US5598495A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic connector housing, fiber optic receptacle, accessories employing fiber optic connector housings and corresponding optical assemblies
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1995-05-11
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Granted: 1997-01-28
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Expires: 2015-05-11
Abstract
Abstract A new fiber optic connector housing and a new fiber optic receptacle, both of which conform to a new standard proposed by the X3T9.3 committee of the American National Standards Institute, are disclosed. In addition, four accessory devices for electro-optic modules, each of which includes one or more essentially conventional plug frames which fit into either one or more conventional, individual fiber optic connector housings or the new fiber optic connector housing, are disclosed.
Inventors
- 👤 Jeffrey W. Rittle
- 👤 William W. Vetter
- 👤 James R. Webb
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 21:27
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/42; G02B6/4292; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3847; G02B6/3849; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3878; G02B6/3879; G02B6/4201; G02B6/4204; G02B6/4296; G02B2006/4297; G02B6/381; G02B6/3826; G02B6/3827; G02B6/389; G02B6/3893
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
261 words
A device for cleaning at least one optical surface with a fluid, comprising: at least a first tube through which a fluid is to be injected, and at least a first fluid nozzle, connected to a front end of said first tube; at least a first plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first tube and said first nozzle, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said first plug frame; at least a first fiber optic connector housing which contains said first plug frame, said first nozzle protruding through an opening in a front end of said first fiber optic connector housing; at least a second tube through which a fluid is to injected, and at least a second fluid nozzle, connected to a front end of said second tube; at least a second plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second tube and said second nozzle, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said second plug frame; at least a second fiber optic connector housing which contains said second plug frame, said second nozzle protruding through an opening in a front end of said second fiber optic connector housing; and means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
261 words
A device for cleaning at least one optical surface with a fluid, comprising: at least a first tube through which a fluid is to be injected, and at least a first fluid nozzle, connected to a front end of said first tube; at least a first plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first tube and said first nozzle, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said first plug frame; at least a first fiber optic connector housing which contains said first plug frame, said first nozzle protruding through an opening in a front end of said first fiber optic connector housing; at least a second tube through which a fluid is to injected, and at least a second fluid nozzle, connected to a front end of said second tube; at least a second plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second tube and said second nozzle, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said second plug frame; at least a second fiber optic connector housing which contains said second plug frame, said second nozzle protruding through an opening in a front end of said second fiber optic connector housing; and means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 1, wherein said at least first and second fiber optic connector housings and said means are of integral construction.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
281 words
A device for brushing or wiping dirt from at least one optical surface, comprising: at least a first rod, which is either hollow or solid; at least first brush means for brushing or wiping dirt from an optical surface, which is connected to a front end of said first rod; at least a first plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first rod and said first brush means, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said first plug frame; and at least a first fiber optic connector housing which contains said first plug frame, said first brush means protruding through an opening in a front end of said first fiber optic connector housing; at least a second rod, which is either hollow or solid; at least second brush means for brushing or wiping dirt from an optical surface, which is connected to a front end of said second rod; at least a second plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second rod and said second brush means, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said second plug frame; at least a second fiber optic connector housing which contains said second plug frame, said second brush means protruding through an opening in a front end said second fiber optic connector housing; and means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in a least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
281 words
A device for brushing or wiping dirt from at least one optical surface, comprising: at least a first rod, which is either hollow or solid; at least first brush means for brushing or wiping dirt from an optical surface, which is connected to a front end of said first rod; at least a first plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first rod and said first brush means, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said first plug frame; and at least a first fiber optic connector housing which contains said first plug frame, said first brush means protruding through an opening in a front end of said first fiber optic connector housing; at least a second rod, which is either hollow or solid; at least second brush means for brushing or wiping dirt from an optical surface, which is connected to a front end of said second rod; at least a second plug frame which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second rod and said second brush means, the latter protruding through an opening in a front end of said second plug frame; at least a second fiber optic connector housing which contains said second plug frame, said second brush means protruding through an opening in a front end said second fiber optic connector housing; and means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in a least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
74 words
The device of claim 3, wherein said first rod includes an external shoulder encircling said first rod, said first plug frame includes a shoulder internal to said first plug frame, and said device further comprises a helical spring encircling said first rod, a first end of said helical spring contacting said internal shoulder of said first plug frame and a second end of said helical spring contacting said external shoulder of said first rod.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The device of claim 3, wherein said at least first and second fiber optic connector housings and said means are of integral construction.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
223 words
A device for communicating light emitted by a first optical subassembly, which includes a first transducer for converting electrical signals to optical signals, to a second optical subassembly, which includes a second transducer for converting optical signals to electrical signals, comprising: an optical fiber and first and second ferrules, a first end of said optical fiber being contained in said first ferrule and a second end of said optical fiber being contained in said second ferrule; a first plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first ferrule and a first portion of said optical fiber, and a second plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second ferrule and a second portion of said optical fiber, a third portion of said optical fiber extending from said first plug frame to said second plug frame; and a first fiber optic connector housing, which contains said first plug frame, and a second fiber optic connector housing, which contains said second plug frame; further comprising means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housing, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by side relationship while permitting each of said and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
223 words
A device for communicating light emitted by a first optical subassembly, which includes a first transducer for converting electrical signals to optical signals, to a second optical subassembly, which includes a second transducer for converting optical signals to electrical signals, comprising: an optical fiber and first and second ferrules, a first end of said optical fiber being contained in said first ferrule and a second end of said optical fiber being contained in said second ferrule; a first plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first ferrule and a first portion of said optical fiber, and a second plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second ferrule and a second portion of said optical fiber, a third portion of said optical fiber extending from said first plug frame to said second plug frame; and a first fiber optic connector housing, which contains said first plug frame, and a second fiber optic connector housing, which contains said second plug frame; further comprising means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housing, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by side relationship while permitting each of said and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said first and second fiber optic connector housings and said means are of integral construction.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
77 words
The device of claim 6, wherein said first ferrule includes an external shoulder encircling said first ferrule, said first plug frame includes a shoulder internal to said first plug frame, and said device further comprises a first helical spring encircling said optical fiber, a first end of said first helical spring contacting said internal shoulder of said first plug frame and a second end of said first helical spring contacting said external shoulder of said first ferrule.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
76 words
The device of claim 8, wherein said second ferrule includes an external shoulder encircling said second ferrule, said second plug frame includes a shoulder internal to said second plug frame, and said device further comprises a second helical spring encircling said optical fiber, a first end of said helical spring contacting said internal shoulder of said second plug frame and a second end of said second helical spring contacting said external shoulder of said second ferrule.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
176 words
A shipping/storage plug for an optical assembly which includes at least a first optical subassembly, comprising: at least a first nipple, which is adapted for at least partial insertion into a bore of a first optical subassembly; at least a first plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first nipple; and at least a first fiber optic connector housing, which contains said first plug frame; at least a second nipple, which is adapted for at least partial insertion into a bore of a second optical subassembly; at least a second plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second nipple; at least a second fiber optic connector housing, which contains said second plug frame; and means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
176 words
A shipping/storage plug for an optical assembly which includes at least a first optical subassembly, comprising: at least a first nipple, which is adapted for at least partial insertion into a bore of a first optical subassembly; at least a first plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said first nipple; and at least a first fiber optic connector housing, which contains said first plug frame; at least a second nipple, which is adapted for at least partial insertion into a bore of a second optical subassembly; at least a second plug frame, which is adapted to receive, and which contains, said second nipple; at least a second fiber optic connector housing, which contains said second plug frame; and means, extending between said first and second fiber optic connector housings, for maintaining said first and second fiber optic connector housings in a substantially side-by-side relationship while permitting each of said first and second fiber optic connector housings to move in at least four different directions relative to the other fiber optic connector housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The shipping/storage plug of claim 10, wherein said first and second fiber optic connector housings and said means are of integral construction.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-01-28 | 2000-07-29 | 2001-01-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-01-28 | 2004-07-29 | 2005-01-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-01-28 | 2008-07-29 | 2009-01-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |