Optical fiber connection system including optical fiber alignment device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016018604-A1
Application number	US-201314377189-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 6, 2013
Priority date	Feb 7, 2012
Publication date	Jan 21, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an optical fiber alignment device that has an alignment housing that includes first and second ends. The alignment housing defines a fiber insertion axis that extends through the alignment housing between the first and second ends. The alignment housing includes a fiber alignment region at an intermediate location between the first and second ends. First and second fiber alignment rods are positioned within the alignment housing. The first and second fiber alignment rods cooperate to define a fiber alignment groove that extends along the fiber insertion axis. The first and second fiber alignment rods each having rounded ends positioned at the first and second ends of the alignment housing.

First claim

1 . An optical fiber alignment device comprising:
an alignment housing including first and second ends, the alignment housing defining a fiber insertion axis that extends through the alignment housing between the first and second ends, the alignment housing including a fiber alignment region at an intermediate location between the first and second ends; first and second fiber alignment rods positioned within the alignment housing, the first and second fiber alignment rods cooperating to define a fiber alignment groove that extends along the fiber insertion axis, the first and second fiber alignment rods each having rounded ends positioned at the first and second ends of the alignment housing; first and second fiber contact members positioned within the alignment housing; and a biasing arrangement for urging the first and second fiber contact members generally toward the fiber alignment groove.

2 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second fiber contact members comprise spheres.

3 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second contact members comprise balls.

4 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment housing is a one-piece part.

5 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment housing is a one-piece molded part.

6 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the biasing arrangement includes a clip that mounts on the alignment housing such that the first and second contact members are captured within the alignment housing.

7 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 6 , wherein the clip includes first and second springs that respectively apply biasing pressure to the first and second contact members.

8 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 7 , wherein the first and second springs comprise leaf springs.

9 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 6 , wherein the clip is C-shaped.

10 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second contact members are first and second balls, wherein the alignment housing has a cylindrical outer surface, and wherein a resilient clip including a main body fits over the cylindrical outer surface of the alignment housing, the main body having a generally C-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, the resilient clip also including first and second leaf springs having base ends integrally formed with the main body, the first and second leaf springs forming the biasing arrangement.

11 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second ends of the alignment housing define partial funnels that cooperate with the rounded ends of the first and second fiber alignment rods to form fiber guides for guiding optical fibers toward the fiber insertion axis.

12 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the rounded ends are semi-spherical in shape.

13 . The fiber optic alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment device is incorporated into a fiber optic adapter.

14 . The fiber optic alignment device of claim 1 , wherein the alignment device is incorporated into a converter for converting a ferrule-less connector into a ferruled connector.

15 . An optical fiber alignment device comprising:
an alignment housing including first and second ends, the alignment housing defining a fiber insertion axis that extends through the alignment housing between the first and second ends, the alignment housing including a fiber alignment region at an intermediate location between the first and second ends, the alignment housing having a cylindrical outer surface; first and second balls that fit within the alignment housing; and a resilient clip including a main body that fits over the cylindrical outer surface of the alignment housing, the main body having a generally C-shaped transverse cross-sectional profile, the resilient clip also including first and second leaf springs having base ends integrally formed with the main body, the first and second leaf springs urging the first and second balls in a direction transverse with respect to the fiber insertion axis.

16 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 15 , wherein the alignment housing defines an optical fiber alignment groove that extends within the alignment housing along the fiber insertion axis.

17 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 15 , wherein the first and second ends of the alignment housing define funnel structures for guiding optical fibers toward the fiber insertion axis.

18 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 17 , wherein the funnel structures include partial funnels.

19 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 17 , wherein the funnel structures include full funnels.

20 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 15 , further comprising first and second fiber alignment rods positioned within the alignment housing, the first and second fiber alignment rods cooperating to define a fiber alignment groove that extends along the fiber insertion axis, the first and second fiber alignment rods each having rounded ends positioned at the first and second ends of the alignment housing.

21 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 20 , wherein the rounded ends are semi-spherical in shape.

22 . The optical fiber alignment device of claim 20 , wherein the first and second ends of the alignment housing define partial funnels that cooperate with the rounded ends of the first and second fiber alignment rods to form fiber guides for guiding optical fibers toward the fiber insertion axis.

23 - 62 . (canceled)

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Corp
• Tyco Electronics Raychem Bvba

Inventors

• Gurreri Michael
• Flaig Robert Charles
• Paul Randall Bobby
• Verheyden Danny Willy August
• Erdman David Donald
• Bretz Dwight A

Classifications

• G02B6/3809

  without a ferrule embedding the fibre end, i.e. with bare fibre end · CPC title

• G02B6/3882 Primary

  using rods, pins or balls to align a pair of ferrule ends · CPC title

• G02B6/3825

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

• G02B6/3806 Primary

  Semi-permanent connections, i.e. wherein the mechanical means keeping the fibres aligned allow for removal of the fibres (dismountable connectors G02B6/3807) · CPC title

• G02B6/3821

  with axial spring biasing or loading means (G02B6/3847 takes precedence) · CPC title