Optical fiber terminals with V-groove alignment
AssigneeThe Bendix Corporation
InventorJames J. Karol
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pin terminal (12) and a socket terminal (62) with self-alignment means (32, 54) in the pin is disclosed for coupling free ends of a pair of optical fibers (50, 52). The pin and socket terminal (12, 62) are adapted for mounting in respective connector members (10, 18) of the multiple terminal type. The self-alignment means for the fibers includes an alignment channel (32) in the pin and a spring wire (54) disposed in the channel. A bottom wall of the channel is a V-groove and the spring wire urges the free ends of the fibers into the V-groove when the fibers are inserted from opposite ends of the channel.
Claims18
In a connector for coupling a pair of optical fibers,
- a body defining a channel for receiving the endwise insertion of said fibers in opposed end-to-end relationship and
- means for holding the inserted fiber ends in the body channel, said means occupying part of said channel in the path of said endwise insertion, said means being in contact with a substantial axial length of the fiber end portions, in register with a wall of the channel and resiliently displaceable in a lateral direction by said insertion
- whereby upon insertion of said fiber ends into said channel said means urges said fiber end portions laterally against the wall of the channel and holds the fibers in the body in coupled relationship.
A mateable pair of terminals for coupling optical fibers comprising:
- a pin having an axial channel extending from a rearward end to a forward end of the pin for receiving the end wise insertion of said fibers,
- means for securing an optical fiber to the rearward end of the pin with the fiber extending partially through the channel,
- said channel being adapted to receive another optical fiber removably extending into the forward end of the pin,
- a socket having a forward end adapted to receive said pin in telescopic relation,
- means for securing another optical fiber to the rearward end of the socket with the free end of the fiber extending partially through said socket, whereby said free end enters said channel at the forward end of the pin when the pin is matingly engaged with the socket, and
- means for holding a substantial axial length of the end portions of the two fiber ends in opposed end-to-end relationship, said holding means occupying part of said channel in the path of said end wise insertion of said fibers and being in contact with and resiliently displaceable in a lateral direction by said fiber insertion whereby said holding means urges the axial length of the two fiber end portions laterally into alignment with each other and against the channel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.