Lucent Technologies Inc.

Fitel USA Corporation

Steven Edward Sheldon

Daniel Lee Stephenson

Jerry Max Anderson

James C Bandy

Norman Roger Lampert

Muhammed Afzal Shahid

Liang Hwang

A universal modular optical fiber buildout for use in coupling a first optical fiber cable to a second optical fiber cable is disclosed. The universal buildout includes a buildout base formed about a longitudinal axis, and a buildout cap for being received within the base. The buildout base is constructed and arranged to receive the first optical fiber cable at a first end thereof, and any one of a plurality of the different types of buildout caps at the second end thereof. In similar fashion, the buildout cap is constructed and arranged to receive the second optical fiber cable at a first end thereof, and is constructed and arranged to be received within a second end of any one of a plurality of the different types of buildout bases. The buildout cap is also provided with a latching arrangement for securing the cap to the base, the latching arrangement being comprised of two opposed resilient flanges sized and shaped to be received within the second end of the base, each flange having at least one locking tab formed as a part thereof. The buildout base has at least two opposed locking tabs constructed and arranged to cooperate with a respective one of the at least one locking tab of the two flanges so that the buildout cap is received in the buildout base in a snap-fit.

Universal modular optical fiber buildout

A high density optical connecting block is mounted in a relatively thin, flat panel and is constructed as an array of identical cells that are linked together as a one-piece unit. The connecting block has a front-to-back depth that is greater than ten millimeters for imparting flexural rigidity to the panel. The array includes at least twelve cells that are arranged in two or more rows and two or more columns. Each cell has a front side that is shaped to receive and interlock with a duplex optical connector and a back side that is shaped to receive and interlock with two simplex optical plugs The duplex connector is a unifying structure that yokes a pair of simplex optical plugs - - into a duplex configuration. The duplex connector includes a pair of side-by-side cavities - each having: (i) an opening at a back end that is shaped to receive a simplex optical plug, (ii) a tubular boss for holding a cylindrical ferrule or a plastic optical fiber, the boss projecting into and out of the cavity from a front-end wall of the cavity and having a central axis that is perpendicular to the front-end wall, and (iii) a retaining feature for holding each simplex plug within the cavity. Additionally, the duplex connector includes latching members - on its top and bottom sides that interlock with the cell.

High-density optical connecting block

An improved sleeve holder for use in an optical fiber buildout is disclosed. The sleeve holder comprises an elongate tubular body formed about a longitudinal axis, the body having a first end and a spaced second end. At least a first slot is defined in the first end of the body and extends longitudinally from the first end of the body toward the second end thereof. A first annular shoulder is defined within the first end of the body about the longitudinal axis, and a second annular shoulder, spaced from the first shoulder is defined within the second end of the body about the longitudinal axis. An annular mounting flange is formed on the exterior surface of the tubular body, intermediate the ends thereof, and extends outwardly and away therefrom. The mounting flange includes at least one, and preferably a pair of radially spaced snap-fit tabs sized and shaped to be received within a buildout cap in a snap-fit for ease of installation and removal when assembling, or changing out, the components of the optical fiber buildout.

Sleeve holder for optical fiber buildout

A high density optical connecting block is mounted in a relatively thin, flat panel and is constructed as an array of identical cells that are linked together as a one-piece unit. The cells have a front-to-back depth that is greater than ten millimeters for imparting flexural rigidity to the panel. The array includes at least twelve cells that are arranged in two or more rows and two or more columns. Each cell has a front side that is shaped to receive and interlock with a duplex optical connector and a back side that is shaped to receive and interlock with two simplex optical plugs The duplex connector is a unifying structure that yokes a pair of simplex optical plugs - - into a duplex configuration. The duplex connector includes a pair of side-by-side cavities - each having: (i) an opening at a back end that is shaped to receive a simplex optical plug; (ii) a tubular boss for holding a cylindrical ferrule or a plastic optical fiber, the boss projecting into and out of the cavity from a front-end wall of the cavity and having a central axis that is perpendicular to the front-end wall; and (iii) a retaining feature for holding each simplex plug within the cavity. Additionally, the duplex connector includes latching members - on its top and bottom sides that interlock with the cell.

Duplex optical connector

A one-piece optical fiber adapter for coupling a first optical fiber connector to a second optical fiber connector is disclosed. The adapter is comprised of an elongate tubular one-piece body formed about a longitudinal axis, and has a first end and a spaced second end. The first end of the body is sized and shaped to receive any one of the several different types of optical fiber connectors therein, and the second end of the body is sized and shaped to also receive any one of the several differing types of optical fiber connectors therein. An elongate tubular alignment sleeve is positioned along the longitudinal axis of the body, and is received therein in a snap fit. In a first embodiment, an alignment sleeve holder is provided which is snap fit into the tubular body along the longitudinal axis thereof, the alignment sleeve being snap fit within the alignment sleeve holder. In a second embodiment, a stepped alignment sleeve used for coupling a 2.5 millimeter diameter ferrule to a 1.25 millimeter diameter ferrule is provided, which is also snap fit into and along the longitudinal axis of the tubular body. The body of the one-piece adapter is constructed and arranged to be snap fit within a mounting panel opening, a single size of mounting panel opening being used for mounting any one of the several embodiments of the one-piece adapter of this invention therein.

Optical fiber adapter

A tunable optical fiber buildout for coupling a first optical fiber cable to a second optical fiber cable is disclosed. The buildout is comprised of a buildout base formed about a longitudinal axis and a buildout cap constructed and arranged to be received within the base. The base is constructed and arranged to be received within the cap in one of a plurality of rotational positions about the longitudinal axis of the base so that the cap can be used to selectively optimize an optical signal passed through at least one of the first and the second optical fiber cables, respectively, as the cap is positioned in one of the plurality of rotational positions about the axis of the base.

Tunable optical fiber buildout

An alignment sleeve in accordance with the present invention interconnects optical ferrules of dissimilar size and axially aligns the ferrules with precision in a mating relationship so as to reduce loss in the optical signal passed from one ferrule to the other. A plurality of lands on the inner wall of the alignment sleeve contact and hold the respective ferrules in a predetermined axial relationship with respect to one another. The alignment sleeve comprises a compliant material which conforms to slight variances in the diameters of the ferrules received by the alignment sleeve. The alignment sleeve advantageously provides for the interconnection of ferrules of dissimilar size with precise alignment of their respective cores, which reduces the connection loss of the two ferrules. The alignment sleeve can be mass produced using injection molding techniques. The mold utilized in the injection molding process includes a precision core pin that can be manufactured using a precision grinder or lathe. The accuracy of the core pin may be fine tuned by plating thin layers of metal over portions of the core pin as may be desired to achieve precise sizing in the alignment sleeve. An alignment sleeve fabricated using a precision core pin formed in accordance with the present invention can be inexpensively manufactured with a high degree of precision.

Alignment sleeves for interconnecting optical ferrules of dissimilar size, and methods for making same

An attenuator element for use within an optical fiber adapter is disclosed. The attenuator element has an elongate block-like head, the head having tapered side walls and beveled surfaces extending along a portion of the respective side walls and a lower planar surface thereof, a neck extending from the lower surface thereof, and an attenutaor disk extending from the neck. The attenuator element is constructed and arranged so that it may be inclined through an angle of from 90&deg; to 82&deg; with respect to the longitudinal axis of an alignment sleeve used to couple two optical fiber connectors together in order to accommodate the coupling of optical fiber ferrules having end faces which are aligned with one another along the longitudinal axis of the alignment sleeve, or where the ferrule end faces may be angled with respect to the longitudinal axis of the alignment sleeve. The attenuator element is also constructed and arranged so that it may also be selectively rotated about a longitudinal axis of the attenuator disk and between the end faces of the opposed ferrules received within the alignment sleeve.

Attenuator element for use with an optical fiber adapter

A dust cover for protecting a sleeve housing of a fiber optic adapter having opposed interior sidewalls is provided, which includes an elongate member having first and second opposed ends wherein the elongate member has a multifaceted outer surface with at least one planar surface for engaging the opposed interior sidewalls of the fiber optic adapter. The first end of the elongate member is sized and shaped to align the elongate member within the fiber optic adapter and receive the sleeve housing. The first end of the elongate member also includes a longitudinally extending central bore for receiving the sleeve housing and a plurality of landings, which are contiguous the longitudinally extending bore, and which are tapered toward the second end. The landings securely hold the sleeve housing within the central bore of the elongate member. With this arrangement, the dust cover prevents contamination to the optical fiber, is self-aligning, is accessible in panels having deep recesses, and is easily removable from fiber optic adapters, thereby overcoming limitations found in conventional dust covers.

Growing community of inventors

Norcross, GA, United States of America

Steven Edward Sheldon