Fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2019277725-A1
Application number	US-201815996136-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 1, 2018
Priority date	Mar 9, 2018
Publication date	Sep 12, 2019
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus for a measurement system is provided. The apparatus may comprise a main body comprising an enclosure and two openings. The enclosure may encase a fiber-optic cable within the main body in an organized manner. The two openings may fit connecting ends of the fiber-optic cable such that the connecting ends of may be exposed in order to connect two modular components of a measurement system and form a closed measurement loop. The main body, when in a closed configuration, may stabilizes the fiber-optic cable encased within from external conditions, such as mechanical, thermal, or other environmental conditions that may affect measurements.

First claim

1 . A fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus comprising:
a main body comprising an enclosure and two openings, wherein the main body allows the fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus to be in an open configuration or a closed configuration, wherein:
the enclosure to encase a fiber-optic cable within the main body in an organized manner; and
the two openings to fit connecting ends of the fiber-optic cable within the main body, wherein the connecting ends of the fiber-optic cable are exposed to connect two modular components of a measurement system and form a closed measurement loop; and
wherein the main body, when in a closed configuration, stabilizes the fiber-optic cable from external conditions.

2 . The fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the measurement system measures at least one of insertion loss (IL), optical return loss (ORL), polarization dependent loss (PDL), and extinction ratio (ER).

3 . The fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the enclosure comprises a molded shape for which the fiber-optic cable is organized.

4 . The fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the molded shape is a cylindrical shape around which the fiber-optic cable is to be coiled.

5 . The fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the main body is formed of material that is at least one of metallic, rubber, plastic, carbon fiber, glass, and moldable material.

6 . The fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the external conditions are at least one of mechanical, thermal, and environmental.

7 . The fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus of claim 1 , wherein each of the two openings comprises at least one of a translation gap, a rotation gap, an axial gap, and a u-shaped bracket to provide compatibility to different types of connecting ends and flexibility of movement within for the fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus.

8 . A method of using a fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus in a measurement system, the method comprising:
providing a main body comprising an enclosure and two openings; encasing within the enclosure a fiber-optic cable within the main body in an organized manner; fitting at the two openings connecting ends of the fiber-optic cable such that the connecting ends of the fiber-optic cable are exposed to connect two modular components of a measurement system and form a closed measurement loop; and providing stabilization of the fiber-optic cable from external conditions when the main body is in a closed configuration.

9 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the main body comprises a top portion attached to a bottom portion to form the main body in a closed configuration.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the main body has a clamshell configuration, such that in an open configuration, a top portion and a bottom portion of the main body is attached via a hinge, and in a closed configuration, closed by a latch.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the enclosure comprises a molded shape for which the fiber-optic cable is organized.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the molded shape is a cylindrical shape around which the fiber-optic cable is to be coiled.

13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the main body is formed of material that is at least one of metallic, rubber, plastic, carbon fiber, glass, and moldable material.

14 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the external conditions are at least one of mechanical, thermal, and environmental.

15 . The method of claim 8 , wherein each of the two openings comprises at least one of a translation gap, a rotation gap, an axial gap, and a u-shaped bracket to provide compatibility to different types of connecting ends and flexibility of movement within for the fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus.

16 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the measurement system measures at least one of insertion loss (IL), optical return loss (ORL), polarization dependent loss (PDL), and extinction ratio (ER).

17 . A method of making a fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus in a measurement system, the method comprising:
providing a main body comprising an enclosure and two openings, wherein the main body comprises a top portion attached to a bottom portion to form the main body in a closed configuration, wherein:
the enclosure to encase a fiber-optic cable within the main body in an organized manner; and
the two openings to fit connecting ends of the fiber-optic cable within the main body, wherein the connecting ends of the fiber-optic cable are exposed to connect two modular components of a measurement system and form a closed measurement loop; and
wherein the main body, when in the closed configuration, stabilizes the fiber-optic cable from external conditions.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the main body is formed of material that is at least one of metallic, rubber, plastic, carbon fiber, glass, and moldable material, and wherein the enclosure comprises a molded cylindrical shape around which the fiber-optic cable is coiled and organized.

19 . The method of claim 17 , wherein each of the two openings comprises at least one of a translation gap, a rotation gap, an axial gap, and a u-shaped bracket to provide compatibility to different types of connecting ends and flexibility of movement within for the fiber-optic interconnection stabilization apparatus.

20 . The method of claim 17 , wherein the measurement system measures at least one of insertion loss (IL), optical return loss (ORL), polarization dependent loss (PDL), and extinction ratio (ER).

Assignees

• Viavi Solutions Inc

Inventors

• Adams Robert Matthew
• Philipson Joshua
• Debs Elias
• Peach-Donovan Shauna
• Graves Jeff

Classifications

• G02B6/3823

  containing surplus lengths, internal fibre loops (provisionally see also G02B6/444) · CPC title

• G02B6/4457

  Bobbins; Reels · CPC title

• G01M11/33 Primary

  with a light emitter being disposed at one fibre or waveguide end-face, and a light receiver at the other end-face · CPC title

• G02B6/3897

  Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards (G02B6/44528 takes precedence) · CPC title