Back to results
US 7,120,349 B2Granted
Fiber optic cable device with retractable operation
AssigneeHewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
InventorStephen J. Elliott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for providing variable length fiber optic cable and storing any excess not used. Means are provided to allow for extending and retracting fiber optic cable to prevent excess slack when in use. Optical coupling units provide optical coupling of fiber optic cable within the device. Multiple devices may be connected together to provide variable length fiber optic cable in different directions.
Claims11
An optical fiber storage arrangement comprising:
- a spool having a hub about an axis of which an optical fiber can be wound,
- a first optical passage being formed in the hub,
- a first end of the first optical passage being located at a first opening in one end of the hub and
- a second end of the first optical passage extending at least partially through the hub to a second opening therein at which connection with the optical fiber can be made;
- a body to which the spool can be mounted, the body having a second optical passage;
- and
- a rotary optical coupling between the spool and the body by which
- the spool axially rotates relative to the body, and
- the first optical passage is optically connected to the second optical passage.
6 more elements
An optical fiber apparatus comprising:
- a spool to which a fiber optic cable can be wound, the spool having a fiber optic cable connector to which the fiber optic fiber cable can be connected;
- a body having a fiber optic junction;
- a rotary optical coupling having an axis mounted to the body by which
- the spool rotates about the axis, and
- optical signals may be passed through the axis between the fiber optic cable connector and the fiber optic junction.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.