OPTICAL CONNECTION WITH SPLICING CONNECTORS AND ADAPTER
An optical connection comprises an adapter having a housing and a splice guide. The optical connection also comprises a pair of splicing connectors each having an outer housing and a fiber guide within the outer housing. The splicing connectors also include optical fibers extending through the fiber guides. The fiber guides and optical fibers of the splicing connectors are configured to allow relative movement therebetween. The outer housing of each splicing connector is received in and latched to the housing of the adapter, and the optical fibers are abutted together within a cavity of the splice guide such that the splicing connectors are mated in the adapter.
This is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/028,799, filed on Feb. 16, 2011, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/305,733 filed Feb. 18, 2010, the content of both applications is relied upon and incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUNDThe disclosure is directed to methods for laser processing optical fibers and fiber optic connectors. More specifically, the disclosure is directed to methods for laser processing optical fibers arranged in arrays and splicing connectors having a dense array of optical fibers.
Optical fiber is increasingly being used for a variety of applications, including but not limited to broadband voice, video, and data transmission. As bandwidth demands increase there is an unresolved need for high fiber count fiber optic connectors and methods for making the same. Moreover, the high fiber count fiber optic connectors become increasingly difficult to make as the fiber count increases since the number of fibers that must be aligned increases. In other words, the relatively small cores of the array of optical fibers must be aligned with suitable transmission loss levels for all the fibers of the array.
SUMMARYThe disclosure is also directed to splicing connectors and adapters that provide optical connection between a plurality of optical fibers. According to one embodiment, an optical connection comprises an adapter having a housing and a splice guide. The optical connection also comprises a pair of splicing connectors each having an outer housing, a fiber guide within the outer housing, and optical fibers extending beyond the fiber guide. The splicing connectors are mated together in the adapter without either splicing connector using a ferrule to support and mate the optical fibers. Additionally, the outer housing of each splicing connector are received in and latched to the housing of the adapter, and the optical fibers of each splicing connector are received and aligned by the splice guide of the adapter so that the optical fibers are spliced in a cavity of the splice guide.
According to another embodiment, an optical connection comprises an adapter having a housing and a splice guide. The optical connection also comprises a pair of splicing connectors each having an outer housing and a fiber guide within the outer housing. The splicing connectors also include optical fibers extending through the fiber guides. The fiber guides and optical fibers of the splicing connectors are configured to allow relative movement therebetween. The outer housing of each splicing connector is received in and latched to the housing of the adapter, and the optical fibers are abutted together within a cavity of the splice guide such that the splicing connectors are mated in the adapter.
An adapter for mating a pair of splicing connectors is also provided, wherein each of the splicing connectors have an outer housing and a fiber guide within the outer housing. The adapter comprises a housing and a splice guide within the housing. The splice guide has a cavity and bores disposed on first and second ends of the splice guide, with the bores extending into the cavity. The cavity comprises a reservoir with index matching material. Spaces are defined within the adapter between the splice guide and housing to accommodate a portion of the outer housing of each splicing connector, such that the adapter is configured to receive the splicing connectors with the optical fibers of the splicing connectors extending through the bores so that the optical fibers can be abutted together within the cavity.
Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the detailed description which follows, and in part will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognized by practicing the same as described herein, including the detailed description that follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description present embodiments that are intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding the nature and character of the claims. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments and together with the description serve to explain the principles and operation.
Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of the disclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.
The embodiments and methods described herein are suitable for preparing and/or making optical connections employing a plurality of optical fibers. The concepts of the disclosure advantageously allow the simple, quick, and economical connection between relatively large numbers of optical fibers. Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Whenever possible, like reference numbers will be used to refer to like components or parts.
By way of explanation, an end of a cable or assembly can be prepared for securing the optical fibers in a suitable structure by first removing a portion of the cable jacket and then grouping or organizing the fibers as desired for insertion into the structure (i.e., fiber organizer). The structure secures the optical fibers at a common location for inhibiting relative movement among the fibers in the array. Moreover, the structure may be used for holding the same in fixturing, thereby providing a convenient and common location for reference. Thereafter, the optical fibers may be processed as desired for connectorization. For instance, the laser may be used for cleaning, removing and/or ablating one or more coatings on the optical fiber, but other types of mechanical processing methods are possible for removing the coating from the fiber. Further, the laser may be used for cleaving and/or shaping the end of the optical fiber as desired, but may also include a mechanical cleaving and/or polish in addition to the laser processing. Thereafter, the laser processed fibers may be used with suitable connectors or assemblies that may or may not use a ferrule for holding the fibers.
More specifically,
Although protection element 40 is shown having a rectangular shape in the drawings other shapes are possible. By way of example, the protection element 40 may be a square or round disc making it easier to rotate and/or translate the same as part of the laser processing of optical fibers. Simply stated, the protective element 40 may move by being rotated and/or translated to provide a fresh surface thereby providing heat dissipation, a clean surface, and/or allow wiping of glass residue from the protection element 40. Consequently, the life of the protection element is extended by rotating and/or translating the same. Other more sophisticated protection elements are also possible as discussed herein. For instance, the protection element can include a hinged portion having a slot for receiving the current working array of fibers and protecting the array of fibers above and/or below the working array of fibers, thereby making it easier for processing fiber arrays having a relatively small pitch or spacing between fibers.
In this first explanatory method, protection element 40 has a smooth surface that has a relatively high degree of reflection of the laser energy that impinges on the same. Protection element 40 allows the laser energy to reach the optical fibers being processed, but inhibits the laser energy from damaging the optical fibers not being processed, other portions of structure 30, or from creating a safety issue, but the protection element may also absorb and/or disperse a portion of the energy depending on the material used. This first method also uses an optional laser absorption element 42 to contain the reflected laser energy. As shown by
Other variations for using the protection element 40 and/or laser absorbing element 42 are possible. As a variation on
Although the methods disclosed show processing an array of optical fibers having two rows as shown, structures having more rows and/or other array arrangements of optical fibers can be processed using the concepts disclosed herein. For instance, processing more than two rows may involve bending the upper rows out of the way such as by using a second protective element so that particular individual rows can be exposed and processed with the laser beam. Consequently, much larger arrays of optical fibers may be laser processed using the concepts disclosed herein.
In other words, the protective element 140 is positioned so that the hinge 146 is pointing towards the ends of the optical fibers of structure 30 as shown by
The protection elements disclosed herein can have other features that aid in the laser processing and/or inhibit damage to the optical fibers. For instance, the outer surface of the upper portion can have a relatively soft insert in recess 143 for cushioning the processed optical fibers, thereby inhibiting damage to the same. Likewise, the protection element can have an active cooling element such as running water through passages in the same for dissipating heat from the protective structure. As discussed above, the protection element can have a surface that reflects, absorbs and/or disperses a portion of the energy depending on the material and/or surface finishing selected. Of course other suitable structures are possible using the concepts disclosed herein. For instance, a protection element configured as a fiber separation device can be formed from two portions that operate in a similar manner to protection element 140 but are attached in another suitable manner besides a hinge such as a rib and slot for alignment and opening. Although protection element 140 is shown as having a hinge with a movable portion it is possible to fix the first and second portions at a fixed angle with a space therebetween and use the device in a similar manner by inserting the row of fibers for processing through the space of the device. After laser processing one or more structures having an array of optical fibers, the structure(s) may be used with a suitable fiber optic connector or other termination devices, thereby permitting a plurality of optical connections. This is advantageous since the craft can quickly and easily make a large number of optical connections with a relatively small footprint (i.e., high connection density). For instance, a fiber optic connector can have 24-fibers or more such as 36-fibers, 48-fibers or 72-fibers. Examples of fiber optic connectors and/or termination devices for use with these structures is disclosed herein, but other types of fiber optic connectors and/or termination devices may also employ optical fibers processed using the methods described herein.
Other structures and methods are also possible for aligning the fibers for transmitting optical signals between the arrays of fibers inserted into the adapter. For instance, the adapter could include beam expanding lenses between the arrays of fibers. By way of example, the cap could be modified to include a plurality of beam expanding lens for transmitting signals between the optical fibers inserted from each end.
In these embodiments, adapters 100 and 100′ include a splice guide 110 configured as an insert that fits into housing 102. Configuring splice guide 110 as an insert of adapter 100 or 100′ is advantageous for manufacturing since the high-precision structure can be manufactured into the insert and not the entire assembly (i.e., the housing). Splice guide 110 includes a rib 116 that fits into a groove (not numbered) of housing 102 as shown for seating the same with respect to housing 102. Housing 102 also includes an opening 103 for receiving reservoir cap 130 or lens element 130′ therethrough. To assemble the adapters, the splice guide 110 is inserted into housing 102 so that rib 116 is seated into the groove of housing 102. Thereafter, the reservoir cap 130 or lens element 130′ can be inserted through the opening 103 of housing 102 so that is attaches to the opening 118 of cavity 114 of the splice guide 110. For the embodiments using an index-matching material, cavity 114 of splice guide 110 may be filled with an index-matching material at any suitable time such as before inserting the splice guide 110 into housing 102, before attaching the reservoir cap 130, or the reservoir cap 130 may be removed after assembly to fill cavity 114.
As best shown in
Although the disclosure has been illustrated and described herein with reference to preferred embodiments and specific examples thereof, it will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that other embodiments and examples can perform similar functions and/or achieve like results. All such equivalent embodiments and examples are within the spirit and scope of the disclosure and are intended to be covered by the appended claims. It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the same. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.
Claims
1. An optical connection, comprising:
- an adapter having a housing and a splice guide within the housing; and
- a pair of splicing connectors each having an outer housing, a fiber guide within the outer housing, and optical fibers extending beyond the fiber guide;
- wherein the splicing connectors are mated together in the adapter without either splicing connector using a ferrule to support and mate the optical fibers, the outer housing of each splicing connector being received in and latched to the housing of the adapter, and the optical fibers of each splicing connector being received and aligned by the splice guide of the adapter so that the optical fibers are spliced in a cavity of the splice guide.
2. The optical connection of claim 1, wherein spaces are defined within the adapter between the splice guide and housing to accommodate a portion of the outer housing of each splicing connector.
3. The optical connection of claim 2, wherein the splice guide includes portions extending above and below the cavity such that the spaces are located within the adapter on opposite sides of the vertical portions.
4. The optical connection of claim 2, wherein the splice guide is integral with the housing.
5. The optical connection of claim 1, wherein the fiber guide and optical fibers of each splicing connector are configured to allow relative movement therebetween.
6. The optical connection of claim 1, wherein the optical fibers have an overlength for mating such that the optical fibers are abutted in physical contact with a bend kept in the optical fibers.
7. The optical connection of claim 1, wherein the splice guide of the adapter includes bores disposed on first and second ends of the splice guide, the bores extending into the cavity of the splice guide.
8. The optical connection of claim 1, wherein the cavity of the splice guide comprises a reservoir with index matching material.
9. An optical connection, comprising:
- an adapter having a housing and a splice guide within the housing; and
- a pair of splicing connectors each having an outer housing and a fiber guide within the outer housing, the splicing connectors also including optical fibers extending through the fiber guides;
- wherein: the fiber guides and optical fibers of the splicing connectors are configured to allow relative movement therebetween; the outer housing of each splicing connector is received in and latched to the housing of the adapter; and the optical fibers are abutted together within a cavity of the splice guide such that the splicing connectors are mated in the adapter.
10. The optical connection of claim 9, wherein spaces are defined within the adapter between the splice guide and housing to accommodate a portion of the outer housing of each splicing connector.
11. The optical connection of claim 10, wherein the splice guide includes portions extending above and below the cavity such that the spaces are located within the adapter on opposite sides of the vertical portions.
12. The optical connection of claim 9, wherein the splice guide is integral with the housing.
13. The optical connection of claim 9, wherein the optical fibers have an overlength for mating such that the optical fibers are abutted in physical contact with a bend kept in the optical fibers.
14. The optical connection of claim 9, wherein the splice guide of the adapter includes bores disposed on first and second ends of the splice guide, the bores extending into the cavity of the splice guide.
15. The optical connection of claim 1, wherein the cavity of the splice guide comprises a reservoir with index matching material.
16. A system for an optical connection, comprising:
- an adapter having a housing and a splice guide within the housing; and
- a pair of splicing connectors each having an outer housing and a fiber guide within the outer housing, the fiber guide including a cavity comprising a reservoir with index matching material, the splicing connectors also including optical fibers extending through the fiber guides;
- wherein: the fiber guides and optical fibers of the splicing connectors are configured to allow relative movement therebetween; the splicing connectors do not include a ferrule to support the optical fibers; the outer housing of each splicing connector configured to be received in and latched to the housing of the adapter; and spaces are defined within the adapter between the splice guide and housing to accommodate a portion of the outer housing of each splicing connector, such that the adapter is configured to receive the splicing connectors with the optical fibers extending into the cavity so that the optical fibers can be abutted together within the cavity.
17. The system of claim 16, wherein the splice guide of the adapter includes bores disposed on first and second ends of the splice guide, the bores extending into the cavity of the splice guide so that the optical fibers can be aligned and abutted within the cavity.
18. The system of claim 16, wherein the splice guide includes portions extending above and below the cavity such that the spaces are located within the adapter on opposite sides of the vertical portions.
19. The system of claim 16, wherein the splice guide is integral with the housing.
20. An adapter for mating a pair of splicing connectors that each have an outer housing and a fiber guide within the outer housing, the adapter comprising:
- a housing; and
- a splice guide within the housing, the splice guide having a cavity and bores disposed on first and second ends of the splice guide, the bores extending into the cavity;
- wherein: the cavity comprises a reservoir with index matching material; and spaces are defined within the adapter between the splice guide and housing to accommodate a portion of the outer housing of each splicing connector, such that the adapter is configured to receive the splicing connectors with optical fibers of the splicing connectors extending through the bores so that the optical fibers can be abutted together within the cavity.
21. The adapter of claim 20, wherein the splice guide includes portions extending above and below the cavity such that the spaces are located within the adapter on opposite sides of the vertical portions.
22. The adapter of claim 20, wherein the splice guide is integral with the housing.
Type: Application
Filed: Dec 22, 2014
Publication Date: Apr 23, 2015
Inventors: Michael de Jong (Colleyville, TX), Micah Colen Isenhour (Lincolnton, NC), Dennis Michael Knecht (Hickory, NC), James Phillip Luther (Hickory, NC), Radawan Ripumaree (Granite Falls, NC)
Application Number: 14/579,149
International Classification: G02B 6/255 (20060101);