USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Roger L Morency

Gregory H Ames

Gerald E Holmberg

Lester D Olin

Paul M Mileski

There is presented a fiber-optic connector and a method of making same. The onnector comprises a plurality of ferrules, each of the ferrules having extending centrally therethrough a single optical fiber. The connector further includes structure abutting at least a portion of the ferrules for exercising a radially compressive force on the ferrules for urging the ferrules into a configuration in which said ferrules are coparallel and nested so as to form a stable bundle which in transverse section is substantially axisymmetrical, and retaining the ferrules in the configuration. The connector still further includes alignment structure for angular positioning of said ferrules in said connector in said transverse section about a nominal longitudinal axis of said bundle for registry of the connector with a second connector of complementary configuration.

Fiber-optic connector

There is presented a hybrid electrical and fiber-optic connector and a med of making same. The connector comprises a plurality of bodies, the bodies including at least one fiber-optic ferrule having extending centrally therethrough a single optical fiber, and at least one electrical contact having an electrically conductive wire fixed thereto. The connector further includes structure exercising a radially compressive force on the bodies for urging the bodies into a configuration in which said bodies are coparallel and nested so as to form a stable bundle which in transverse section is substantially axisymmetrical, and retaining said bodies in the configuration. The connector still further includes alignment structure for angular positioning of said bodies in said connector in said transverse section about a nominal longitudinal axis of said bundle for registry of the connector with a second connector of complementary configuration.

Electrical and fiber-optic connector

A system for sensing motion of an object in an underwater environment is vided. The system has a circuit board, a light-emitting diode, an infrared filter, an integrated circuit, and an acrylic transparent housing. The light-emitting diode and the integrated circuit are mounted on the circuit board. The integrated circuit has a photoelectric transducer and a low-noise amplifier. The housing surrounds and seals the diode, the filter, the integrated circuit, and the board from exposure to the underwater environment. The housing also provides a convex lens on one end which corresponds with the direction in which the diode emits infrared radiation. The convex lens spreads the radiation emitted from the diode. The emitted radiation approaches and reflects back from the moving object. The convex lens also spreads this reflected radiation. The infrared filter screens unwanted radiation. The photoelectric transducer converts the filtered radiation into an electrical signal which the low-noise amplifier amplifies. The output of the amplifier is then recorded and correlated to the motion of the object underwater.

Optical motion sensor for an underwater object

A fiber optic hull penetrator comprises a penetrator insert and a penetra plug that each have fiber alignment inserts mounted, molded or adhered to them. The penetrator insert and penetrator plug are designed to provide strain relief to the cable, spring loading to the fiber alignment inserts, and a waterproof pressure boundary seal when subjected to the submarine ocean and combatant environment. Each fiber alignment insert is a solid slug of material to which anchor pin holes, strength member holes, locating key holes have been added to which suitable components are affixed or inserted.

Fiber optic hull penetrator insert

A passive multi-channel optical fiber rotary joint couples optical fiber munication channels via axially bilaterally symmetrically disposed lens housings, or array pieces, for receiving miniature-collimation-lenses to one and the other sides of an image-derotation-prism-and-prism-rotational-drive-subassembly including an image derotation prism which rotates at a predetermined ratio of the relative rotation of the array pieces. This establishes transverse pseudo-planar rotary interfaces respectively between the one and another array piece and the confronting sides of the prism-and-prism-drive-subassembly. Each channel, at the axially outward side of each of one and the other array pieces, includes a fiber and lens junction in which the fiber is attached to the axially outward side of the collimation lens at (i) a predetermined axially bilaterally symmetrical position chosen for maximum coupling of signal power through the joint, and (ii) individual lateral positions relative to the lens chosen to provide coupling with a path of beam propagation perpendicular to the rotary interface at the other side of the collimation lens. Each array piece forms a precision tolerances locality of axial engagement with the confronting side of the prism-and-prism-drive-subassembly, which in turn defines the respective rotary interfaces.

Passive, multi-channel fiber optic rotary joint assembly

An in-line fiber optic connector has a pair of ferruled components having rrules enclosing optical fibers. The optical fibers are connected by placing the faces of said ferrules in abutment with each other inside a split tube. Threaded components that abut the ferruled components bring the faces of the ferrules together by being threaded to each other. This enables the compression between the faces of the ferrules to be closely controlled.

High-strength in-line fiber optic connector

A fiber optic cable connection for high pressure environments utilizes a er optic cable having (i) a multiplicity of fiber optic strands extending axially therein, (ii) a strength member extending axially in spaced relationship thereabout, (iii) an outer jacket, and (iv) a filler matrix within the strength member and in which the strands are encased, a precision connector with an inner face having an axially extending recess and with axially extending passages extending from the transverse wall of the recess to the outer face of the connector member and through which the fiber optic strands extend. A preload insert member is disposed about the strands with its outer end extending into the recess of the connector and a peripheral shoulder abutting the inner face of the connector member. The strength member of the cable is disposed about extending the reduced diameter portion of the insert member. A body member is disposed about the insert member and has its outer end extending over the inner end portion of the connector. A nut threadably engaged on the inner end portion of the insert member and abutting the inner end of the body member is tightened on the insert member against the body member to tension the insert member above a predetermined value. A relatively rigid resin filler is provided in the insert member about the strands connector member, and a relatively compressible filler in the inner end of the insert member, and a sealing boot extending about the cable jacket over the strength member and nut and onto the body member.

High pressure fiber optic connector plug

Methods are disclosed for forming precision, fiber optic interfaces, and a recision, fiber optic interface is disclosed in accordance therewith, an electroformed disk is disclosed to provide fiber alignment, and electrical discharge machining (EDM) is disclosed to provide accurate angular alignment of optical fibers at a planar optical interface. In one method embodiment, a combination of EDM, an alignment bushing and an electroformed disk are used to fashion a precision multi-channel fiber optic interface, and in one interface and method embodiment, two electroformed disks are used to provide a precision, multi-channel fiber optic interface.

Precision multi-channel fiber optic interface and method

A multichannel fiber optics connector comprises two virtually identical hes, each of which is made up of an insert alignment bushing, a shell and a clamping nut. The bushing has anchor and keying pins attached. The connector is waterproof and pressure tolerant for underwater use.

Growing community of inventors

Voluntown, CT, United States of America

Roger L Morency