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.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 07, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 13, 1997
John M Haake, St. Charles, MO (US);
Matthew M Thomas, St. Louis, MO (US);
Keith C Schuette, St. Louis, MO (US);
James P Dunne, Valley Park, MO (US);
Jack H Jacobs, Glendale, AZ (US);
McDonell Douglas Corporation, St. Louis, MO (US);
Abstract
A fiber optic connector for establishing an optical connection with an optical fiber embedded within a composite structure is provided. The fiber optic connector includes a first lens element, such as a metal sheathed graded index (GRIN) lens, that is attached to the portion of the edge surface of the composite structure to which the optical fiber extends. The fiber optic connector also includes an alignment tube and a second optical fiber, external to the composite structure, having an end portion disposed within one end of the alignment tube. By sliding the other end of the alignment tube over the first lens element, optical communication is established between the first optical fiber embedded within the composite structure and the second optical fiber external to the composite structure. The fiber optic connector also typically includes a ferrule mounted upon the end portion of the second optical fiber and inserted at least partially into one end of the alignment tube. In order to effectively couple the optical signals between the embedded optical fiber and the external optical fiber, the fiber optic connector also generally includes a second lens element, such as a second GRIN lens, disposed within a medial portion of the alignment tube for collimating the optical signals.