Amp LLC

The Whitaker Corporation

Bernard G Caron

John C Hoffer

Terry P Bowen

Douglas W Glover

Warren Hale Lewis

Martin R Rupert

John J Ashman

Ronald F Cooper

Paul R Reitz

Dale D Murray

Pamela R Gutterman

Gregory B Powers

Dennis R Leber

An optical switch (1) has a refractive element (3) between a reflector (5) and multiple optical waveguides (6), the refractive element (3) being pivotable to a first position to optically couple a first set of the waveguides (6), the refractive element (3) being pivotable to a second position to optically couple a second set of waveguides (6), a magnet (4) with the refractive element (3) on an inertially balanced holder (2), a ferrous element (32) to which the magnet (4) is attracted, to pivot the refractive element (3) to the first position, and a magnetic coil (29) applying a torque on the magnet (4) and pivoting the refractive element (3) toward the second position.

Optical switch

A continuously variable fiber optic attenuator 10, particularly for attenuating single mode fibers, has means 20 for supporting a section 25 of an optical fiber 24 substantially along the length of the section 25 and means 22 for bending at least a portion of the supported optical fiber section 25 in a controlled manner for attenuating light passing through the optical fiber 24. Preferably, the support means 20 comprises a deformable support means such as a spring 15 or an elastomeric body 71 for supporting the optical fiber 24 as it is bent. Most preferably, the deformable support means supports a section 25 of optical fiber 24 formed in one or more loops around the deformable support means, and the bending means is a plunger 22 movable to an extended position pressing against the support means 20 to bend portions of the loops of optical fiber 24 in a controlled manner. The fiber optic attenuator 10 of the present invention provides accurate control over the amount of attenuation of the light passing through the fiber 24 without damaging the optical fiber 24 or the signal passing therethrough.

Single mode fiber optic variable attenuator with supported optical fiber

An optical matrix switch has N input ports and M output ports and M.times.(M-1) number of 1.times.2 fiber optics switch elements and M.times.(N-1) number of 2.times.1 fiber optic switch elements.

Optical matrix switch with longitudinally configured switch elements

An organizer is mounted on bars which are connected to end caps sealingly secured into stripped ends of fiber cables. Strength members of the cables are secured to the organizer and fiber optic connectors terminated onto ends of the fiber optic transmission members are connected together in profiled bores of coupling members which are releasably mounted in clips that are latchably mounted on the organizer. A split sleeve is sealingly secured onto the end caps.

Fiber optic connection system

An optical matrix switch having N number of input ports and M number of output ports is configured according to the following:

Optical matrix switch for multiple input/output port configurations

An optical matrix switch has N input ports and M output ports and M number of fiber optics coupler elements. One each of the coupler elements is connected to one each of the output ports directly via a fiber optics transmission line. The matrix switch further comprises N.times.M number of 1.times.2 fiber optics switch elements with each number 1/N of the total of such 1.times.2 switch elements connected via a fiber optics transmission line to the input port or to a preceding 1.times.2 switch element and to one of the coupler elements.

Optical matrix switch with coupler elements

In accordance with the present invention, a wavelength selective passive filter is sealed onto the end of a ferrule to form a connector which may be used to increase the wavelength sensitivity of fiber optic components. In particular, such connectors may be used to increase the wavelength isolation of WDM devices.

Fiber optic connector including ferrule with filter isolator

Packaging 8 for an optical component 1 interconnected with a bare optical fiber 2,3, comprising; a flexible tubular sheath 13 encircling strength members 14 extending axially of the sheath 13, tubing 15 within the sheath 13 for receiving a bare optical fiber 2,3 interconnected to an optical component 1, a ferrule 18 to which the strength members 14 are anchored, a sleeve 16 for clamping the strength members 14 against the ferrule 18, a shrinkable sleeve 17 for gripping the sleeve 16 and a portion of the sheath 13, a housing 10 for assembly over the optical component 1 and for anchoring the ferrule 18, and an optical connector 12 for connection to a corresponding bare optical fiber 2,3 emergent from an end 23 of the sheath 13.

Packaging a bare optical fiber interconnection

A connector for a fiber optic member comprises a ferrule member in which is positioned an insert having rods surrounding a section of an exposed end of the fiber optic member, the exposed end extending along a front bore of the ferrule member. A crimping ferrule on the ferrule member is controllably crimped thereon thereby moving the rods into mechanical engagement with the fiber optic member with no or minimum deformation to the fiber optic member and securing the fiber optic member in the ferrule member. The method of terminating the fiber optic member includes surrounding the exposed end section with protective viscous material to protect the exposed end section from moisture and from becoming brittle, such as by filling the ferrule bore and the insert with the viscous material prior to inserting the fiber end thereinto.

Termination of a fiber optic transmission member and method therefore

An improved holder 1 for a fiber optic connector assembly 24 comprises a platform 5 for engaging a surface 3 of a panel 4, spaced apart tines 21, 21 for holding respective fiber optic connectors 25, 25 removably inserted into a sleeve body 27, a pair of non-bifurcated legs 6, 7 for insertion or withdrawal along corresponding apertures 10, 11, each leg 6, 7 extending at an oblique angle with respect to the axis of the corresponding aperture, each leg 6, 7 being concave curved along its width, the tines 21, 21 include notches 30, 30 to adjust the resiliency of the tines 21, 21, retaining means 23, 23 for resisting removal of the connectors, and the platform 5 includes retaining means 30, 30 for resisting movement of the sleeve body.

Holder for fiber optic connectors

A fiber optic connector comprises a housing member and ferrule members. The housing member is rigid and has a profiled bore extending therethrough. The bore has a central cylindrical bore portion, tapered bore portions on each side of the central cylindrical bore portion, and a support bore portion at the outer end of each tapered bore portion. The ferrule members are of resilient deformable material and are teminated onto fiber optic transmission members. Each ferrule member has a profiled front end comprising a front cylindrical section of slightly larger diameter than the central cylindrical bore portion, a tapered section slightly smaller than the corresponding tapered bore portion and an alignment section for tight engagement with the corresponding support bore portion. A coupling member engages shoulder members of the ferrule members urging the profiled front ends into the profiled bore with the front cylindrical sections tightly engaging the central cylindrical bore portion thereby applying a radial compressive force to the front cylindrical sections and centering the fiber optic transmission members and the alignment sections of the ferrule members tightly engaging the corresponding support bore portions of the housing member to maintain the ferrule members and their fiber optic transmission members therewithin in axial alignment when lateral forces are applied to the ferrule members.

Fiber optic connector

A splice organizer for optical cable splices within a splice closure assembly having end walls, supporting bars joining the end walls and bridging between the space therebetween, corresponding optical conductors of optical communications cables projecting into the splice closure space, optical connector bodies terminated to corresponding optical conductors, and optical splices formed by pairs of the optical connector bodies in axial alignment, to transmit optical signals between corresponding optical conductors terminated to the optical connector bodies in axial alignment, a series of receptacles for the corresponding pairs of optical conductors. Each of the individual splice organizers cooperates with an adjacent splice organizer, and the last one with an end plate, to provide an individual receptacle for holding therein the optical splice and loosely coiled lengths of corresponding optical conductors. Individual splice organizers, of a plurality of cooperating splice organizers, are clamped by clamp bars onto the supporting bars to form the splice closure assembly.

Splice organizer for optical cable splices

A fiber optic connector comprises a housing member and ferrule members. The housing member is rigid and has a profiled bore extending therethrough. The bore has a central cylindrical surface, tapered surface on each side of the central cylindrical surface, and a support surface at the outer end of each tapered sections. The ferrule members are of resilient deformable material and are terminated onto fiber optic transmission members. Each ferrule member has a profiled front end comprising a front cylindrical sections of slightly larger diameter than the central cylindrical section, a tapered section slightly smaller than the bore tapered surface and an alignment section for tight engagement with the support surfaces. A coupling member engages shoulder members of the ferrule members urging the profiled front ends into the profiled bore with the front cylindrical sections tightly engaging the central cylindrical surface thereby applying a radial compressive force to the front cylindrical sections and centering and axially aligning the fiber optic transmission members and the alignment sections of the ferrule members tightly engaging the support surfaces of the housing members to maintain the ferrule members in alignment when lateral forces are applied to the ferrule members. The ferrule member can be made with a domed front end so that during termination to a fiber optic transmission member, the domed front end can be polished along with a protruding end of the fiber optic member to create a polished flat front end surface of the ferrule and fiber.

Fiber optic connector and method for terminating fiber optic

A splice organizer (56) for optical cable splices (30, 32, 42) within a splice closure assembly (1) having end walls (2, 4), supporting bars (6, 8) joining the end walls (2, 4) and bridging between the end walls (2, 4), a splice closure space (12) between the end walls (2, 4), optical cables (14, 16) entering the end walls (2, 4), corresponding optical conductors (22, 24) of the optical cables (14, 16) projecting into the splice closure space (12), optical connector bodies (30, 32) terminated to corresponding optical conductors (22, 24), and optical splices (30, 32, 42) formed by pairs of the optical connector bodies (30, 32) in axial alignment to transmit optical signals between corresponding optical conductors (24, 28) terminated to the optical connector bodies (30, 32) in axial alignment, a series of receptacles (56) for the corresponding pairs of optical conductors (22, 24), each of the receptacles (56) comprising side walls (58, 60) and a central dividing wall (62) defining first and second compartments (84, 88) for containing lengths of the optical conductors (22, 24) connected to corresponding optical splices (30, 32, 42) mounted on the receptacle (56), and mounting brackets (96) on the receptacle (56) for mounting the receptacle (56) to the supporting bars (6, 8), with the sidewalls (58, 60) of the receptacle (56) substantially parallel to the end walls (2, 4) of the splice closure assembly (1).

A connector for a fiber optic member comprises a ferrule member in which is positioned an insert having rods surrounding a section of an exposed end of the fiber optic member, the exposed end extending along a front bore of the ferrule member. A crimping ferrule on the ferrule member is controllably crimped thereon thereby moving the rods into mechanical engagement with the fiber optic member with no or minimum deformation to the fiber optic member and securing the fiber optic member in the ferrule member.

Growing community of inventors

Harrisburg, PA, United States of America

Bernard G Caron