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US 5,633,970 AGranted
Device with internal asymmetrical features for rotational alignment of non-symmetrical articles
AssigneeMinnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company
InventorsGrieg A. Olson, Daniel V. Attanasio, Nicholas A. Lee
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A device for use in the rotational alignment of non symmetrical articles, such as non-cylindrically symmetrical optical elements which transmit and/or emit polarized light. In one embodiment, the current invention provides an optical fiber connector assembly which utilizes internal asymmetrical alignment features to optimize the rotational alignment of the polarization axes of an optical fiber element with respect to a rotational orientation-indicating reference on the connector.
Claims31
A connector subassembly for non-cylindrically symmetrical optical elements, comprising:
- a holding member for an optical element having a polarization axis, wherein said holding member comprises a key;
- and
- a housing comprising an interior surface and an exterior surface, said interior surface being adapted to receive the holding member and comprising at least two cooperative keyways each adapted to engage the key on the holding member, wherein said keyways on the interior surface of the housing are asymmetrically spaced about a longitudinal axis of the housing;
- wherein the key in the holding member engages one of said keyways on the interior surface of said housing to optimize the rotational alignment of the polarization axis of the fiber at a predetermined angle with respect to a rotational reference feature on the exterior surface of said housing.
1 more element
A subassembly for a connector for non-cylindrically symmetrical optical fibers, comprising:
- a ferrule comprising a longitudinal passageway for a terminal end of a non-cylindrically symmetrical optical fiber with a polarization axis, wherein said fiber is rotationally fixed within said passageway;
- a collar member adapted to rotationally retain said ferrule, wherein said collar member has at least one alignment feature;
- and
- a housing comprising an internal surface with a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said collar member, said internal surface further comprising at least two cooperative alignment features, each adapted to engage the alignment feature on said collar member, wherein said alignment features on said housing are asymmetrically spaced about a longitudinal axis of the housing;
- and wherein the alignment feature in the collar member engages one of said alignment features on the housing to optimize the rotational alignment of the polarization axis of the fiber at a predetermined angle with respect to an external rotational reference feature on an exterior surface of said housing.
2 more elements
A subassembly for a connector for non-cylindrically symmetrical optical fibers, comprising:
- a ferrule comprising a longitudinal passageway for a terminal end of a non-cylindrically symmetrical optical fiber having a polarization axis, wherein said fiber is rotationally fixed within said passageway;
- a collar member adapted to rotationally retain said ferrule, wherein said collar member comprises a longitudinal key and an axial passageway contiguous with the passageway in said ferrule;
- and
- a housing comprising an internal surface with a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said collar member, said internal surface further comprising two keyways, each adapted to engage the key on said collar member, wherein said keyways have a rotational separation about the longitudinal axis of the connector body of about 175.degree. to about 179.5.degree.;
- and wherein the key in the collar member engages one of said keyways in said housing to optimize the rotational alignment of the polarization axis of the fiber at a predetermined angle with respect to an external rotational reference feature on an exterior surface of said housing.
2 more elements
A connector for non-cylindrically symmetrical optical fibers, comprising:
- a ferrule comprising a longitudinal passageway for a terminal end of a non-cylindrically symmetrical optical fiber with a polarization axis, wherein said fiber is rotationally fixed within said passageway;
- a collar member adapted to rotationally retain said ferrule, wherein said collar member comprises a longitudinal key and an axial passageway contiguous with the passageway in said ferrule;
- a housing comprising an internal surface with a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said collar member, said internal surface further comprising two keyways, each adapted to engage the key on said collar member, wherein said keyways have a rotational separation about the longitudinal axis of the connector body of about 175.degree. to about 179.5.degree.;
- wherein the key in the collar member engages one of said keyways in said housing to optimize the rotational alignment of the polarization axis of the fiber at a predetermined angle with respect to an external rotational reference feature on an exterior surface of said housing;
- a crimp member for securing strengthening members of an optical fiber cable to said housing;
- and
- a latching member attached to and surrounding said housing, said latching member being selected from the group consisting of an SC-type and an FC-type.
4 more elements
A method for connecting a second non-cylindrically symmetrical optical element having a second polarization axis to a first optical element having a first polarization axis, comprising the steps of:
- (a) rotationally aligning and fixing said second optical element with respect to an alignment feature in a holding member;
- (b) providing a housing comprising an internal surface and an external surface, wherein the internal surface comprises a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said holding member, said internal surface further comprising first and second alignment features, each adapted to receive the alignment feature key on the holding member, wherein said keyways have a rotational separation about the longitudinal axis of the housing of about 175.degree. to about 179.5.degree., and said external surface comprises a rotational alignment reference;
- (c) engaging the alignment feature on the holding member in the first alignment feature in the housing, and measuring the rotational alignment of the second polarization axis with respect to the alignment reference;
- (d) engaging the alignment feature on the holding member in the second alignment features in the housing, and measuring the rotational alignment of the second polarization axis with respect to the alignment reference;
- (e) engaging the alignment feature on the holding member in the alignment feature on the housing which provides the optimum rotational alignment of the second polarization axis at a predetermined angle with respect to the alignment reference;
- and
- (f) rotationally aligning the alignment reference with respect to the first polarization axis.
4 more elements
A connection system for polarization maintaining (PM) optical fibers, comprising:
- (a) at least one connector subassembly, comprising:
- (i) a ferrule comprising a longitudinal passageway for a terminal end of a non-cylindrically symmetrical optical fiber with a polarization axis, wherein said fiber is rotationally fixed within said passageway;
- (ii) a collar member adapted to rotationally retain said ferrule, wherein said collar member comprises a key and an axial passageway contiguous with the passageway in said ferrule;
- and
- (iii) a housing comprising an internal surface with a longitudinal bore adapted to receive said collar member, said internal surface further comprising two keyways, each adapted to engage the key on said collar member, wherein said keyways have a rotational separation about the longitudinal axis of the connector body of about 175.degree. to about 179.5.degree.;
- and wherein the key in the collar member engages one of said keyways in said housing to optimize the rotational alignment of the polarization axis of the fiber at a predetermined angle with respect to a rotational alignment reference on an exterior surface of said housing;
- (b) means for biasing said collar member in the bore of the housing;
- (c) a tool to engage at least one of the ferrule and the collar member and manipulate the ferrule or the collar member with respect to said housing;
- (d) a crimp member for securing strengthening members of an optical fiber cable to the housing;
- (e) at least one latching member for attachment to each subassembly, wherein said connector body is selected from the group consisting of an SC-type and an FC-type;
- (f) a boot member for relieving strain applied to the optical fiber cable proximate said crimp member.
8 more elements
A connector subassembly for non-cylindrically symmetrical optical elements, comprising:
- a housing with an interior surface and an exterior surface, wherein said interior surface comprises an alignment feature;
- a holding member for an optical element with a polarization axis, wherein said holding member comprises at least two cooperative alignment features each adapted to engage the alignment feature on the housing, wherein said alignment features on said holding member are spaced at a rotational separation of about 175.degree. to about 179.5.degree. about a longitudinal axis of the holding member;
- and wherein the alignment feature in the housing engages one of said alignment features on said holding member to optimize the rotational alignment of the polarization axis of the element at a predetermined angle with respect to an external rotational alignment reference on the exterior surface of said housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.