EP0274446A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Method and apparatus for switching optical connector
Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1988-01-08
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2008-01-08
Abstract
Abstract A method for switching an optical connector having paired optical connectors (11A, 11B) (13), pins engaged with engaging holes (12) of the optical connectors, which involves connector disposing step of disposing the switching optical connector (11C) parallel to the separating optical connector (11B), pin forward moving step of moving the pins engaged with both the reconnecting (11A) and separating (11B) optical connectors each other to the reconnecting optical connector side (Fig. 2a), then connecting switching step of relatively moving the reconnecting optical connector, the separating optical connector and the switching optical connector and the front end faces thereof, and then pin backward moving step of moving the pins of the reconnecting optical connector side to the switching optical connector side (Fig. 2c). Thus, the method and an apparatus for switching an optical connector can momentarily switch to connect optical transmission units with optical connectors without depending upon a worker's skill as well as mechanize or automate the replacing work.
Inventors
- 👤 Kazuo C/O Chiba Works Kamiki
- 👤 Shizuka C/O Chiba Works Yamaguchi
- 👤 Isamu C/O Chiba Works Kinoshita
- 👤 Koji C/O Chiba Works Sasaki
- 👤 Kazuhiro C/O Chiba Works Miyazawa
- 👤 Hisaharu C/O Chiba Works Yanagawa
- 👤 Mikio C/O Chiba Works Ogai
- 👤 Yoshiyuki C/O Chiba Works Kamata
- 👤 Toshihiro C/O Chiba Works Ochiai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 03:47
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/26; G02B6/35; G02B6/3564; G02B6/3568; G02B6/3574; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3502; G02B6/3508
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
A method for switching an optical connector having paired optical connectors opposed at front end faces thereof, pins engaged with engaging holes penetrating linearly longitudinally at the optical connectors to connect both the optical connectors to each other in such a manner that one of both the optical connectors of connected state is for reconnecting and the other is for separating so that the reconnecting optical connector is connected to the switching optical connector having an engaging hole prepared separately comprising: connector disposing step of disposing the switching optical connector in parallel with the separating optical connector, pin forward moving step of moving the pins engaged with both the reconnecting and separating optical connectors each other to the reconnecting optical connector side by means of a pushing rod inserted from the rear end face of the separating optical connector into the engaging hole to remove the pins from the separating optical connector, to be executed in an arbitrary sequence, then connecting switching step of relatively moving the reconnecting optical connnector, the separating optical connector and the switching optical connector along the front end faces thereof to separate the separating optical connector from the reconnecting optical connector and simultaneously bringing the front end face of the reconnecting optical connected and the front end face of the switching optical connector in coincidence with each other, and then pin backward moving step of moving the pins of the reconnecting optical connector side to the switching optical connector side by means of a pushing rod disposed at the rear end face side of the reconnecting optical connnector to engage the pins with the engaging holes of the switching optical connector to dispose the pins over the reconnecting optical connector and the separating optical connector.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
290 words
A method for switching an optical connector having paired optical connectors opposed at front end faces thereof, pins engaged with engaging holes penetrating linearly longitudinally at the optical connectors to connect both the optical connectors to each other in such a manner that one of both the optical connectors of connected state is for reconnecting and the other is for separating so that the reconnecting optical connector is connected to the switching optical connector having an engaging hole prepared separately comprising: connector disposing step of disposing the switching optical connector in parallel with the separating optical connector, pin forward moving step of moving the pins engaged with both the reconnecting and separating optical connectors each other to the reconnecting optical connector side by means of a pushing rod inserted from the rear end face of the separating optical connector into the engaging hole to remove the pins from the separating optical connector, to be executed in an arbitrary sequence, then connecting switching step of relatively moving the reconnecting optical connnector, the separating optical connector and the switching optical connector along the front end faces thereof to separate the separating optical connector from the reconnecting optical connector and simultaneously bringing the front end face of the reconnecting optical connected and the front end face of the switching optical connector in coincidence with each other, and then pin backward moving step of moving the pins of the reconnecting optical connector side to the switching optical connector side by means of a pushing rod disposed at the rear end face side of the reconnecting optical connnector to engage the pins with the engaging holes of the switching optical connector to dispose the pins over the reconnecting optical connector and the separating optical connector.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein said connector disposing step is preceded in the relative relationship between the connector disposing step and the pin forward moving step, the pin forward moving step is followed.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
85 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein before starting the connector switching step, the reconnecting optical connector and the separating optical connector are relatively moved at a fine distance in a direction for separating the front end faces of the connectors to set a small gap between the front end faces of the connectors, and the reconnecting optical connector and the switching optical connector are relatively moved in a direction for opposing the front end faces of the connectors in the following connector switching step.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
43 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein before removing the pins from the separating optical connector in the pin forward moving step, the pins are temporarily stopped, the pins are thereafter again moved to remove the pins from the separating optical connector .
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein the pin pushing rods inserted into the engaging holes of the separating optical connector remain in the engaging holes in the pin forward moving step, and the following connector switching step is executed.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
97 words
The method according to claim 1, wherein, when part of the pins at the reconnecting optical fiber side is engaged within the engaging holes of the switching optical connector in the pin backward moving step, the pins are temporarily stopped on the way, connecting loss by the reconnecting optical connector and the switching optical connector is measured, the pin backward moving step is continued when the connecting loss is an allowable value or lower, and the connection of the reconnecting optical connector and the separating optical connector is recovered when the connecting loss exceeds the allowable values.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for switching an optical connector having paired optical connectors opposed at front end faces thereof, pins engaged with engaging holes penetrating linearly longitudinally at the optical connectors to connect both the optical connectors to each other in such a manner that one of both the optical connectors of connected state is for reconnecting and the other is for separating so that the reconnecting optical connector is connected to the switching optical connector having an engaging hole prepared separately comprising a main base for holding the reconnnecting optical connector, a subbase for holding the separating optical connector and the switching optical connector in parallel, the main and subbases being disposed relatively movably in such a manner that the front end faces thereof are opposed to each other, the pin pushing rods engaged within the engaging holes of the optical connectors and pushing rod operating means provided on the main and sub bases, whereby at least one of the main and subbases has moving means for relatively moving the main or subbase in a desired direction.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
176 words
An apparatus for switching an optical connector having paired optical connectors opposed at front end faces thereof, pins engaged with engaging holes penetrating linearly longitudinally at the optical connectors to connect both the optical connectors to each other in such a manner that one of both the optical connectors of connected state is for reconnecting and the other is for separating so that the reconnecting optical connector is connected to the switching optical connector having an engaging hole prepared separately comprising a main base for holding the reconnnecting optical connector, a subbase for holding the separating optical connector and the switching optical connector in parallel, the main and subbases being disposed relatively movably in such a manner that the front end faces thereof are opposed to each other, the pin pushing rods engaged within the engaging holes of the optical connectors and pushing rod operating means provided on the main and sub bases, whereby at least one of the main and subbases has moving means for relatively moving the main or subbase in a desired direction.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
51 words
The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said main base and said subbase comprises first moving means for relatively moving to oppose the front end faces of said main base and said subbase, and second moving means for relatively moving longitudinally said main base and said subbase.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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