Adjustable attenuation wrap plug

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11664848-B2
Application number	US-202015931689-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 14, 2020
Priority date	May 14, 2020
Publication date	May 30, 2023
Grant date	May 30, 2023

Abstract

An adjustable attenuation wrap plug for insertion into a signal port at an end product includes a housing with a protruding input prong and output prong, wherein a signal cable is coupled to the input prong and the output prong. The adjustable attenuation wrap plug further includes a ratchet mechanism at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein the ratchet mechanism is configurable to alter a shape of the signal cable.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for an adjustable attenuation wrap plug, the apparatus comprising:
a housing with a protruding input prong and output prong, wherein a signal cable is coupled to the input prong and the output prong;
a ratchet mechanism at least partially disposed in the housing, wherein the ratchet mechanism is configurable to alter a shape of the signal cable; and
an attenuation adjustment pawl of the ratchet mechanism includes an inner apex member and an outer apex member, wherein a portion of the signal cable is disposed between the inner apex member and the outer apex member.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein altering the shape of the signal cable alters an attenuation level.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the signal cable is a fiber optic cable.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the input prong and the output prong are each insertable into an optical port on an end product.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the ratchet mechanism comprises a linear gear path for the attenuation adjustment pawl.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner apex member of the attenuation adjustment pawl is configured to pull the signal cable disposed in the housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein pulling the signal cable alters a bend radius of the signal cable.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising:
a cavity between a first end of the inner apex member and an inner surface of the housing, wherein a height of the cavity is less than a diameter of the signal cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer apex member of the attenuation adjustment pawl is configured to push the signal cable disposed in the housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein pushing the signal cable introduces at least one bend radius into the signal cable.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , further comprising:
a cavity between a first end of the outer apex member and an inner surface of the housing, wherein a height of the cavity is less than a diameter of the signal cable.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner apex member of the attenuation adjustment pawl is configured to pull the signal cable disposed in the housing and the outer apex member of the attenuation adjustment pawl is configured to push the signal cable disposed in the housing.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein pulling the signal cable reduces a bend radius of the signal cable and pushing the signal cable introduces at least one bend radius into the signal cable.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising:
a first cavity between a first end of the inner apex member and an inner surface of the housing, wherein a height of the first cavity is less than a diameter of the signal cable; and
a second cavity between a first end of the outer apex member and the inner surface of the housing, wherein a height of the second cavity is less than the diameter of the signal cable.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Werner John S
• Gholami Faezeh
• Singer Noah
• Torok John
• Sciuto Philip A
• Tsfasman Arkadiy O

Classifications

• G02B6/3827

  Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape · CPC title

• H04B3/48 Primary

  Testing attenuation (H04B3/466 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/266

  the optical element being an attenuator · CPC title

• G02B6/3833

  Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture · CPC title

• G02B6/3825

  with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs · CPC title