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US5577146A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Optical connectors

Assignee: Avago Technologies International Sales Pte Ltd
•
Filing: 1993-05-28
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Granted: 1996-11-19
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Expires: 2013-05-28
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Abstract

Abstract An optical connector is provided which requires less accurate machining during manufacture, can reduce the number and/or complexity of component parts required and can achieve a standard industrial product which nevertheless maintains very stable connections. In a receptacle for the optical connector, an alignment sleeve aligns and optically connects an optical fiber unit to another optical fiber unit or to an input/output window of other optical elements in a housing. The housing of the receptacle holds the sleeve in an alignment and is comprised of a plurality of housing halves joined along a major plane extending through the axis of the sleeve. The housing halves may include mating surfaces, projections or indents offset from said major plane.

Inventors

  • 👤 Robert W. Musk

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-31 18:50
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4292; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3826; G02B6/3831; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3851; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim 79 words
A receptacle for an optical connector for connecting an active optical element to an optical fiber unit via an alignment sleeve capable of receiving the optical fiber unit, the receptacle including a housing having at least two halves and an optical component in which the active optical element is mounted in alignment with the alignment sleeve, wherein, upon assembling of the housing halves into the housing, the housing holds the optical component between opposing sides of the housing halves.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 79 words
A receptacle for an optical connector for connecting an active optical element to an optical fiber unit via an alignment sleeve capable of receiving the optical fiber unit, the receptacle including a housing having at least two halves and an optical component in which the active optical element is mounted in alignment with the alignment sleeve, wherein, upon assembling of the housing halves into the housing, the housing holds the optical component between opposing sides of the housing halves.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 68 words
The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein a flange is formed on a housing section of the active component and recesses are provided as a one-end face side of the mating housing halves to hold the flange in place, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, so that the housing section of the active component is held between the opposing sides of the housing halves.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 68 words
The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein one of the housing halves has a projection at its mating side surface and the other housing half has a corresponding hole at its mating side surface so that, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, the projection of said one housing half is fitted into the hole of said other housing half to achieve a positional alignment.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
The receptacle according to claim 1, wherein the housing halves at a rear wall have associated grooved latch sections, respectively, and, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, the grooved latch sections define a latch in which a support frame is fitted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 19 words
A component for an optical transmission system including an optical connector which comprises a receptacle according to claim 1.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 37 words
A receptacle for an optical connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a plurality of sections each divided into half-sections such that each half-section holds the alignment sleeve on the axis of the housing.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 68 words
The receptacle according to claim 6, wherein a flange is formed on a housing section of the active component and recesses are provided as a one-end face side of the mating housing halves to hold the flange in place, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, so that the housing section of the active component is held between the opposing sides of the housing halves.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 68 words
The receptacle according to claim 6, wherein one of the housing halves has a projection at its mating side surface and the other housing half has a corresponding hole at its mating side surface so that, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, the projection of said one housing half is fitted into the hole of said other housing half to achieve a positional alignment.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
The receptacle according to claim 6, wherein the housing halves at a rear wall have associated grooved latch sections, respectively, and, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, the grooved latch sections define a latch in which a support frame is fitted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 19 words
A component for an optical transmission system including an optical connector which comprises a receptacle according to claim 6.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 24 words
A receptacle for an optical connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein the alignment sleeve lies in the dividing planes of the housing sections.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 68 words
The receptacle according to claim 11, wherein a flange is formed on a housing section of the active component and recesses are provided as a one-end face side of the mating housing halves to hold the flange in place, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, so that the housing section of the active component is held between the opposing sides of the housing halves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 68 words
The receptacle according to claim 11, wherein one of the housing halves has a projection at its mating side surface and the other housing half has a corresponding hole at its mating side surface so that, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, the projection of said one housing half is fitted into the hole of said other housing half to achieve a positional alignment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 45 words
The receptacle according to claim 11, wherein the housing halves at a rear wall have associated grooved latch sections, respectively, and, upon the assembling of the housing halves into the housing, the grooved latch sections define a latch in which a support frame is fitted.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
A component for an optical transmission system including an optical connector which comprises a receptacle according to claim 11.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4273413A Cited
US4268115A Cited
US4240695A Cited
US4547039A Cited
US4674831A Cited
US5076656A Cited
JPS62249115A Cited
EP0268180A2 Cited
WO1990004799A1 Cited
US5347604A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1999-11-19 2000-05-20 2000-11-19 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2003-11-19 2004-05-20 2004-11-19 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2007-11-19 2008-05-20 2008-11-19 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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