US 4,190,316 A · Lens connector for optical fibers

Abstract

This invention provides a connector for optical fibers which includes a receptacle within which is a lens member, with plugs being connected to the opposite ends of the receptacle so that optical fibers carried by the two plugs are in a light-transmissive relationship at the lens member. The plugs include forward tapered surfaces which are biased by resilient forces against tapered surfaces of the lens member for directly aligning the plugs with the lens member. Each of the plugs includes a back shell carrying a clamping member in which resilient pads are biased against the fiber to grip it without damaging it. Within the front shell the optical fiber is caused to bow in a predetermined direction which enables compensation to be made for any offset in the axes of the cavities in the lens member. There is also a cable clamp for retaining the cable of the optical fiber unit to the connector between tapered surfaces, and a tool with an expansible loop and a stop for associating the end portion of the cable with the tapered surfaces of the cable clamp.

Claims44

Dependent claims

A device for connecting an optical fiber in a light-transmissive relationship with another object comprising

a first member having receiving means for receiving the end portion of an optical fiber in a light-transmissive relationship therewith,
a second member,
means for selectively connecting said second member to and disconnecting said second member from said first member,
an optical fiber having an end portion, and means for retaining said optical fiber to said second member, said retaining means including
means for extending said end portion of said optical fiber relative to said second member for being received by said receiving means of said first member when said second member is connected to said first member,
and means for retracting said end portion of said optical fiber relative to said second member when said second member is disconnected from said first member for protecting said end portion of said optical fiber when said second member is so disconnected.

3 more elements

A device for connecting an optical fiber in a light-transmissive relationship with another object comprising

a first member having
means for receiving the end portion of an optical fiber,
and a tapered surface means,
a second member adjacent said first member,
said second member having
tapered surface means engaging said tapered surface means of said first member,
an optical fiber having an end portion, gripping means carried by said second member for gripping said optical fiber remote from said end portion thereof,
said means for gripping said optical fiber including
a dualty of resilient members positioned one on either side of said optical fiber, and
means for biasing said resilient members toward each other so that said resilient members engage said optical fiber and grip the same,
said optical fiber projecting from said second member so that said end portion is received in said first member, and
means for removably connecting said first and second members together,
said connecting means including means for biasing said second member toward said first member so that said tapered surface means of said first and second members cooperate to align said first and second members.

10 more elements

A device for connecting an optical fiber in a light-transmissive relationship with another object comprising

a first member having
means for receiving the end portion of an optical fiber, and a tapered surface means,
a second member adjacent said first member,
said second member having
tapered surface means engaging said tapered surface means of said first member,
said second member including a first element and a second element movable relative to said first element,
said tapered surface means of said second member being on said first element, said gripping means being carried by said second element,
an optical fiber having an end portion, gripping means carried by said second member for gripping said optical fiber remote from said end portion thereof,
said optical fiber projecting from said second member so that said end portion is received in said first member, and
means for removably connecting said first and second members together, said connecting means including
resilient means interposed between portions of said first and second elements for biasing said second element in one direction relative to said first element such that when said first and second members are disconnected, said second element is moved relative to said first element a distance to cause said gripping means to move said optical fiber so that said end portion thereof is retracted into said first element,
and a connecting member for releasably engaging said first member, said connecting member having surface means for engaging said second element for moving said second element in the opposite direction relative to said first element in opposition to said resilient means when said connecting member is so engaging said first member,
for thereby causing said resilient means to bias said first element toward said first member and said tapered surface means of said second member to be pressed against said tapered surface means of said first member so that said tapered surface means of said first and second members cooperate to align said first and second members.

10 more elements