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US 12,007,608 B2Granted
Multi-fiber ferrule with improved eye safety
AssigneeUS Conec Ltd.
InventorsDarrell R. Childers, Michael E. Hughes, Daniel D. Kurtz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-fiber ferrule has lenses that have different prescriptions to disperse the light emitted from the multi-fiber ferrule. Alternatively, the lens for each individual optical fiber can be moved relative to the optical fiber or the optical fiber opening in the multi-fiber ferrule to cause the laser beam exiting the multi-fiber ferrule to be redirected into a structure that absorbs or blocks the laser.
Claims16
An optical fiber connection system comprising:
- a structure having a front end, a back end, an inside surface extending between the front end and the back end defining an opening in the structure;
- a multi-fiber ferrule configured to be inserted into the opening of the structure, the multi-fiber ferrule comprising:
- a main body having a front end, a back end, and a middle portion disposed between the front end and the back end, the back end configured to receive at least two optical fibers;
- a plurality of optical fiber structures extending from the back end toward the front end, each of the plurality of optical fiber structures configured to receive an optical fiber and having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough;
- and
- a plurality of lenses disposed in the main body, each of the plurality of lenses being in optical alignment with a respective one of the plurality of optical fiber structures, each of the plurality of lenses having an optical axis such that light incident on the plurality of lenses is directed to the inside surface of the structure after collimation from the plurality of lenses.
3 more elements
An optical fiber connection system comprising:
- a mated pair of multi-fiber ferrules including a first multi-fiber ferrule mated to a second multi-fiber ferrule within a structure, each of the first multi-fiber ferrule and the second multi-fiber ferrule comprising:
- a main body having a front end, a back end, and a middle portion disposed between the front end and the back end, the back end configured to receive at least two optical fibers;
- a plurality of optical fiber structures extending from the back end toward the front end, each of the plurality of optical fiber structures configured to receive an optical fiber and having an axis extending longitudinally therethrough;
- and
- a plurality of lenses disposed in the main body, each of the plurality of lenses being in optical alignment with a respective one of the plurality of optical fiber structures, each of the plurality of lenses having an optical axis such that light incident on the plurality of lenses is directed to the inside surface of the structure after interaction with the plurality of lenses when the first multi-fiber ferrule and the second multi-fiber ferrule are unmated, and when mated the light travels between the first multi-fiber ferrule and the second multi-fiber ferrule.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.