Neptec Optical Solutions, Inc.

Michael L Smith

John Carberry

Richard Racinskas

Roy Guynn

Marcella Mirata

Vincent J Tekippe

Jeffrey Alan Humphries

Lisa Carberry

Susan Hubbard

Joe Ewing

An optical connector cleaner. The optical connector cleaner includes a nonlinear path along which an optical connector is moved. By following the nonlinear path, the optical connector is subjected to planetary motion without requiring the operator to twist the connector by hand. The use of planetary motion improves the efficiency and quality of the cleaning operation. In addition, the optical connector cleaner of the present invention provides improved resistance to damage from the ferrule edge during cleaning.

Planetary cleaning motion optical connector cleaner

An apparatus for switching optical signals. An optical bench includes a plurality of through-openings for receiving a plurality of collimators and a plurality of actuators. The actuators include a mirror for redirecting an optical signal from one collimator to another. The collimators and actuators are secured to the optical bench by an adhesive system that includes opposing longitudinal slots containing adhesive securing the collimators and actuators to the optical bench.

Optical switch assembly

A network healing smart fiber optic switch for fast, automatic switching between multiple paths of an optical transmission line with minimal disruption. The network healing smart fiber optic switch feeds each of multiple fiber optic inputs to a splitter. One of the outputs of the splitters go to an optical switch, which selects the optical signal to send to the output based on a control signal from a controller or analog selection circuit. The other outputs of the splitters go to the analog selection circuit, which outputs a control signal to the optical switch. The analog selection circuit compares the primary optical signal to a selected setpoint to determine the signal's validity. The analog selection circuit routes an alternate, or secondary, optical signal upon failure of the primary optical signal. After the primary signal is restored and valid for a specified period, the analog selection circuit deselects the secondary optical signal and routes the primary optical signal.

Network healing smart fiber optic switch

An optical switch actuator moving an optical element into or out of an optical pathway. The optical element is coupled to a movable shuttle and driven by a motor between two rest positions. The motor includes two stationary coils and a magnet attached to the shuttle. The shuttle is magnetically latched in the rest positions. The optical element's position at the extended rest position is controlled with a stop that contacts the shuttle to provide accuracy and precision about multiple axes. The material used to construct the actuator's components aids in repeatedly positioning the optical element with precision.

Optical switch actuator

An optical switch actuator moving an optical element into or out of an optical pathway. The optical element is coupled to a movable shuttle and driven by a motor between two rest positions. The motor includes two stationary coils and a magnet. The shuttle is magnetically latched in the rest positions. The optical element's position at the extended rest position is controlled with a stop that contacts the shuttle to provide accuracy and precision about multiple axes. The material used to construct the actuator's components aids in repeatedly positioning the optical element with precision.

Fiber optic switch actuator

An apparatus for switching a single optical signal to any one of several outputs. An input collimator transmits an optical signal that is reflected from two mirrors on an optical bench into an output collimator. Between the two mirrors is an actuator that interrupts the optical signal and effects another signal from an end collimator into one mirror and the output collimator. The alignment of the collimators and actuators relative to the optical bench is achieved by actively aligning the elements, which includes monitoring an optical signal passing through the collimator and using the signal as feedback for positioning control.

An apparatus having at least one spring clip disposed on a connector adapter housing for releasably mating with an opening in an enclosure, the housing having fiber optic cables connected to opposed ends of the housing. When connected through an opening in an enclosure, the connector adapter housing maintains alignment of the opposed fiber optic cables for optical communication. The spring clip includes at least one clip member disposed upwardly from the surface of the spring clip. The spring clip is slidably inserted through a groove on at least one surface of the aligned connector housings. For release of the aligned connector housings, the spring clip is manipulated to slide along the groove, to compress the at least one clip member, allowing the housing to be removed from the enclosure opening for separation of the fiber optic cables from optical communication.

Spring clip assembly for fiber optic adapter

An apparatus, comprising a removable optical adapter and receptor, which does not require the opening of a box to which the receptor is secured in order to remove the adapter. The adapter has a flange extending outwardly from the adapter body. The receptor is a mounting plate with a first aperture, which is slightly larger than the adapter flange, and a second aperture disposed parallel to the front surface. The receptor is fastened to a box, which contains at least one fiber optic connector. The adapter flange is inserted into the first aperture until it seats on a lip or shoulder adjacent to the second aperture. When the adapter is rotated, the adapter flange engages the second aperture. The receptor has a front and back surface which can be parallel, in which case the adapter, when inserted into the receptor, is perpendicular to the box face, or it can have a front and back surface which form the shape of a wedge, in which case the adapter forms an angle defined by the long axis of the adapter body and the plane of the box face. The removable adapter can be removed from the receptor, which is fastened to a box, without opening the box, and the adapter can be positioned such that the cable exits the adapter in the general direction of the cable routing.

Removable optical adapter and receptor

An apparatus which does not require the opening of a box in order to remove an adapter for fiber optic connectors. In one embodiment comprising a removable optical adapter and receptor, the adapter has a flange extending outwardly from an adapter body. The receptor is a mounting plate with a through-opening, which is slightly larger than the adapter flange, and a slot disposed parallel to a front surface. The receptor is foxed to a box, which contains at least one fiber optic connector. The adapter flange is inserted into the through-opening until it seats on a lip or shoulder adjacent to the slot. When the adapter is rotated, the adapter flange engages the slot. Another embodiment utilizes tabs on a removable adapter plate which are received by notches in a through-opening in the receptor. The removable adapter plate has a shoulder which prevents the plate from passing completely through the receptor. Once inserted, the plate is rotated and locked in place. The removable adapter plate receives a standard fiber optic adapter. The receptor has a front and back surface which can be parallel, in which case the adapter, when inserted into the receptor, is perpendicular to the box face, or it can have a front and back surface which form the shape of a wedge, in which case the adapter forms an angle defined by the long axis of the adapter body and the plane of the box face.

A network healing smart fiber optic switch for fast, automatic switching between multiple paths of an optical transmission line with minimal disruption. The network healing smart fiber optic switch accepts multiple fiber optic inputs and splits each optical signal into primary and secondary signals. The primary optical signals go to an optical switch, which selects the primary optical signal to send to the output based on a control signal from a controller. The secondary optical signals go to the controller, and based on the relative signal strength of the secondary optical signals, the controller outputs a control signal to the optical switch. The controller is in communication with a remote computer or another controller and the controller's output signal to the optical switch can be overridden by the remote computer or other controller. The network healing smart fiber optic switch automatically senses the condition, including faults, on fiber optic cables and switches between fiber optic cables. The switching occurs automatically and quickly with minimal disruption to the transmitted signal.

An extraction apparatus for being mounted on, and for selectively removing, a fiber optic connector component from a panel or a wall. The extraction apparatus includes a spring compression mechanism having a first compression member for selectively compressing a first retaining spring of the fiber optic connector component, a second compression member for selectively compressing a second retaining spring of the fiber optic connector component, and an actuator member for selectively moving the first and second compression members into contact with the first and second retaining springs such that the first and second retaining springs are compressed by the first and second compression members to permit removal of the connector component from the opening in the panel. The actuator member is disposed so as to extend through the opening in the panel as the connector component is positioned in the opening.

Growing community of inventors

Jefferson City, TN, United States of America

Michael L Smith