公开(公告)号：US06547449B1

公开(公告)日：2003-04-15

申请号：US09464815

申请日：1999-12-17

申请人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  James P. Luther ,  Joel C. Rosson ,  Markus A. Giebel ,  Karl M. Wagner ,  Thomas Theuerkorn ,  Dennis M. Knecht

发明人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  James P. Luther ,  Joel C. Rosson ,  Markus A. Giebel ,  Karl M. Wagner ,  Thomas Theuerkorn ,  Dennis M. Knecht

IPC分类号： G02B636

CPC分类号： G02B6/3893 ,  G02B6/3821 ,  G02B6/3861 ,  G02B6/3885

摘要： A preassembled multifiber connector is provided that includes a connector housing and a windowless multifiber ferrule that is substantially rectangular in lateral cross-section. The windowless multifiber ferrule can be at least partially disposed within an internal cavity defined by the connector housing to thereby form a multifiber connector that is free of optical fibers. Thus, the multifiber connector is capable of being preassembled prior to inserting the plurality of optical fibers into the optical fiber bores defined by the windowless multifiber ferrule. A corresponding method of preassembling a multifiber connector is therefore also provided according to the present invention. A ferrule is also provided that is capable of being selectively converted from a windowless configuration to a windowed configuration. The ferrule of this embodiment includes a ferrule body that not only defines at least one optical fiber bore, but that also defines a well extending through a side surface of the ferrule body. The ferrule body also includes a removable web at least partially covering the well to thereby define the windowless configuration of the ferrule. The web is capable of being selectively removed from the well such that the uncovered well forms a window through the side surface of the ferrule that opens into the at least one optical fiber bore to thereby define a windowed configuration of the ferrule.

公开(公告)号：US06499887B2

公开(公告)日：2002-12-31

申请号：US10039372

申请日：2001-12-31

申请人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  James P. Luther ,  Joel C. Rosson ,  Markus A. Giebel ,  Karl M. Wagner ,  Thomas Theuerkorn ,  Dennis M. Knecht

发明人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  James P. Luther ,  Joel C. Rosson ,  Markus A. Giebel ,  Karl M. Wagner ,  Thomas Theuerkorn ,  Dennis M. Knecht

IPC分类号： G02B638

CPC分类号： G02B6/3893 ,  G02B6/3821 ,  G02B6/3861 ,  G02B6/3885

摘要： A preassembled multifiber connector is provided that includes a connector housing and a windowless multifiber ferrule that is substantially rectangular in lateral cross-section. The windowless multifiber ferrule can be at least partially disposed within an internal cavity defined by the connector housing to thereby form a multifiber connector that is free of optical fibers. Thus, the multifiber connector is capable of being preassembled prior to inserting the plurality of optical fibers into the optical fiber bores defined by the windowless multifiber ferrule. A corresponding method of preassembling a multifiber connector is therefore also provided according to the present invention. A ferrule is also provided that is capable of being selectively converted from a windowless configuration to a windowed configuration. The ferrule of this embodiment includes a ferrule body that not only defines at least one optical fiber bore, but that also defines a well extending through a side surface of the ferrule body. The ferrule body also includes a removable web at least partially covering the well to thereby define the windowless configuration of the ferrule. The web is capable of being selectively removed from the well such that the uncovered well forms a window through the side surface of the ferrule that opens into the at least one optical fiber bore to thereby define a windowed configuration of the ferrule.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种预组装的多光纤连接器，其包括连接器壳体和在横截面上基本上为矩形的无窗多芯线圈。 无窗多芯线圈可以至少部分地设置在由连接器壳体限定的内部空腔内，从而形成不具有光纤的多纤维连接器。 因此，在将多根光纤插入由无窗多光纤套圈限定的光纤孔之前，多纤连接器能够被预先组装。 因此，根据本发明也提供了预组装多纤连接器的相应方法。 还提供了能够从无窗构造选择性地转换为窗口构造的套圈。 该实施例的套管包括不仅限定至少一个光纤孔的套管主体，而且还限定了穿过套圈主体的侧表面的阱。 套圈主体还包括至少部分地覆盖井的可移除的网，从而限定套圈的无窗构造。 纸幅能够从井中选择性地移除，使得未覆盖的井通过穿过至少一个光纤孔的套圈的侧表面形成窗口，从而限定套圈的窗口构造。

公开(公告)号：US06350062B2

公开(公告)日：2002-02-26

申请号：US09307530

申请日：1999-05-07

申请人： Dennis M. Knecht ,  Joel C. Rosson ,  Markus A. Giebel ,  James P. Luther ,  Karl M. Wagner ,  David L. Dean, Jr.

发明人： Dennis M. Knecht ,  Joel C. Rosson ,  Markus A. Giebel ,  James P. Luther ,  Karl M. Wagner ,  David L. Dean, Jr.

IPC分类号： G02B636

CPC分类号： G02B6/3834 ,  G02B6/3833 ,  G02B6/3837 ,  G02B6/3874 ,  G02B6/3882 ,  G02B6/3885

摘要： A multifiber ferrule is provided that includes a ferrule body that defines at least one elongate hole opening through the front face of the ferrule body that, in turn, includes a lead-in portion proximate the front face for guiding the respective alignment member into the elongate hole. The ferrule body at least partially defines one or more elongate holes, such as a guide pin hole or an alignment groove, each having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. Each elongate hole includes the lead-in portion proximate the front face and an adjacent alignment portion. The lead-in portion expands radially outward from the longitudinal axis in a direction extending from the adjacent alignment portion to the front face of the ferrule body. As such, the opening of the lead-in portion through the front face of the ferrule body is larger in lateral cross-section than the opening of the lead-in portion into the adjacent alignment portion. The lead-in portion is therefore capable of guiding the respective alignment member into the adjacent alignment portion that, in turn, is sized to snugly receive the alignment member, thereby serving to properly align the ferrule with the alignment members. In addition, the lead-in portion of each elongate hole defined by the multifiber ferrule serves as a receptacle for dirt or other particulates that are transferred from the alignment member as the alignment member is inserted into the respective elongate hole.

摘要翻译： 提供一种多光纤套圈，其包括套圈本体，其限定穿过套圈本体的前表面的至少一个细长孔，该细长孔又包括靠近前表面的引入部分，用于将相应的对准构件引导到细长的 孔。 套圈主体至少部分地限定一个或多个细长孔，例如引导销孔或对准槽，每个具有延伸穿过其中的纵向轴线。 每个细长孔包括靠近前表面的引入部分和相邻的对准部分。 引导部分在从相邻的对准部分延伸到套圈主体的前表面的方向上从纵向轴线径向向外扩展。 因此，引导部分穿过套圈主体的前表面的横截面比通向相邻对齐部分的导入部分的开口大。 因此，引入部分能够将相应的对准部件引导到相邻的对准部分中，该相应的对准部分又被调整为紧密地接纳对准部件，从而用于使套圈与对准部件正确对准。 此外，由多光纤套圈限定的每个细长孔的引入部分用作用于污垢或其它微粒的容器，当对准构件插入到相应的细长孔中时，其从对准构件传送。

公开(公告)号：US5940561A

公开(公告)日：1999-08-17

申请号：US841537

申请日：1997-04-23

申请人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  Karl M. Wagner ,  James P. Luther ,  Markus A. Giebel

发明人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  Karl M. Wagner ,  James P. Luther ,  Markus A. Giebel

IPC分类号： G02B6/38

CPC分类号： G02B6/3833 ,  G02B6/3825 ,  G02B6/3869 ,  G02B6/3882 ,  G02B6/3893

摘要： An adapter assembly is provided for removably receiving two optical fiber ferrules of the type with open grooves extending longitudinally rearward of the end face of the ferrule. The assembly comprises a sleeve with an interior surface that defines a passageway therethrough sized for receiving the ends of the ferrules therein. The interior surface also defines two longitudinal grooves opposite each other that open to the passageway. A guide pin is located in each groove such that an exposed portion of the outer surface of the guide pin along the entire length of the guide pin inside the sleeve is exposed to the passageway. The exposed portion are sized and located relative to each other to slide in the ferrule grooves and operatively align the end faces of the ferrules rotationally and laterally relative to each other when the two ferrules are inserted into the sleeve.

摘要翻译： 提供一种适配器组件，用于可拆卸地接收两种类型的光纤套圈，其具有在套圈的端面纵向延伸的开口槽。 组件包括具有内表面的套筒，该内表面限定穿过其中的通道，其尺寸适于容纳其中的套圈的端部。 内表面还限定了相对于通道相对的两个纵向凹槽。 引导销位于每个凹槽中，使得引导销的外表面的外表面的外露部分沿着套筒内的引导销的整个长度暴露于通道。 暴露部分的尺寸和位置相对于彼此以在套圈凹槽中滑动，并且当两个套圈插入套筒中时，套圈的端面相对于彼此旋转地和横向地可操作地对准。

公开(公告)号：US06210045B1

公开(公告)日：2001-04-03

申请号：US09222619

申请日：1998-12-29

申请人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  Karl M. Wagner

发明人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  Karl M. Wagner

IPC分类号： G02B638

CPC分类号： G02B6/3825 ,  G02B6/3874 ,  G02B6/3885

摘要： An alignment sleeve for precisely aligning a pair of ferrules, such as a pair of multifiber ferrules, is provided along with an associated assembly method. The alignment sleeve includes a sleeve member defining a lengthwise extending cavity opening through opposed ends thereof. The sleeve member can also define at least one window and, more commonly, a plurality of windows opening into the cavity. The alignment sleeve also includes a guide pin extending lengthwise through the cavity and a guide pin engagement member extending at least partially into the window defined by the sleeve member. The guide pin engagement member is bonded, such as by welding, to the guide pin such that the guide pin is retained in a floating relationship within the sleeve member. The sleeve member can also define an expansion window to accommodate expansion of the guide pin that is creating during welding of the guide pin. By retaining the guide pins in a floating relationship within the sleeve member, the alignment sleeve aligns the ferrules with increased precision since the precision of the alignment is dictated, not by the precision with which the alignment sleeve is fabricated, but by the precision with which the closely toleranced ferrules are formed.

摘要翻译： 提供用于精确对准一对套圈（例如一对多光纤套圈）的对准套筒以及相关联的组装方法。 对准套筒包括套筒构件，该套筒构件限定通过其相对端部开口的纵向延伸空腔。 套筒构件还可以限定至少一个窗口，更通常地，限定通向空腔的多个窗口。 对准套筒还包括纵向延伸通过空腔的引导销和至少部分延伸到由套筒构件限定的窗口中的引导销接合构件。 引导销接合构件例如通过焊接结合到引导销，使得引导销在套筒构件内以浮动关系保持。 套筒构件还可以限定膨胀窗口以适应在引导件的焊接过程中产生的引导销的膨胀。 通过将引导销保持在套筒构件内的浮动关系中，由于对准的精度不是通过制造对准套筒的精度而是由对准套筒的精度决定，所以对准套筒以更高的精度对准套圈， 形成紧密公差的套圈。

公开(公告)号：US06688782B1

公开(公告)日：2004-02-10

申请号：US09379392

申请日：1999-08-23

申请人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  Rodney Throckmorton ,  Karl M. Wagner

发明人： David L. Dean, Jr. ,  Rodney Throckmorton ,  Karl M. Wagner

IPC分类号： G02B638

CPC分类号： G02B6/3885 ,  G02B6/3825 ,  G02B6/3873

摘要： A universal ferrule for use within a plurality of optical fiber connector types includes a longitudinally extending ferrule body having an opposing end face and base. The ferrule body defines an internal passageway at the base and at least one bore at the end face. The base is sized and shaped to engage an internal chamber within the housing of each connector type to rotationally, radially and longitudinally position the at least one bore relative to the connector housing. The ferrule body has a cylindrical external surface that includes at least one longitudinal groove. A first groove portion adjacent the end face is sized and shaped to position the universal ferrule relative to a mating ferrule. A second groove portion adjacent the base is larger than the first groove portion. A chamfered edge between the end face and the external surface of the ferrule body facilitates interconnection of mating ferrules.

摘要翻译： 在多个光纤连接器类型中使用的通用套圈包括具有相对的端面和底座的纵向延伸的套圈主体。 套圈主体在底座处限定内部通道，在端面限定至少一个孔。 基座的尺寸和形状适于接合每个连接器类型的壳体内的内部室，以相对于连接器壳体旋转地，径向地和纵向地定位至少一个孔。 套圈主体具有包括至少一个纵向凹槽的圆柱形外表面。 与端面相邻的第一槽部的尺寸和形状被设计成相对于匹配的套圈定位通用套圈。 与基部相邻的第二槽部比第一槽部大。 在端面与套管主体的外表面之间的倒角有利于配合套圈的互连。

公开(公告)号：US06305850B1

公开(公告)日：2001-10-23

申请号：US09224679

申请日：1998-12-31

申请人： James P. Luther ,  Karl M. Wagner

发明人： James P. Luther ,  Karl M. Wagner

IPC分类号： G02B636

CPC分类号： G02B6/3833 ,  G02B6/3837

摘要： A multifiber connector subassembly is provided that includes a ferrule and a multifiber alignment adapter for individually guiding the plurality of individual optical fibers into alignment with respective ones of the bores or microholes defined by the ferrule. In this regard, the ferrule includes a forward portion that defines the plurality of bores for receiving respective end portions of a plurality of optical fibers and a rear portion that defines an opening of a predetermined shape. The multifiber alignment adapter defines a plurality of lengthwise extending passageways for receiving respective ones of the plurality of optical fibers. The multifiber alignment adapter also has a forward end having an exterior shape that corresponds to the predetermined shape of the opening defined by the rear portion of the ferrule. As such, the forward end of the multifiber alignment adapter can be positioned within the opening defined by the rear portion of the ferrule such that each passageway defined by the multifiber alignment adapter is aligned with a respective bore defined by the ferrule. Accordingly, the multifiber connector subassembly can guide each individual optical fiber through a passageway and into the respective bore defined by the ferrule without being stubbed or otherwise damaged and without requiring that the optical fibers be ribbonized.

摘要翻译： 提供一种多纤维连接器子组件，其包括套圈和多纤维对准适配器，用于单独地引导多个单独的光纤与由套圈限定的孔或微孔中的相应的一个对准。 在这方面，套圈包括限定用于容纳多个光纤的相应端部的多个孔的前部和限定预定形状的开口的后部。 多光纤对准适配器限定多个纵向延伸的通道，用于接收多个光纤中的相应的光纤。 多纤维对准适配器还具有前端，其具有对应于由套圈的后部限定的开口的预定形状的外部形状。 因此，多光纤对准适配器的前端可以定位在由套圈的后部限定的开口内，使得由多纤维对准适配器限定的每个通道与由套圈限定的相应孔对齐。 因此，多纤维连接器子组件可以引导每个单独的光纤通过通道并进入由套圈限定的相应的孔中，而不会被弯曲或以其他方式损坏，而不需要使光纤被带化。

公开(公告)号：US5966485A

公开(公告)日：1999-10-12

申请号：US754882

申请日：1996-11-22

申请人： James P. Luther ,  Eric W. Kent ,  Karl M. Wagner

发明人： James P. Luther ,  Eric W. Kent ,  Karl M. Wagner

IPC分类号： B24B19/22 ,  B24B37/00 ,  G02B6/25 ,  G02B6/38 ,  G02B6/26 ,  B32B31/00

CPC分类号： B24B37/00 ,  B24B19/226 ,  G02B6/25 ,  G02B6/3818 ,  G02B6/3847 ,  G02B6/3863

摘要： A method for providing core protrusion relative to cladding in an optical fiber mounted in a fiber optic connector includes the step of etching the end face of the fiber with a solution which preferentially removes the cladding from around the core of the optical fiber so that the core protrudes beyond the cladding. Additional steps may include fine polishing the end of the core in order to provide a relatively even end on the core and/or irradiating the end of the optical fiber with a laser in order to smooth the end of the core, thereby facilitating contact with the end of the second optical fiber in a fiber optic connector. As a result, according to the present invention a fiber optic connector with a protruding core is also provided. The core protrudes beyond the end of the cladding to improve contact and thus reduce reflectance when mated with a second fiber optic connector.

摘要翻译： 用于在安装在光纤连接器中的光纤中提供相对于包层的芯突起的方法包括用优选地从包围光纤的纤芯移除包层的溶液蚀刻光纤的端面的步骤，使得芯 突出超出包层。 附加步骤可以包括精细研磨芯的端部，以便在芯上提供相对平坦的端部和/或用激光照射光纤的端部，以平滑芯部的端部，由此有助于与 光纤连接器中的第二光纤的端部。 结果，根据本发明，还提供了具有突出芯的光纤连接器。 芯突出超过包层的端部以改善接触，并因此在与第二光纤连接器配合时降低反射率。

公开(公告)号：US06771861B2

公开(公告)日：2004-08-03

申请号：US10140642

申请日：2002-05-07

申请人： Karl M. Wagner ,  Kenneth T. James

发明人： Karl M. Wagner ,  Kenneth T. James

IPC分类号： G02B644

CPC分类号： G02B6/4472 ,  G02B6/4476

摘要： This invention provides an apparatus and method for a high performance, flexible optical fiber furcation assembly that minimizes bending in the optical fibers throughout the life of the furcation assembly. The furcation assembly includes a flexible furcation body having a passageway with a first end and an opposed second end, the first end for receiving a fiber optic cable and the second end for routing a furcated leg, and holding material for flexibly securing and supporting the fiber optic cable and the furcated leg substantially within the single passageway. A method is provided for applying the furcation assembly to an optical cable. The apparatus and method of this invention apply to a variety of optical cable types.

摘要翻译： 本发明提供了一种用于高性能，柔性光纤分叉组件的装置和方法，其最小化在分叉组件的整个寿命期间光纤中的弯曲。 分叉组件包括柔性分叉体，其具有带有第一端和相对的第二端的通道，用于接收光纤电缆的第一端和用于布置分叉腿的第二端以及用于柔性地固定和支撑纤维的保持材料 光缆和分叉腿基本上在单个通道内。 提供了一种将分叉组件应用于光缆的方法。 本发明的装置和方法适用于各种光缆类型。