The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 21, 2020

Filed:

Jul. 29, 2009
Applicants:

Gregory B. Noll, Burbank, CA (US);

Monish J. Doshi, Irvine, CA (US);

Deniz K. Armani, Pasadena, CA (US);

Jonathon M. Smith, Santa Monica, CA (US);

Inventors:

Gregory B. Noll, Burbank, CA (US);

Monish J. Doshi, Irvine, CA (US);

Deniz K. Armani, Pasadena, CA (US);

Jonathon M. Smith, Santa Monica, CA (US);

Assignee:

GLENAIR, INC., Glendale, CA (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/38 (2006.01); B01L 3/00 (2006.01); B01L 7/00 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
G02B 6/3845 (2013.01); B01L 3/502715 (2013.01); B01L 3/502753 (2013.01); B01L 3/5029 (2013.01); B01L 3/50825 (2013.01); B01L 7/52 (2013.01); B01L 2200/027 (2013.01); B01L 2200/16 (2013.01); B01L 2300/087 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0816 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0867 (2013.01); B01L 2300/0887 (2013.01); B01L 2400/0487 (2013.01); G02B 6/3821 (2013.01); G02B 6/3825 (2013.01); G02B 6/3853 (2013.01); G02B 6/3878 (2013.01); G02B 6/3887 (2013.01);
Abstract

An expanded beam fiber optic connection system is disclosed which overcomes the problems associated with known expanded beam fiber optic connection systems. In particular, the expanded beam fiber optic connection system in accordance with the present invention includes a pair of mating fiber optic connectors. Each fiber optic connector includes a connector body and fiber optic termini. In accordance with an important aspect of the invention, the fiber optic termini utilize expanded beam technology and are configured with virtually the same form factor as existing physical contact fiber optic termini. The configuration of the expanded beam termini provides several benefits. First, existing physical contact fiber optic connection systems can be updated in the field by simply replacing the existing physical contact fiber optic termini with the new expanded beam fiber optic termini in accordance with the present invention and re-using the existing connector body, thus significantly reducing cost of upgrading existing physical contact type fiber optic connection systems. Secondly, since the same connector bodies are used for both the physical contact termini and the expanded beam termini, the number of components for the two types of fiber optic connection systems is reduced, thus reducing manufacturing costs.


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