SK133896A3 - Optical fibre connector - Google Patents

Abstract

A fibre optic patch panel tray (1) having a rear side (3) with two separate inlets (5, 6) for optical fibres, a front side (4), and at least one of the following: a) optical fibre bend radius control means (14, 15) adjacent to each inlet, and a plurality of connector retaining means (16) for retaining mateable fibre optic connectors extending across the tray between the rear and front sides; b) a first optical fibre retaining means (7, 8) adjacent the inlet (5, 6) having individual retaining elements (9) for removably retaining optical fibres; c) a second optical fibre retaining means (10, 11) adjacent the inlet (5, 6) extending across the inlet but having an opening (12, 13) at an angle to the path of optical fibres when retained by the first retaining means (7, 8) through which individual optical fibres can be passed when removed from the first optical fibre retaining means (7, 8).

Description

Fiber optic connector

Technical field

The present invention relates to an optical fiber connector and to a device useful for splicing optical fibers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The fiber optic connections may be either permanent or semi-permanent. These connections are usually called couplings. Various types of devices have been described to aid in the manufacture and protection of optical fiber couplings.

In some cases, direct splicing of optical fibers is not desirable. It is eg. that is, if the communication cable is connected to the customer's internal network with a switchgear which can be removed and reinserted (which are part of the internal network), or for which interconnection changes can be made.

In cases where it is necessary to move or interchange optical fiber interconnections due to changes in the notification network, the use of permanent interconnections, e.g. clutch unwanted. Plug-in (i.e., removable and re-plug-in) connectors may be used instead of the connectors. Instead of directly connecting different portions of the network with plug connectors, it may be desirable to use fiber optic sections or flexible leads. If the optical fiber interconnections are to be altered, the use of flexible leads makes it possible to limit the handling of the main optical fibers. This reduces the risk of damage to the optical fiber.

The flexible leads are usually mounted in a panel or carrier to keep them in position and protect.

For one type of flexible lead only one end of this

The -2-movable lead is provided by the male connector, while the other end is left free for direct connection to the main optical fiber. The flexible leads may alternatively have a male connector at both ends and both main optical fibers are provided by a corresponding splice piece.

The method of splicing optical fibers by means of an optical fiber spacer is sometimes referred to as splicing.

Panels or carriers usable with flexible leads for interchangeable optical fiber interconnections are sometimes called interconnect panels.

Various types of fiber optic connector systems are known.

For example, EP 0159857 discloses a fiber optic interface sleeve comprising a plurality of articulated supported carriers.

EP 0356942 describes a device for selectively interconnecting optical fibers formed by a plug-in socket.

US 5071211 discloses an optical fiber distributor comprising a plurality of retractable carriers. All carriers have a device for storing an optical fiber loop and for limiting its bending radius. There is also a plurality of means for receiving plug connectors of the fiber flexible leads.

EP 00408266A2 discloses a fiber optic termination system carried in tubes. It describes a device comprising a plurality of retractable carriers. The channels through which the optical fibers enter the carrier are directed into the carrier from behind. Optical fibers entering through one channel are connected by mechanical connectors. These connectors are detachable and therefore the fibers can be interchanged in the tubes.

3. Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber patch panel carrier having a back side with two separate optical fiber inlets, a front side, and at least one of the following:

(a) a fiber optic bend radius control device adjacent to each of the individual inputs and a plurality of connector gripping devices for gripping the interconnecting fiber optic connectors, the connector gripping devices extending from the rear to the front of the carrier;

(b) a first optical fiber retention device in close proximity to the entrance having separate retention elements for removable optical fiber retention;

(c) a second optical fiber retention device extending through the inlet, wherein an angle with the path of the optical fibers retained by the first retention device, through which the individual optical fibers may be pushed through the orifice after being removed from the first optical retention device.

adjacent to the inlet but has an opening clamping

The advantage of the present invention is the compact design and the possibility of its use with flexible leads of a given length. Another advantage is that it can be used to hold the fibers after being interconnected at a given position, while allowing the fibers to be removed when new interconnections are to be made.

The interconnect panel carriers of the present invention are intended for use in groups mounted on a frame, or the carriers may take the form of retractable in a frame from which they may be extended.

on the carrier. carriers arranged

However, this arrangement requires due to the transverse movement of the carrier

-4 substantial fiber optic reserve section. It is therefore preferred that the carrier be articulated on the carrier device together with the other carriers so that the individual carriers can be exposed by pivoting the carriers around the carrier device. It should be understood that when the carriers are articulated, their articulation is on the back. The location of the hinge at the rear (by which the flexible leads are fed into the carrier) has the advantage that there is little or no distortion (bending) of the flexible leads when the carrier is tilted for access to the carrier or other carriers.

The support device may be a drawer in which the carriers are articulated. This drawer can be slidably mounted in the rack compartment.

The carrier may be one-sided. Alternatively, the support may be double-sided, with the required elements being on both sides of the support.

Instead of supplying the bare carrier, it may be desirable to supply the panels and the one or more flexible leads already installed. The flexible leads may be formed by an optical fiber in a suitable housing with a male connector at one end, the connector being held in one connector receiving device. The other end of the optical fiber may be left free to connect to the other optical fiber or may have a different plug connector.

In order to optimally utilize the support surface, the connector gripping device extends substantially across the entire support from front to back. There is a need for a bend radius control device that defines a path extending from the rear side and then back to the rear side. The presence of a bend radius control device of the above type facilitates the use of uniform length flexible leads, as it allows tracks of equal length to the connector gripping device. Radius control device

Preferably, the movement defines a path from the adjacent optical fiber inlet to the rear of most connector gripping devices that is substantially the same length as the length from the adjacent optical fiber inlet to the front of most connector devices.

By the presence of an optical fiber retention device adjacent to the inlet, it leaves a sufficient length of free optical fiber on the carrier to allow the interconnection to be made and adjusted without breaking the optical fibers on the carrier.

The presence of the first optical fiber retention device allows the individual optical fibers to be adhered to the carrier, but also allows their removal from the carrier, provided the connection must be made elsewhere e.g. on another carrier.

A second optical fiber retention device extending across the entire optical fiber provides additional securing of the optical fibers against unintentional falling out of the carrier. The presence of an aperture extending through the plurality of optical fibers (when the fibers are held by the first device) allows the optical fiber to be manipulated so as to align with the aperture and pass through the aperture when removed from the first fiber retention device. a second fiber retention device without having access to the fiber end. There may be a desirable presence of a flexible second fiber retention device that may be manually bent, thereby increasing the size of the aperture through which the optical fiber may pass by moving away from the carrier.

Preferably, the number of connector gripping devices on each carrier is limited so that making a connection on any carrier presents a risk of disrupting only a limited number of connections. Optical fibers are usually arranged in a tube of eight and it is advisable to provide each carrier with a maximum of eight gripping devices

-6konektorov. If additional connectors are required, multiple carriers may be grouped.

An advantage of the present invention is that it allows the optical fibers to be handled and reconnected on or between the carriers to substantially affect the fibers further in the bundle.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a method of making interchangeable connections between two groups of optical fibers by means of flexible fiber optic leads attached to a carrier, the method comprising:

(i) replaceably accommodating a first set of flexible fiber optic leads in a support mounted fiber optic device, comprising a first set of free fiber sections (preferably substantially the same length) and wherein all sections terminate in a snap-fit connector; (ii) removably storing the second set of optical fibers in another carrier mounted optical fiber device to form a second set of free optical fiber sections (preferably substantially the same length) and wherein all sections terminate in a snap-fit connector, and wherein the snap-fit connectors of the first and the second set of optical fibers are interconnectable, (iii) interconnecting the snap-fit connectors to thereby interconnect the optical fibers, (iv) placing the snap-fit connectors in a connector retention device that is positioned so that the connectors are 1 aligned in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the attached portions of the optical fibers entering the carrier.

Steps (i) to (iv) of this method are not necessarily performed in the order shown.

-7 Overview of the drawings

Hereinafter, specific embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of one patch panel carrier.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of a carrier showing two flexible leads with interconnections.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a plurality of carriers according to the present invention which are articulated to the support device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The carrier 1 has a flange 2 at its periphery. In general, the carrier has a rectangular shape with rounded corners. The longer side 3 is called the rear side and the longer side 4 is the front side. At both ends of the rear side 3 there are fiber optic inlets 3, 6. The first optical fiber holding device 7, 3 adjoins the inlets 3, 3. The gripping devices 7 consist of a plurality of individual elements 3 between which the optical fibers may be attached.

A second optical fiber receiving device 13, 11 is located near the inlets. This device is made of a rod-like material and extends through an optical fiber path defined by apertures 12, 13 which have a diagonal direction relative to the path of the fibers held by the elements 11. The bend radius control devices 14, 15 are located in close proximity to the inlets and prevent the optical fibers that are installed on the support from being bent into an arc of such a small radius that the optical fibers will be damaged or their performance may be impaired.

On the surface of the carrier in a line extending across the entire carrier from its rear to its front side there is a larger number

8 means 16 for accommodating optical fiber connectors. These gripping devices are aligned so that the inserted connectors can be aligned perpendicular to the direction of the optical fibers in the inlets.

The bend radius control devices 14, 15 define a path extending from the rear side 1 and then return to it.

The rim 2 on the periphery of the support is provided with inwardly directed protrusions 17, which help to retain the optical fibers on the support and which can thus help to offset the individual supports.

Fig. 2 shows two flexible fiber optic leads 18, 19 placed on a carrier. The flexible leads are terminated by optical connectors 20, 21 suitable for engaging corresponding connectors on optical fibers that have been introduced into the carrier by the second input.

The straight path from the input to the connector 21 in the connector gripper is much shorter than the path to the connector 20 in the connector gripper. The bend radius control device 15 defines, however, an elongated path that not only protects the fibers from damage, but also helps to equalize path lengths, thereby allowing the use of flexible leads of the same length.

The connector gripping device is designed to accommodate eight connectors. Typically, the fiber optic cable consists of tubes each having eight fibers. The arrangement shown is therefore particularly suitable for use with these cables. The number of individual connectors per carrier is sufficient, but not excessive, so that the work with the cables is not complicated. Multiple carriers may be used to achieve the desired connections.

Figure 3 shows how the individual carriers can be articulated (the device is not shown in detail), thereby allowing access to the individual carriers in the system.

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Claims (2)

PATENT CLAIMS A fiber optic patch panel carrier having a backside with two separate optical fiber inlets, a front face, and at least one of the following: (a) a fiber optic bend radius control device adjacent to each of the individual inputs and a plurality of connector gripping devices for gripping the interlocking optical fiber connectors, the connector gripping devices extending from the rear to the front of the carrier; (b) a first optical fiber retention device in close proximity to the inlet having separate retention means for removable optical fiber retention; (c) a second optical fiber retention device adjacent the inlet and extending through the inlet, but having an aperture angle with the path of the optical fibers retained by the first retention device, through which the individual optical fibers may be pushed through the aperture after being removed from the first retention device Optical fiber. 2. A method of making interchangeable connections between two groups of optical fibers mounted on a support, the method comprising: (i) removably storing a first set of flexible fiber optic leads in an apparatus for optical fiber; -10 catching the optical fibers mounted on the carrier to form a first set of loose optical fiber sections (preferably substantially the same length) and wherein all sections are terminated by a snap-fit connector; (ii) removably storing the second set of optical fibers in another optical fiber receiving device mounted on the carrier, providing a second set of free fiber optic sections (preferably substantially the same length) and wherein all the sections are terminated by a snap-fit connector, and wherein the snap-fit connectors of the first and second fiber optic sets are connectable to each other; connectors (iv) by locating the snap-fit connectors in the connector receiving device, which is positioned such that the connectors are aligned in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of the fiber optic portions entering CICHLIDS to the carrier.