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EP0205984A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Terminated optical fiber and methods of making
Assignee: AT&T Inc
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Filing: 1986-05-30
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-05-30
Abstract
Abstract In order to connect two optical fibers (26-26), each of two plugs (40-40) each having a passageway (41) in which is received an optical fiber is mounted in a connector body (42). Each optical fiber comprises a core (25) and a cladding (27). The plugs are destined to be received in a sleeve (75) of a coupler (60) such that their longitudinal axes (38) are coaxial. Alignment of the fiber cores (25), at least radially of the longitudinal axes (38), is accomplished by locating for each plug (40) the intersection (99) of a radial line (98) which extends through the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) with the periphery of the plug (40). An orienting pin (43) is mounted in each connector body (42) in intentional radial alignment with the intersection (99). The connector bodies (42) are inserted into opposite ends of the coupler sleeve (75) to cause each pin (43) of each connector body (42) to be received in a slot (67) in the coupler (60). The slots (67) are aligned so that when the connector bodies (42) are inserted into the coupler (60), the pins (43) orient and cause the plugs (40) to be inserted into the sleeve (75) such that the centroids of the optical fiber cores (25) are aligned along a plane that originates at and extends radially from the longitudinal axes (38).
Inventors
- 👤 John Mark Palmquist
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 05:52
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3875; C; C25; C25B; C25B3/00; C25B3/20; C25B3/23; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3843; G02B6/3847; G02B6/3897; G02B6/3851; G02B6/389; G02B6/3891
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
170 words
A terminated optical fiber, which comprises: a plug (40) which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a longitudinally extending passageway (41); an optical fiber (26) which includes a core (25) and a cladding (27) that encloses said core (25) and which includes an end portion that is disposed within said passageway(41); and orienting means (43) associated with said plug (40) in intentional alignment with a line (98) which extends radially through the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) and through a centroid of the optical fiber core (25) so that when said plug (40) and the plug (40) of another said terminated optical fiber are supported with the longitudinal axes (38) thereof being coaxial, the orienting means (43) are adapted to be held to orient the radially extending lines (98) of the plugs (40) in a common plane which originates at and extends radially from the longitudinal axes (38) to cause the centroids of the cores (25) of the terminated optical fibers to be disposed in the common plane.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
170 words
A terminated optical fiber, which comprises: a plug (40) which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a longitudinally extending passageway (41); an optical fiber (26) which includes a core (25) and a cladding (27) that encloses said core (25) and which includes an end portion that is disposed within said passageway(41); and orienting means (43) associated with said plug (40) in intentional alignment with a line (98) which extends radially through the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) and through a centroid of the optical fiber core (25) so that when said plug (40) and the plug (40) of another said terminated optical fiber are supported with the longitudinal axes (38) thereof being coaxial, the orienting means (43) are adapted to be held to orient the radially extending lines (98) of the plugs (40) in a common plane which originates at and extends radially from the longitudinal axes (38) to cause the centroids of the cores (25) of the terminated optical fibers to be disposed in the common plane.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
220 words
A terminated optical fiber, which comprises: a plug (40) which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a longitudinally extending passageway (41); an optical fiber (26) which comprises a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about said core (25) and which includes an end portion that is disposed within said passageway (41); and a connector body (42) in which is mounted said plug (40) and which includes orienting means (43) caused to be disposed in international alignment with a line (98) which extends radially through the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) and through a centroid of the optical fiber core (25), said connector body (42) and said plug (40) adapted to be received in one end of a coupler (60) and a connector body (42) and plug (40) of another terminated optical fiber adapted to be received in the other end of the coupler (60) with the longitudinal axes (38) of the plugs (40) being coaxial and said orienting means (43) of each connector body (42) being disposed in a common plane which originates at and extends radially from the longitudinal axes (38) to cause the centroids of the cores (25) of the optical fibers (26) terminated by the plugs (40) and connector bodies (42) received in the coupler (60) to be disposed substantially in the common plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
220 words
A terminated optical fiber, which comprises: a plug (40) which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a longitudinally extending passageway (41); an optical fiber (26) which comprises a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about said core (25) and which includes an end portion that is disposed within said passageway (41); and a connector body (42) in which is mounted said plug (40) and which includes orienting means (43) caused to be disposed in international alignment with a line (98) which extends radially through the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) and through a centroid of the optical fiber core (25), said connector body (42) and said plug (40) adapted to be received in one end of a coupler (60) and a connector body (42) and plug (40) of another terminated optical fiber adapted to be received in the other end of the coupler (60) with the longitudinal axes (38) of the plugs (40) being coaxial and said orienting means (43) of each connector body (42) being disposed in a common plane which originates at and extends radially from the longitudinal axes (38) to cause the centroids of the cores (25) of the optical fibers (26) terminated by the plugs (40) and connector bodies (42) received in the coupler (60) to be disposed substantially in the common plane.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
263 words
A terminating optical fiber cable, comprising: a plug (40) which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a longitudinally extending passageway (41); an optical fiber cable (22) comprising an optical fiber (26) having an end portion which is disposed in the passageway (41) of said plug (40), said optical fiber (26) including a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about the core (25); and a connector body (42) in which is mounted said plug (40) and including a pin (43) extending radially from the longitudinal axis (38) of said plug (40) and being mounted in said connector body (42) to cause said pin (43) to be aligned intentionally with the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) in an end face (39) of the plug (40) along a radial line (98) which extends from the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) through the centroid, said connector body (42) and said plug (40) adapted to be received in one end of a coupler (60) and the connector body (42) and plug (40) of another terminated optical fiber cable (24) adapted to be received in the other end of said coupler (60) such that the longitudinal axes (38) of the plugs (40) are coaxial and the pins (43) of the connector bodies (42) supported by the coupler so that the radially extending lines (98) are disposed in a common plane which extends radially from the coaxial longitudinal axes (38) of said plugs (40) to cause the centroids of the cores (25) of the optical fibers (26) to be disposed substantially in the common plane.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
263 words
A terminating optical fiber cable, comprising: a plug (40) which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a longitudinally extending passageway (41); an optical fiber cable (22) comprising an optical fiber (26) having an end portion which is disposed in the passageway (41) of said plug (40), said optical fiber (26) including a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about the core (25); and a connector body (42) in which is mounted said plug (40) and including a pin (43) extending radially from the longitudinal axis (38) of said plug (40) and being mounted in said connector body (42) to cause said pin (43) to be aligned intentionally with the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) in an end face (39) of the plug (40) along a radial line (98) which extends from the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) through the centroid, said connector body (42) and said plug (40) adapted to be received in one end of a coupler (60) and the connector body (42) and plug (40) of another terminated optical fiber cable (24) adapted to be received in the other end of said coupler (60) such that the longitudinal axes (38) of the plugs (40) are coaxial and the pins (43) of the connector bodies (42) supported by the coupler so that the radially extending lines (98) are disposed in a common plane which extends radially from the coaxial longitudinal axes (38) of said plugs (40) to cause the centroids of the cores (25) of the optical fibers (26) to be disposed substantially in the common plane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
117 words
The terminated optical fiber cable of claim 3, wherein the coupler (60) includes a sleeve (75) and each of the plugs (40) is adapted to be received in the sleeve (75), and wherein each of the connector bodies (42) is enclosed in a housing (45), each said housing (45) including a longitudinally extending slot (55) connected at its inner end to a circumferential slot (57) and wherein the coupler (60) includes a radially projecting assembly pin (73) at each end thereof, each pin (73) of the coupler (60) adapted to be received in a slot (55, 57) of a housing (45) when the connector body (42) enclosed by said housing (45) is received in the coupler (60).
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
60 words
The terminated optical fiber cable of claim 3, wherein the coupler (60) includes a longitudinally extending slot (67) at each end thereof with the slots (67) being aligned longitudinally, the pin (43) of each connector body (42) adapted to be received in a slot (67) of the coupler (60) when the connector body (42) is received in the coupler (60).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
28 words
The terminated optical fiber cable of claim 3, wherein the core centroid (25) is disposed between the longitudinal axis (38) of said plug (40) and said pin (43).
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
28 words
The terminated optical fiber cable of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal axis (38) of said plug (40) is disposed between the core centroid (25) and said pin (43).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
305 words
An optical fiber interconnection system, which comprises: first and second terminated optical fiber cables each of which includes: an optical fiber cable (22, 24) which includes an optical fiber (26), comprising a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about the core (25), and a sheath system (28, 31, 33, 35) which encloses said optical fiber (26), an end portion of said cable having said sheath system removed therefrom to expose an end portion of said optical fiber (26); a plug (40) which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a longitudinal extending passageway (41) with said end portion of said optical fiber (26) being disposed in said passageway (41); and a connector body (42) in which is mounted said plug (40) and including a pin (43) extending radially from the longitudinal axis (38) of said plug (40), said pin (43) being mounted in said connector body (42) to cause said pin (43) to be aligned intentionally with the centroid of the fiber core (25) in an end face (39) of the plug (40) along a radial line (98) wich extends from the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40); and a coupler (60) including a tubular member (62) adapted to receive a connector body (42) in each end thereof and a sleeve (75) which is disposed within said tubular member (62) and which is adapted to receive a plug (40) in each end thereof such that the longitudinal axes (38) of the plugs (40) are coaxial, said tubular member (62) including a longitudinally extending slot (67) in each end thereof with said slots (67) being aligned and being adapted to receive said pins (43) of said connector bodies (42) when said plugs (40) are moved into said sleeve (75) to cause said optical fiber cores (25) to be aligned radially of the longitudinal axes (38).
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
305 words
An optical fiber interconnection system, which comprises: first and second terminated optical fiber cables each of which includes: an optical fiber cable (22, 24) which includes an optical fiber (26), comprising a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about the core (25), and a sheath system (28, 31, 33, 35) which encloses said optical fiber (26), an end portion of said cable having said sheath system removed therefrom to expose an end portion of said optical fiber (26); a plug (40) which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a longitudinal extending passageway (41) with said end portion of said optical fiber (26) being disposed in said passageway (41); and a connector body (42) in which is mounted said plug (40) and including a pin (43) extending radially from the longitudinal axis (38) of said plug (40), said pin (43) being mounted in said connector body (42) to cause said pin (43) to be aligned intentionally with the centroid of the fiber core (25) in an end face (39) of the plug (40) along a radial line (98) wich extends from the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40); and a coupler (60) including a tubular member (62) adapted to receive a connector body (42) in each end thereof and a sleeve (75) which is disposed within said tubular member (62) and which is adapted to receive a plug (40) in each end thereof such that the longitudinal axes (38) of the plugs (40) are coaxial, said tubular member (62) including a longitudinally extending slot (67) in each end thereof with said slots (67) being aligned and being adapted to receive said pins (43) of said connector bodies (42) when said plugs (40) are moved into said sleeve (75) to cause said optical fiber cores (25) to be aligned radially of the longitudinal axes (38).
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
306 words
An optical fiber connection, which includes: first and second plugs (40) each of which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a passageway (41) extending longitudinally therethrough and being adapted to receive an optical fiber (26); an optical fiber (26) disposed in the passageway (41) of the first plug (40) and an optical fiber (26) disposed in the passageway (41) of the second plug (40) with the end face (39) of each optical fiber (26) extending to an end face of its associated plug (40), each of the optical fibers (26) including a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about said core (25); a first connector body (42) in which is mounted said first plug (40), said first connector body (42) including orienting mean aligned intentionally with a line (98) which extends radially from the longitudinal axis (38) of said first plug (40) through the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) in the end face (39) of the first plug (40); a second connector body (42) in which is mounted said second plug (40), said second connector body (42) including orienting means (43) aligned intentionally with a line (98) which extends radially from the longitudinal axis (38) of said second plug (40) through the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) in the end face (39) of the second plug (40); and a coupler in which are received said first and second plugs (40) with the longitudinal axes (38) thereof being coaxial and with the end faces (39) of the plugs (40) being adjacent to each other, said coupler (60) including means (67) for holding the oriented means (43) of said first and second connector bodies to cause the centroids of the optical fiber cores (25) to be disposed in a common plane which originates at the longitudinal axes (38) and which extends radially therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
306 words
An optical fiber connection, which includes: first and second plugs (40) each of which includes a longitudinal axis (38) and a passageway (41) extending longitudinally therethrough and being adapted to receive an optical fiber (26); an optical fiber (26) disposed in the passageway (41) of the first plug (40) and an optical fiber (26) disposed in the passageway (41) of the second plug (40) with the end face (39) of each optical fiber (26) extending to an end face of its associated plug (40), each of the optical fibers (26) including a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about said core (25); a first connector body (42) in which is mounted said first plug (40), said first connector body (42) including orienting mean aligned intentionally with a line (98) which extends radially from the longitudinal axis (38) of said first plug (40) through the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) in the end face (39) of the first plug (40); a second connector body (42) in which is mounted said second plug (40), said second connector body (42) including orienting means (43) aligned intentionally with a line (98) which extends radially from the longitudinal axis (38) of said second plug (40) through the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) in the end face (39) of the second plug (40); and a coupler in which are received said first and second plugs (40) with the longitudinal axes (38) thereof being coaxial and with the end faces (39) of the plugs (40) being adjacent to each other, said coupler (60) including means (67) for holding the oriented means (43) of said first and second connector bodies to cause the centroids of the optical fiber cores (25) to be disposed in a common plane which originates at the longitudinal axes (38) and which extends radially therefrom.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
23 words
The connection of claim 9, wherein each of said plugs (40) is received in a sleeve (75) which is disposed in said coupler.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
90 words
the connection of claim 9, wherein each of said connector bodies (42) is enclosed in a housing (45), each said housing (45) including a longitudinally extending slot (55) connected at its inner end to a circumferential slot (57) and wherein said coupler (60) includes a radially projecting pin (73) at each end thereof, each said pin (73) of said coupler (60) adapted to be received in a slot (55, 57) of a housing (45) when the connector body (42) secured to said housing (45) is received in said coupler (60).
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
30 words
The connection of claim 9, wherein said holding means of said coupler (60) includes a longitudinally extending slot (67) at each end thereof with the slots (67) being aligned longitudinally.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
54 words
The connection of claim 12, wherein said orienting means of each of said connector bodies (42) includes a radially projecting pin (43), said pin (43) of each said connector body (42) being received in one of the slots (67) of said coupler (60) when said connector body (42) is received in said coupler (60).
Claim 19
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of terminating an optical fiber, said method including the steps of: inserting an end portion of an optical fiber (26), which comprises a core (25) and cladding (27) disposed about the core (25), into a longitudinally extending passageway (41) of a plug (40) having a longitudinal axis (38); locating the intersection of the periphery of the plug (40) and a line (98) which extends radially from a longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) through a centroid of the core (25) of the optical fiber (26); and providing the plug (40) with orienting means (43) aligned with the radially extending line )98) so that when two of the plugs (40) are supported with the longitudinal axes (38) thereof being coaxial, the orienting means (43) of the two plugs (40) are adapted to be held to cause the radially extending lines (98) to be disposed in a common plane which originates at and which extends radially from the longitudinal axes (38) to cause the cores (25) of the optical fibers (26) to be disposed substantially in the common plane.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
180 words
A method of terminating an optical fiber, said method including the steps of: inserting an end portion of an optical fiber (26), which comprises a core (25) and cladding (27) disposed about the core (25), into a longitudinally extending passageway (41) of a plug (40) having a longitudinal axis (38); locating the intersection of the periphery of the plug (40) and a line (98) which extends radially from a longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) through a centroid of the core (25) of the optical fiber (26); and providing the plug (40) with orienting means (43) aligned with the radially extending line )98) so that when two of the plugs (40) are supported with the longitudinal axes (38) thereof being coaxial, the orienting means (43) of the two plugs (40) are adapted to be held to cause the radially extending lines (98) to be disposed in a common plane which originates at and which extends radially from the longitudinal axes (38) to cause the cores (25) of the optical fibers (26) to be disposed substantially in the common plane.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
45 words
The method of claim 14, which also includes the step of mounting each plug (40) in a connector body (42) and said step of providing the plug (40) with orienting means (43) includes the step of providing the connector body (42) with orienting means (45).
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
79 words
The method of claim 15, wherein each plug (40) has a cylindrical cross-section and is assembled to a cylindrical connector body (42) and said method includes the step of installing a pin (43) in a radial direction from the longitudinal axis (38) of the plug (40) assembled therewith, the pin (43) being assembled to the conector body (42) to cause the pin (43) to be disposed in the direction of the radially extending line (98) of the plug (40).
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
The method of claim 16, wherein the angle between a reference axis (38) and the radially extending line (98) through the intersection for each plug (40) is determined and wherein a pin (43) is assembled to each connector body (42) with the pin (43) of the connector body (42) displaced by the same angle from the reference axis (38).
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 16, which also includes the step of securing each connector body (40) within a housing (45) which is adapted to be connected to a coupler (60) in which is reveived the plug (40).
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
110 words
The method of claim 18, wherein the coupler (60) includes a sleeve (75) adapted at each end to receive a plug (40), the plugs (40) adapted to be supported in the sleeve (75) with their end faces (39) in a predetermined spatial relation to each other, and the assembling of the connector bodies (42) with the coupler (60) causes the pins (43) of the connector bodies (42) to be received in aligned slots (67) at ends of the coupler (60) when the plugs (40) are received in the sleeve (75) to cause the pins (43) and the centroids of the fiber cores (25) to be disposed in the common plane.
Claim 26
Independent Claim
455 words
A method of terminating two optical fibers for connection, said method including the steps of: (a) inserting an end portion of an optical fiber (26) which includes a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about the core (25) into passageway (41) of a first plug (40) having a longitudinal axis (38) and an end portion of another optical fiber (26) into a passageway (41) having a longitudinal axis (38); (b) assembling the first plug (40) with a first connector body (42) and the second plug (40) with a second connector body (42); (c) illuminating the core (25) of the optical fiber (26) in the first plug (40) and locating the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) of the first plug (40) in an end face (39) of the first plug (40); (d) causing the first plug (40) to be rotated about its longitudinal axis through an angle of 180°; (e) illuminating the core (25) of the optical fiber (26) in the first plug (40) and locating the centroid of the fiber core (25) in the end face (39) of the first plug (40) after the first plug (40) has been rotated 180°; (f) locating the longitudinal axis (38) of the first plug (40); (g) locating the intersection (99) of a line (98) and the periphery of the first plug (40) and which passes through the location of the centroid of the rotated position of the optical fiber core (25) of the first plug (40) such that the core (25) in the rotated position of the first plug (40) is disposed between the intersection (99) and the longitudinal axis (38) of the first plug (40); (h) assembling a pin (43) with the first connector body (42) such that the pin (43) extends from the first connector body (42) and is aligned with the intersection (99); (i) locating an intersection (99) of a radially extending line (98) and the periphery of a second plug (40) in accordance with the steps set forth in (c)-(g);and (j) assembling a pin (43) with the second connetor body (42) such that the pin (43) extends from from the second connector body (42) and is aligned with the peripheral intersection (99) of the second plug (40), the connector bodies (42) adapted to be mounted in a coupler (60) with the plugs (40) being received in a sleeve (75) such that the longitudinal axes (38) of the plugs (40) are coaxial and the pins (43) of the connector bodies (42) are aligned to cause centroids of the optical fiber cores (25) in the first and second plugs (40) to be disposed substantially in a common plane which originates at the longitudinal axes (38) and which extends radially through the pins (43).
Claim 27
Independent Claim
455 words
A method of terminating two optical fibers for connection, said method including the steps of: (a) inserting an end portion of an optical fiber (26) which includes a core (25) and a cladding (27) disposed about the core (25) into passageway (41) of a first plug (40) having a longitudinal axis (38) and an end portion of another optical fiber (26) into a passageway (41) having a longitudinal axis (38); (b) assembling the first plug (40) with a first connector body (42) and the second plug (40) with a second connector body (42); (c) illuminating the core (25) of the optical fiber (26) in the first plug (40) and locating the centroid of the optical fiber core (25) of the first plug (40) in an end face (39) of the first plug (40); (d) causing the first plug (40) to be rotated about its longitudinal axis through an angle of 180°; (e) illuminating the core (25) of the optical fiber (26) in the first plug (40) and locating the centroid of the fiber core (25) in the end face (39) of the first plug (40) after the first plug (40) has been rotated 180°; (f) locating the longitudinal axis (38) of the first plug (40); (g) locating the intersection (99) of a line (98) and the periphery of the first plug (40) and which passes through the location of the centroid of the rotated position of the optical fiber core (25) of the first plug (40) such that the core (25) in the rotated position of the first plug (40) is disposed between the intersection (99) and the longitudinal axis (38) of the first plug (40); (h) assembling a pin (43) with the first connector body (42) such that the pin (43) extends from the first connector body (42) and is aligned with the intersection (99); (i) locating an intersection (99) of a radially extending line (98) and the periphery of a second plug (40) in accordance with the steps set forth in (c)-(g);and (j) assembling a pin (43) with the second connetor body (42) such that the pin (43) extends from from the second connector body (42) and is aligned with the peripheral intersection (99) of the second plug (40), the connector bodies (42) adapted to be mounted in a coupler (60) with the plugs (40) being received in a sleeve (75) such that the longitudinal axes (38) of the plugs (40) are coaxial and the pins (43) of the connector bodies (42) are aligned to cause centroids of the optical fiber cores (25) in the first and second plugs (40) to be disposed substantially in a common plane which originates at the longitudinal axes (38) and which extends radially through the pins (43).
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
114 words
The method of claim 20, which also includes the step of securing each connector body (42) within a housing (45) which is adapted to be connected to a coupler (60) in which is received the associated plug (40), the connector bodies (42) being mounted in said coupler (60) in a position fixed with respect to said coupler (60), the plugs (40) being inserted into the sleeve (75) until their end faces (39) are in a predetermined spatial relation to each other, and the pins (43) of the connector bodies (42) being received in aligned slots (67) at ends of the coupler (60) to cause the pins (43) to be disposed in the common plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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