WO2022056811A1

WO2022056811A1 - Adaptor for testing and inspection of an optical connector

Info

Publication number: WO2022056811A1
Application number: PCT/CN2020/116122
Authority: WO
Inventors: Luli Gong
Original assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company; Tang, Cheng
Priority date: 2020-09-18
Filing date: 2020-09-18
Publication date: 2022-03-24

Abstract

An optical adaptor (100) for facilitating testing and inspection of an optical connector (200) by a testing and inspection device (300) includes a larger first housing portion (10) and a smaller elongated second housing portion (20) extending from the first housing portion (10), defining a T-shaped cavity (30). The T-shaped cavity (30) includes a first elongated cavity (40) and a second elongated cavity (50) extending from a middle (41) of the first elongated cavity (40). The first elongated cavity (40) is configured to receive the optical connector (200), and the second elongated cavity (50) defined within the second housing portion (20) is configured to be inserted in a receiving end of the testing and inspection device (300), such that when the connector (200) is received in the first elongated cavity (40) and the second housing portion (20) is inserted in the receiving end of the testing and inspection device (300), the second elongated cavity (50) provides optical coupling between the optical connector (200) and the testing and inspection device (300).

Description

ADAPTOR FOR TESTING AND INSPECTION OF AN OPTICAL CONNECTOR

Summary

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

Brief Description of the Drawings

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an optical assembly including an optical adaptor for facilitating testing and inspection of an optical connector, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description;

FIGS. 2A and 2B provide perspective views of the optical adaptor of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description;

FIG. 3A provides a cutaway view of the optical assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description;

FIG. 3B provides an exploded, perspective view of an optical adaptor mating with a testing and inspection device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description;

FIG. 4 is a cutaway, top view of the optical assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description;

FIG. 5 is a cutaway, side view of the optical assembly of FIG. 1, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description;

FIGS. 6A-6C show prospective views of an optical ferrule, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description; and

FIG. 7 shows a cutaway view of an optical assembly including an optical connector housing an optical ferrule, in accordance with an embodiment of the present description.

Detailed Description

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

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

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

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

In some embodiments, the optical adaptor may further include a handle configured to be gripped by a user. In some embodiments, the handle may extend from the first housing portion opposite the second housing portion.

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

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

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

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

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

Looking to FIG. 2B, T-shaped cavity 30 may include a first elongated cavity 40 and a second elongated cavity 50. In some embodiments, the second elongated cavity 50 may extend from a middle 41 of first elongated cavity 40. In some embodiments, first elongated cavity 40 may be defined within the first housing portion 10 and may extend along a first direction (e.g., the x-axis shown in FIG. 4B) between a first closed end 42 inside first housing portion 10 and an opposite second open end 43 at a first surface 11 of first housing portion 10. In some embodiments, the first elongated cavity 40 may be configured to receive therein an optical connector, or a portion thereof.

In some embodiments, second elongated cavity 50 may be defined within second housing portion 20 and may extend along a second direction (e.g., the y-axis shown in FIG. 4B) between a third open end 51 at the middle 41 of the elongated cavity 40 and an opposite fourth open end 52 at a second surface 21 of second housing portion 20. In some embodiments, second housing portion 20 may be configured to be inserted in a receiving end of a testing and inspection device.

In some embodiments, then an optical connector is received in first elongated cavity 40 and second housing portion 20 is inserted in the receiving end of a testing and inspection device, the second elongated cavity 50 may provide optical coupling between the optical connector and the testing and inspection device. Additional detail on this is provided elsewhere herein.

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

In some embodiments, second housing portion 20 may include one or more second engagement features 22, 23, such that when second housing portion 20 is inserted in the receiving end of a testing and inspection device, the one or more second engagement features 22, 23 engage a corresponding engagement feature of the testing and inspection device (see, for example, features 301, 302, FIG. 5) . In some embodiments, the one or more second engagement features 22, 23 may be located on an

exterior surface

24, 25 of second housing portion 20.

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

FIG. 3B provides an exploded, perspective view of one embodiments of optical adaptor 100 mating with testing and inspection device 300, providing additional detail. In some embodiments, optical adaptor 100 includes first housing portion 10, second housing portion 20, and handle 60. When mating with testing and inspection device 300, at least a portion of second housing portion 20 is inserted into receiving end 310 of testing and inspection device 300.

FIG. 4 is a cutaway, top view of the embodiment of the optical assembly of FIG. 1. Optical connector 200, entering the right side of FIG. 4, is inserted into first elongated cavity 40 of first housing portion 10 of optical adaptor 100. First engagement features 12, 13 are engaged with corresponding engagement features 211, 212, respectively, of optical connector 200. The second housing portion (see, for example, second housing portion 20, FIG. 2A) extends down, into the page, and is therefore hidden in the top view of FIG. 3 beneath larger first housing portion 10. The second housing portion 20 would be inserted into testing and inspection device 300. In some embodiments, optical connector 200 houses an optical ferrule 80, which is connected to one or more optical waveguides 90 (e.g., a plurality of optical fibers) .

FIG. 5 provides a cutaway, side view of the embodiment of the optical assembly of FIG. 1. It should be noted that the view of FIG. 5 is a view orthogonal to the top view of FIG. 4, focusing on the mating of optical adaptor 100 and testing and inspection device 300. Second housing portion 20 is shown inserted in and mated to testing and inspection device 300 (i.e., second housing portion 20 of optical adaptor 100 is inserted into receiving end 310, as shown in FIG. 3B, of testing and inspection device 300) . Second engagement features 22 and 23, disposed on

exterior surfaces

24 and 25 of second housing portion 20, respectively, are engaged with corresponding engagement features 301 and 302 of testing and inspection device 300. When so mated, second elongated cavity 50 of second housing portion 20 is aligned and engaged with testing and inspection device 300. In some embodiments, a handle 60 extends from first housing portion 10 of optical adaptor 100 in a direction substantially opposite the direction of extension of second housing portion 20. The end of optical connector 200 is shown inserted into first housing portion 10, such that optical ferrule 80 is aligned with second elongated cavity 50.

FIGS. 6A-6C show prospective views of one embodiment of an optical ferrule which may be used with the optical connector 200 of FIG. 1. Looking at FIGS. 6A-6C together, optical ferrule 80 may, in some embodiments, include an input surface 81 for receiving light from (and/or transmitting light to) optical waveguides 90 along a first optical direction, a redirecting surface 82 for receiving from the input surface 81 and redirecting the received light along a different, second optical direction, and an output surface 83, wherein the redirected light from redirecting surface 82 exits optical ferrule 80. It should be noted, as described elsewhere herein, the optical path defined between input surface 81, redirecting surface 82, and output surface 83 may, in some embodiments, be bidirectional. Terms such as “input surface” and “output surface” are used to describe different surfaces of optical ferrule 80 but are not intended to be limiting in any way.

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

Terms such as “about” will be understood in the context in which they are used and described in the present description by one of ordinary skill in the art. If the use of “about” as applied to quantities expressing feature sizes, amounts, and physical properties is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, “about” will be understood to mean within 10 percent of the specified value. A quantity given as about a specified value can be precisely the specified value. For example, if it is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, a quantity having a value of about 1, means that the quantity has a value between 0.9 and 1.1, and that the value could be 1.

Terms such as “substantially” will be understood in the context in which they are used and described in the present description by one of ordinary skill in the art. If the use of “substantially equal” is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, “substantially equal” will mean about equal where about is as described above. If the use of “substantially parallel” is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, “substantially parallel” will mean within 30 degrees of parallel. Directions or surfaces described as substantially parallel to one another may, in some embodiments, be within 20 degrees, or within 10 degrees of parallel, or may be parallel or nominally parallel. If the use of “substantially aligned” is not otherwise clear to one of ordinary skill in the art in the context in which it is used and described in the present description, “substantially aligned” will mean aligned to within 20%of a width of the objects being aligned. Objects described as substantially aligned may, in some embodiments, be aligned to within 10%or to within 5%of a width of the objects being aligned.

All references, patents, and patent applications referenced in the foregoing are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entirety in a consistent manner. In the event of inconsistencies or contradictions between portions of the incorporated references and this application, the information in the preceding description shall control.

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

Claims

An optical adaptor for facilitating testing and inspection of an optical connector by a testing and inspection device, the optical adaptor comprising a larger first housing portion and a smaller elongated second housing portion extending from the first housing portion, the first housing portion and the second housing portion defining a T-shaped cavity therein, the T-shaped cavity comprising a first elongated cavity and a second elongated cavity extending from a middle of the first elongated cavity,

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

the second elongated cavity defined within the second housing portion and extending along a second direction between a third open end at the middle of the first elongated cavity and an opposite fourth open end at a second surface of the second housing portion, the second housing portion configured to be inserted in a receiving end of the testing and inspection device, such that when the optical connector is received in the first elongated cavity and the second housing portion is inserted in the receiving end of the testing and inspection device, the second elongated cavity provides optical coupling between the optical connector received in the first elongated cavity and the testing and inspection device.
The optical adaptor of claim 1, further comprising a handle configured to be gripped by a user, the handle extending from the first housing portion opposite the second housing portion.
The optical adaptor of claim 1, wherein the first housing portion comprises at least one first engagement feature, such that when the at least the portion of the optical connector is received in the first elongated cavity of the first housing portion, the at least one first engagement feature engages a corresponding engagement feature of the optical connector.
The optical adaptor of claim 3, wherein at least a portion of the at least one first engagement feature is located inside the first elongated cavity.
The optical adaptor of claim 1, wherein the second housing portion comprises at least one second engagement feature, such that when the second housing portion is inserted in the receiving end of the testing and inspection device, the at least one second engagement feature engages a corresponding engagement feature of the testing and inspection device.
The optical adaptor of claim 5, wherein the at least one second engagement feature is located on an exterior surface of the second housing portion.
The optical adaptor of claim 1, wherein the optical connector comprises an optical ferrule optically connected to at least one optical fiber, and wherein the optical ferrule comprises:

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

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

an output surface, wherein the light redirected by the redirecting surface exits the optical ferrule as output light propagating along an output direction.
The optical adaptor of claim 7, wherein when the optical connector is received in the first elongated cavity and the second housing portion is inserted in the receiving end of the testing and inspection device, the output light propagates along the output direction in the second elongated cavity.