; and electrically connect the contact surfaces of the northeast and southwest terminals.
6. 6. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that providing comprises providing an adapter configured in a specific configuration having four electrically isolated contact surfaces of conductive terminals, arranged circularly in order such as northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest, and wherein the The method further comprises: electrically connecting the northwest and northeast terminal contact surfaces; and electrically connect the contact surfaces of the southeast and southwest terminus.
7. The method according to claim 6, characterized in that accepting comprises accepting a fiber connector of specific purposes having two electrically connected terminals as a whole, the two terminals being capable of making electrical contact with one of a northwest-southeast pair of contact surfaces of conductive terminals and a northeast-southwest pair of contact surfaces of conductive terminals.
8. 8. A system for controlling the acceptance of a fiber connector, the system is characterized in that it comprises an adapter capable of being configured in one of a general configuration and a specific configuration, the adapter is capable of accepting a general purpose fiber connector, When the adapter is configured in a general manner, the adapter is capable of accepting one of a general-purpose fiber connector and a fiber-specific connector, when the adapter is configured specifically.
9. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that the adapter, when configured in a general manner, comprises four electrically isolated surfaces of conductive terminal contacts, arranged circularly in order such as northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest.
10. 10. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that it also comprises a general purpose fiber connector comprising four electrically connected terminals, the four terminals are capable of making electrical contact with the four contact surfaces of conductive terminals.
11. The system according to claim 9, characterized in that: the contact surfaces of the northwest and southeast terminals are electrically connected; and the contact surfaces of the northeast and southwest terminals are electrically connected.
12. The system according to claim 8, characterized in that: the adapter, when configured in a specific manner, comprises four contact surfaces of conductive terminals, arranged circularly in order such as northeast, southeast, southwest and northwest; the contact surfaces of the northwest and northeast terminals are electrically connected; and the contact surfaces of the southeast and southwest terminals are electrically connected.
13. 13. The system according to claim 12, further comprising a connector of fibers of specific purposes, comprising two electrically connected terminals, the two terminals are capable of making electrical contact with one of a northwest-southeast pair and a northeast pair- Southwest of terminal contact surfaces.