Variable attenuator for optical fiber applications
AssigneeFitel USA Corp.
InventorsRyan Robert Holman, David Nolan Ridgway
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A variable attenuation device for optical signal transmission has first and second ferrules or plugs having abutting end faces, one of the ferrules being rotatable with respect to the other while axial alignment therebetween is maintained. Each ferrule or plug has an axial bore aligned with the other and contains the end of an optical fiber, with a fiber having a smaller diameter than the diameter of the bore in which it is contained so that the fibers may have decreased engagement with each other when there is relative rotation of the ferrules although the ferrule bores remain aligned.
Claims9
A variable attenuator device for varying the signal attenuation within an optical fiber transmission line, said device comprising:
- first and second abutting ferrules having longitudinal first and second bores therein, said bores being axially aligned with each other and each containing a fiber end;
- said second ferrule being rotatable with respect to said first ferrule while maintaining the axial alignment of the bores;
- said fiber end portions each having a diameter less than the diameter of said bores to the extent that rotation of said second ferrule while the axial alignment of the ferrule bores is maintained varies the amount of engagement of the fiber ends contained within said first and second bores.
A variable attenuation member for varying the attenuation within an optical fiber transmission line, said attenuation member comprising:
- an outer housing having a first end and a second end;
- an optical fiber connector member at each end of said housing;
- an inner housing having a stationary portion affixed to said outer housing and a rotatable portion rotatable with respect to said stationary portion;
- a first rotary splice housing contained within said stationary portion and being fixed in rotary position with respect thereto
- said first rotary splice member having a first ferrule projecting from one end thereof, said first ferrule having a bore therein containing the fixed end of a first optical fiber;
- said second rotary splice member having a second ferrule projecting from one end thereof, said second ferrule having a bore therein containing the fixed end of a second optical fiber;
- said first and second ferrules having abutting end faces wherein said bores are axially aligned with each other and said fibers are in engagement, and the diameter of said bores being sufficiently greater than the diameter of the fibers contained therein to produce a variation in the fiber end engagement upon rotation of said rotatable portion of said inner housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.