Northern Telecom Limited

Nortel Networks Corporation

Bell-northern Research Ltd.

Grant K Pacey

Helmut H Lukas

Steve J Lischynsky

Jaroslav M Hvezda

Rod Muir

William P Trumble

Jack F Dalgleish

Richard J Glover

Simon E Shearman

Kevin G Caldwell

Marius N Preda

Ronald F Hughes

Kahn: David A

A high density fiber optic connector interface for an electro-optic circuit pack is disclosed. The fiber optic connector interface comprises a elongated housing having an elongated base plate and side walls, a plurality of cable connection assemblies arrayed on the elongated base plate of the housing, and a plurality of slider mechanisms mounted on the elongated base plate. Each cable connection assembly is slanted relative to longitudinal axis of the housing. All the assemblies are arrayed in a row along a line slanted relative to longitudinal axis of the housing with the neighboring assemblies being overlapped. Each cable connection assembly includes an internal cable connector, an external cable connector, an adaptor for receiving the internal and external connectors, and an adaptor holder for holding at least one adaptor. Each slider mechanism supports a respective one of cable connection assemblies so that each cable connection assembly can slidably be snapped-out away from the housing for access and slidably snapped-in into the operating position. Each cable connection assembly includes a transmission failure indicating means.

High density fibre optic connector interface

An optical fiber mechanical splice comprises a pair of gripping members and a resilient biasing member. Each gripping member has a plastically deformable griping surface. One of the gripping surfaces has a v-groove for receiving and aligning optical fiber ends. The resilient biasing means acts between the gripping members to resiliently bias the gripping surfaces of the gripping members toward one another. In use of the mechanical splice, the gripping surfaces are urged toward one another with optical fiber ends in abutting alignment in the v-groove. The gripping surfaces plastically deform around the fiber ends to provide a larger area of contact between the fiber ends and the gripping surfaces.

Optical fiber mechanical splice and method for its use

An optical fiber mechanical splice comprises a pair of gripping members and a resilient biasing member. Each gripping member has a gripping surface. One of the gripping surfaces has a v-groove for receiving and aligning optical fiber ends. The v-groove is defined by walls of a plastically deformable material. The resilient biasing means acts between the gripping members to resiliently bias the gripping surfaces of the gripping members toward one another. In use of the mechanical splice, the gripping surfaces are urged toward one another with optical fiber ends in abutting alignment in the v-groove. The walls of the v-groove plastically deform around the fiber ends to provide a larger area of contact between the fiber ends and the walls of the v-groove.

An optical fiber splice retainer comprises a base member having a groove extending along a reference surface of the base member, resilient biasing means carried by the base member, and three gripping members which are urged by the resilient biasing means into a gripping position against the reference surface to span the groove at respective gripping locations along the groove. The gripping members are movable against the urging of the resilient biasing means away from the reference surface to permit insertion of optical fibers into the grooves. The gripping members are permitted to close on the inserted optical fibers to clamp the optical fibers in the groove with the fibers in axial alignment. A jig is provided for holding the splice retainer and for urging the gripping members away from the reference surface as required during insertion and alignment of the optical fibers.

Optical fiber splice retainer and method for its use

An optical busbar, for optically interconnecting electronic and/or photonic equipment, comprises a rod of light-transmissive material, for example polycarbonate, having a longitudinal planar surface. Preferably the rod is of polygonal cross-sectional shape. Distributed along its length, opposite the planar surface, the rod has a plurality of inclined reflector surfaces for diverting light travelling along the rod so that it emerges laterally at intervals corresponding to the spacing of the reflector surfaces. When the rod is installed on a backplane of the equipment, with a plurality of circuit cards projecting perpendicularly from the backplane, optoelectrical devices on the circuit cards are arranged to be in register with the inclined reflector surfaces. Optical signals transmitted along the optical busbar will be distributed to the circuit cards. The optical conductor will, of course, function with the light travelling in the opposite direction, i.e. transmitted from the circuit card and reflected to travel along the length of the conductor.

Optical busbar

Fusion splicing apparatus for fusion splicing pairs of single mode optical fibers has a fusion head having two spaced guiding and locating members mounted on hinge members. One hinge member moves a guiding and locating member up and down, the other hinge member moves the other guiding and locating member forward and back. Actuation of the hinge member is by stepping motors and micrometers. The fibers are held in the guiding and locating members by clamping members, one of which can be pivotted to move a holding member at its upper end laterally. The fiber cores can be aligned axially by actuation of the hinge members and the fiber ends can be separated and pushed together by pivotting the pivot clamping member. Light signal input and detecting modules can be positioned either side of the fusion head. Detected light signals can be used to operate the stepping motor to give automatic alignment. Arc electrodes are provided for giving a preclean arc, a softening arc and a fusion arc.

Fusion apparatus for joining two monomode optical fibers

A connector for hermaphroditic coupling with a similar connector has a hermaphroditic end cap which mates with the end face of the connector body when the latter is not in use. To ensure that the end cap is correctly located immediately the connector is disconnected, it is hinged to the connector body and spring-loaded to bias it closed. When two connectors are connected together, their respective end caps mate automatically so that they too are kept clean. This is possible because each end cap can pivot to a position in which its end face is coplanar with that of the connector body. Various locking devices are disclosed for locking two connectors together and for locking the end cap closed.

Two-channel hermaphroditic fiber connector

Apparatus for aligning an article, for example an optical fiber, relative to a datum, for example a Vee groove, another fiber, or a light source, includes means for manipulating the article in two intersecting directions. The manipulating means comprises a part fixed relative to the datum and a first arm coupled to the fixed part by a hinge. A second arm is coupled by a second hinge to the first arm at a position adjacent the first hinge. Adjacent its proximal end, the second arm carries a mount for the fiber. The arrangement is such that pivoting of the first arm displaces the mount in one of the intersecting directions. Pivoting of the second arm displaces the mount in the other of the intersecting directions. Preferably, the fixed part, hinges and arms are integral with one another, substantially eliminating play and backlash. The apparatus affords precise manipulation of articles such as single-mode optical fibers prior to and during fusion splicing. Another aspect of the invention comprises an arrangement of two gripping jaws, one for each of two filaments, and two actuators, one for each gripping jaw, disposed either side of a medial plane through the apparatus. The right-hand actuator operates the left-hand jaw, and vice-versa. A third aspect comprises gripping means in the form of a tappet to distribute contact along the fiber, preferably pivotal slightly to ensure even contact with the fiber throughout the contact region.

Apparatus for aligning an article relative to a datum

Cable connector

A fusion apparatus for fusing a pair of optical fibers end-to-end by an electrical arc has a fiber gripping head on a support housing in which the various electrical and electronic circuits and control devices are housed. The gripping head has two fiber holding members, each member having a first portion for holding a coated portion of a fiber and a second spring loaded portion for bearing on a stripped portion of a fiber end. The second portion is deflectable relative to the first portion. Two electrodes, in opposition, are mounted one on each side of an axis through the fiber ends. A prefusion arc can be provided for initial rounding of the fiber ends. The prefusion arc and fusion arc times can be preset. Transfer members can be mounted on the housing for moving a fused pair of fibers to a heating position where a heat shrink sleeve, previously slid on one of the fiber ends can be positioned over the splice and heat shrunk on to the splice.

Apparatus for fusion splicing of optical fibers

A protective package for an optical fiber splice comprises two elongate plastic members, each having a layer of pressure sensitive adhesive on a front face. Elongate grooves are formed at each end of each member. The grooves are dimensioned so as to be a close fit over the uncoated portions of spliced fibers and intervening adhesive material, with the members in face-to-face assembly. The members may be hingedly connected by the adhesive layer or by a thin deformable hinge portion. A further groove may connect the end grooves, being of a dimension to fit firmly over the uncoated end portions of spliced fibers.

Growing community of inventors

Stittsville, Canada

Grant K Pacey