Capillary Tubes Patents (Class 385/68)
  • Patent number: 6302593
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector and an associated fabrication method where the connector has a connector housing having a base side, a and pair of sidewalls upstanding from the base side that are spaced apart in relation to each other, and each of the housing sidewalls define at least one aperture through which optical signals can be transmitted into and out of the housing by an input optical fiber and an output optical fiber, respectively, located in fixed positions outside the housing, and a pair of optical lens elements are contained within the housing which collimate optical signals transmitted via the respective optical fibers. The lens elements are precisely aligned with respective optical fibers within submicron tolerances using internally-housed micro-aligners. As a result, the fiber optic connector of the present invention can provide efficient coupling between optical fibers, such as optical fibers in two spliced composite parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: McDonnell Douglas Corporation
    Inventor: John M. Haake
  • Patent number: 6238102
    Abstract: A multiaxial optical coupler for use in a device using an LiNbO3 substrate, which is reliable over a wide temperature range and capable of reducing coupling loss. A capillary has a plurality of linear through holes formed therethrough in a manner each inclined with respect to the central axis of the capillary such that the extension line of the central axis of the linear through hole extends through the center of a lens. A plurality of optical fibers are inserted into the linear through holes, respectively. This construction enables the optical axis of an optical beam emitted from each of the optical fibers within the capillary to pass through the center of the lens and reach the end face of a corresponding one of the optical waveguides. Similarly, the construction enables the optical axis of an optical beam emitted from the end face of each of the optical waveguides on the substrate to pass through the center of the lens and reach a corresponding one of the optical fibers within the capillary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Toshihiro Ohtani, Tomoyuki Itoh, Yoshinobu Kubota, Takehito Tanaka
  • Patent number: 6206579
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector system is made up of a receptacle and a plug connector assembly in which a cylindrical MT fiber optic contact assembly of the type including a pair of contact halves arranged to capture the MT connector and form a cylindrical contact, is inserted from the rear into a connector body and held in place with a retention insert and retention clip that engages an undercut in the retention insert. The connector body of one of the plug and receptacle connectors is arranged to provide a passage for aligning mating MT connectors extending from the respective contacts of a mating pair of connectors, while environmental sealing is provided by sealing members such as o-rings extending between the insert and the connector body, with coupling of mating connectors being provided by a coupling nut that may optionally may include anti-vibration features.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2001
    Assignee: Amphenol Corporation
    Inventors: Ritch Allen Selfridge, Robert Kenneth Chapman
  • Patent number: 6017153
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector assembly has a connector having a bore having a cable receiving end and a reentrant interface and forming a fiber holder. A latching arm has latch means for engaging a shoulder in a adapter, and camming lobes on the latching arm engage sloping ramps in the adapter to impart a bias force to move the connector toward the interface end. A bias force augmenting member is included for insuring reliable connections over extended periods of time. The augmenting member is a resilient member whose elastic force is added to the biasing force produced by the camming lobes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Arthur Wallace Carlisle, Jeffrey Harrison Hicks, John Louis Siereveld
  • Patent number: 5887099
    Abstract: An improved fiber optic cable connector is provided that exhibits a consistent return loss rating of 60 dB or better. The connector comprises matable connector housings that terminate the ends of respective optical cables to be joined. Within each housing, the optical fiber of the respective cable is secured within a ceramic ferrule that extends axially of the connector. The endface of each optical fiber is exposed at the end of its respective ferrule. The ends of the ferrules are ground and polished in such a way that the endfaces of the optical fibers exhibit a planar undercut with respect to the lip of the axial passageway in which the fibers are secured. When the ferrules are brought and pressed together end-to-end as the connectors are mated, the material of each ferrule compresses until the endfaces of the optical fibers engage each other with near null pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 23, 1999
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Andrei Csipkes, John Mark Palmquist, Ian Arthur White
  • Patent number: 5862282
    Abstract: An optical connector that can stably connect even a tension-resistant jacket-covered optical fiber cord is provided. In an optical connector, which includes an optical connector plug 10 having a ferrule 14 holding an optical fiber and a housing 16 accommodating the ferrule, and an adapter connecting the optical connector plugs; the optical fiber is an optical fiber cord 12 in which at least the jacket carries tension, a secondary coated optical fiber (120) and the jacket (123) carrying the tension of the optical fiber cord 12 are secured to the ferrule 14, and the ferrule 14 is immovably mounted to the housing 16.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp.
    Inventors: Ichiro Matsuura, Tomohiko Ueda, Toru Yamanishi, Shinji Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 5845029
    Abstract: An optical fiber connector comprises a first tubular body having a passageway extending generally longitudinally therethrough for receiving an optical fiber, a first end for connection to an adaptor and being polished into a tilted convex surface, and a second end. A second tubular body has a passageway extending generally longitudinally therethrough in substantial coaxial alignment with the passageway of the first tubular body for receiving the second end of the first tubular body. A positioning device integral with the second tubular body is provided for positioning a tilt direction of the tilted convex surface of the first tubular body in a predetermined registered position when the first end of the first tubular body is connected to the adaptor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignees: Emit-Seiko Co., Ltd., Hitachi Plant Engineering & Construction Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Matsuoka, Nobutoshi Takeda, Tohru Mizuhashi, Noriaki Tokuda, Seiji Takemoto, Shigeru Ohmori
  • Patent number: 5815617
    Abstract: The invention provides a fiber optic cable connector consisting of a band having inner and outer surfaces and flexible between locked and unlocked positions in response to a compressive force, wherein the inner surface is dimensioned to slidably engage the protective jacket in the unlocked position. The ban has an inwardly projecting ridge for securely engaging the fiber optic cable jacket in the locked position for preventing relative movement between the band and the cable jacket. A sleeve has a bore including a tapered front section for receiving and exerting a compressive force on the band.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 29, 1998
    Assignee: Federal Signal Corporation
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Hollar
  • Patent number: 5796894
    Abstract: An improved fiber optic cable connector is provided that exhibits a consistent return loss rating of 60 dB or better. The connector comprises matable connector housings that terminate the ends of respective optical cables to be joined. Within each housing, the optical fiber of the respective cable is secured within a ceramic ferrule that extends axially of the connector. The endface of each optical fiber is exposed at the end of its respective ferrule. The ends of the ferrules are ground and polished in such a way that the endfaces of the optical fibers exhibit a planar undercut with respect to the lip of the axial passageway in which the fibers are secured. When the ferrules are brought and pressed together end-to-end as the connectors are mated, the material of each ferrule compresses until the endfaces of the optical fibers engage each other with near null pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrei Csipkes, John Mark Palmquist, Ian Arthur White
  • Patent number: 5774613
    Abstract: A ferrule for an optical fiber connector has a cylindrical sleeve or body (1) and a capillary (3) received in the sleeve 1. The sleeve (1) has thereinside a fiber holding portion (2a) adjoining one end of the sleeve (1) and for holding a built-in optical fiber (4), a capillary holding portion (2b) next to the fiber holding portion (2a), and a fiber inserting portion (2c) next to the capillary holding portion (2b) and for inserting an optical fiber (6). The fiber holding portion (2a) and the fiber inserting portion (2c) have the smallest diameter and the largest diameter, respectively. The diameter of the capillary holding portion (2b) is substantially equal to the outside diameter of the capillary 3. The axis of the fiber holding portion (2a) is accurately coincident with the axis of the sleeve (1). The capillary (3) is held in the capillary holding portion (2b) while the fiber (4) extends over the fiber holding portion (2a) and a through bore formed in the capillary 3.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Takashi Tanabe, Koji Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 5734768
    Abstract: An aligning apparatus for optical fiber coupling and the manufacturing method there of are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1998
    Assignee: SamSung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yeong-Ju Kim, Chan-Sik Park
  • Patent number: 5732175
    Abstract: An improved connector mechanism having a connector coupling nut of a cylindrical tubular configuration with a bore extending therethrough. In one embodiment, the coupling nut has camming slots which align with bayonet pins on the mating adapter serving to draw the connector inwardly to the adapter upon rotation of the coupling nut. A detent window at the end of each camming slot engages and retains the bayonet pins driven slidingly along the camming slots during rotation. A resilient spring member provides stability between the end of the adapter and the internal bore of the coupling nut at the completion of the coupling operation. Variations of spring arrangements force the cylindrical fiber optic terminus, located axially centered within the coupling sleeve, forward to assure pressured abutment with a like mating terminus located opposite at the other end of the adapter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1998
    Assignee: LiteCom, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Jui-Lin Fan
  • Patent number: 5719977
    Abstract: A connector 20 for terminating an optical fiber 31 includes a one-piece molded plastic housing 200 having an exterior latch 220 that secures the housing to an associated receptacle 60. The latch is constructed as a cantilever with its fixed end positioned toward a front end of the housing. The housing includes an axial bore 205 for receiving an end portion of the optical fiber into its interior. This passageway extends longitudinally from a back end of the housing toward its front end, and is about half the length of the housing. The connector further includes a cylindrical structure 140-2 which extends longitudinally from a midpoint of the housing toward its front end. The cylindrical structure also includes an axial passageway 145 for receiving the end portion of the optical fiber, and is positioned within the housing such that the passageways are collinear and communicate with each other. Most importantly, the cylindrical structure is rigidly held within the housing and avoids the use of a spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies Inc.
    Inventors: Norman Roger Lampert, Patricia Yvonne Reeves
  • Patent number: 5615291
    Abstract: A capillary for an optical fiber connector which is low in machining cost and a process for producing the same is provided. The capillary for an optical fiber connector of the present invention comprises a cylindrical ceramics sintered body, and having a straight-hole like narrow hole 3 with a slightly larger inner diameter than an outer diameter of the optical fiber bare line for passing the bare line of the optical fiber therethrough, and a tip surface for connection at which the narrow hole opens; and an inner surface of the narrow hole being substantially a sintered surface. Therefore, a number of steps of grinding of the inner surface of the narrow hole is markedly reduced thin the conventional capillary for an optical fiber connector so that production cost can be reduced to a low amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Toto Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Hayakawa, Osamu Kobayashi, Takeshi Yamauchi
  • Patent number: 5450515
    Abstract: A detachable fiber optic connector provides connection from an optical source or sink through a hermetic connection to a removable attached optical fiber. Ferrules and a split ring are used for alignment. A variety of alternative embodiments are illustrated for providing coupling force between the ferrules and retaining forces to prevent movement of the connection during movement of the fiber relative to the optical source or sink. These detachable fiber optic connectors provide great benefit when combined with hermetic packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: J. Scott Bechtel, Steven B. Creswick, James E. Smous
  • Patent number: 5434941
    Abstract: A detachable fiber optic connector provides connection from an optical source or sink through a hermetic connection to a removable attached optical fiber. Ferrules and a split ring are used for alignment. A variety of alternative embodiments are illustrated for providing coupling force between the ferrules and retaining forces to prevent movement of the connection during movement of the fiber relative to the optical source or sink. These detachable fiber optic connectors provide great benefit when combined with hermetic packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Assignee: CTS Corporation
    Inventors: J. Scott Bechtel, Steven B. Creswick, James E. Smous
  • Patent number: 5341448
    Abstract: An optical fiber splice for splicing the free ends of a pair of optical fibers together, the device including a housing and a capillary tube supported therein. Each end of the housing is formed of a chamfered surface. A collet partially sits within the tapered surface. A locking nut tightens the collet against the tapered surface tightening the collet about an optical fiber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Advanced Custom Applications, Inc.
    Inventor: Laszlo Huebscher
  • Patent number: 5305409
    Abstract: A permanent optical fiber connector which makes it possible to connect and fix optical fibers (A) in some seconds. This connector comprises a base part (B) including a base body (4) made of a material of low expansion coefficient having a pair of opposed locking elements (7) and one or more capillary tubes (5) bonded to the base body and having an inner diameter slightly greater than the cladding of an optical fiber, and an optical fiber pressing part (C) including a pressing body (21) made of a material of low expansion coefficient and adapted to fit between the locking elements (7) of the base body to be embraced thereby and elastic bodies (22) attached to the lower surface of the pressing body, said pressing body (21) being embraced between the locking elements (7) of the base body, whereby the optical fiber pressing part (C) presses the covers (3) and optical fiber bodies (2) of the optical fibers (A) against the base part (B) to fix them to the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Nippon Electric Glass Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jyunji Fujikawa, Tadashi Seto
  • Patent number: 5216734
    Abstract: A fiber optic connector has a low cost ferrule assembly that protectively supports, positions and aligns an optical fiber The ferrule has an outer ferrule body terminating in an alignment passage and which seats an inner support member within which the fiber extends. This ferrule is particularly advantageous for use with unbuffered optical fibers and adhesiveless connectors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1993
    Assignee: AMP Incorporated
    Inventor: Soren Grinderslev
  • Patent number: 5125057
    Abstract: An optical fiber splicing device (20) includes a glass cylindrically shaped capillary tube member (24) having a passageway formed therethrough eccentrically of the longitudinal axis of the capillary tube member. The capillary tube member is provided with a slot (86) such that a portion of the passageway in the form of a groove (88) extends across a planar surface (87) formed by the slot. The capillary tube member is mounted in a housing (22) which is made of a material and formed to provide a lens opposite to the slot to facilitate visual inspection of ends of end portions of two optical fibers which are positioned in the groove. A spring clamp (26) is mounted to the housing in a first position spaced from the planar surface to allow insertion of fiber end portions into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1992
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventors: James A. Aberson, Jr., Scott T. Davies, George F. DeVeau, Joseph K. Lo