A connector for optical fibers includes a cylindrical glass ferrule installed in a plastic base member to form a fiber-holding structure This structure includes a small passageway along its central axis for holding an optical fiber, and is mounted within a dielectric housing that includes an opening at one end thereof from which the glass ferrule protrudes A cylindrical spring surrounds the base member and interacts with an interior surface of the housing to urge the glass ferrule outward from the opening in the housing The housing further includes a spring latch which is located on a single side surface thereof, which is manually operable and used to lock the connector to an associated receptacle

Connector for optical fiber

A dust cap is provided that includes a translucent end member that permits optical communication while the dust cap remains mounted upon a ferrule. The dust cap includes a sleeve having an open first end and an opposed second end that is closed by the translucent end member. The end member can also include a lens to facilitate optical communication. A medial portion of the sleeve can also define an internal chamfer that extends radially inward for engaging the ferrule such that the front face of the ferrule is spaced from the second end of the sleeve, thereby preventing contaminants from being transferred from the second end of the sleeve to the polished front face of the ferrule. The dust cap can also define a groove extending lengthwise through only a portion of the sleeve, i.e., from the first end of the sleeve to a medial portion of the sleeve. The groove therefore permits air to vent from the bore while the dust cap is being mounted upon the ferrule, while isolating the front face of the ferrule from the external environment once the dust cap has been fully mounted, thereby protecting the polished front face of the ferrule from contaminants that may enter the groove. A method is also provided for testing the continuity of an optical fiber jumper that utilizes optical communications conducted through the translucent dust caps.

Translucent dust cap and associated method for testing the continuity of an optical fiber jumper

In combination, a tubular mounting structure having a longitudinal axis; an LED received by the mounting structure and having a light emitter and a light-passing lens oriented along the axis; a cable having optical fibers defining a light entrance end at a location facing longitudinally toward the LED, and spaced therefrom; and a light-transmitting light pipe received in the mounting structure, and located longitudinally between the LED lens and the cable entrance end.

Light pipe optical coupling between led and fiber optics cable

A fiber optic ferrule, preferably an MT-type ferrule, and connector design is provided that includes a unitary v-groove lens array (v-lens). The v-lens comprises a plurality of lenses and corresponding plurality of open v-grooves to align optical fibers with the plurality of lenses. Because the v-groove lens array is a unitary structure, high precision manufacturing is required for only the v-groove lens array, and not for other components forming the ferrule. A housing holds the v-groove lens array and preferably comprises a cantilever configured to retain the optical fibers substantially within their corresponding v-grooves. An opening in the housing allows an adhesive to be placed in contact with the housing, optical fibers and v-groove lens array thereby retaining the various components in a fixed relationship. A fiber optic connector may include the fiber optic ferrule in accordance with the present invention disposed within a suitable connector housing.

Multifiber mt-type connector and ferrule comprising v-groove lens array and method of manufacture

Fiber optic equipment that supports independently translatable fiber optic modules and/or fiber optic equipment trays containing one or more fiber optic modules is disclosed. In some embodiments, one or more fiber optic modules are disposed in a plurality of independently translatable fiber optic equipment trays which are received in a tray guide system. In this manner, each fiber optic equipment tray is independently translatable within the guide system. One or more fiber optic modules may also be disposed in one or more module guides disposed in the fiber optic equipment trays to allow each fiber optic module to translate independently of other fiber optic modules in the same fiber optic equipment tray. In other embodiments, a plurality of fiber optic modules are disposed in a module guide system disposed in the fiber optic equipment that translate independently of other fiber optic modules disposed within the module guide system.

Independently translatable modules and fiber optic equipment trays in fiber optic equipment

An optical fiber lens-connector assembly includes a plastic lens body joined to a tubular connector of a low thermal expansion glass. The connector includes a glass fiber guide formed of the same material (e.g., a borosilicate glass) having a substantially similar expansion coefficient. The assembly provides greater temperature stability when cycled over a wide temperature range. Fused silica quartz can also be employed as the connector material.

Fiber optic connector

An optical fiber-lens connector assembly maintains a critical fiber-to-lens interface during temperature excursions over the range of -40° C. to +60° C. by employing a spring loaded bushing mounted within a connector body. The fiber is fixed to the bushing and the spring acting on the bushing keeps the fiber accurately located with respect to the lens when the lens body grows and shrinks with the temperature changes.

Swanson Steven E

Papers

Fiber optic connector

Fiber optical connector with lens

Fiber optic-lens connector

Verbindungsvorrichtung fuer glasfaseroptik-einrichtungen