CA1276825C - Connector apparatus - Google Patents
Connector apparatusInfo
- Publication number
- CA1276825C CA1276825C CA000493737A CA493737A CA1276825C CA 1276825 C CA1276825 C CA 1276825C CA 000493737 A CA000493737 A CA 000493737A CA 493737 A CA493737 A CA 493737A CA 1276825 C CA1276825 C CA 1276825C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- substrate
- terminating
- substrate device
- fibers
- optical fiber
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3897—Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
- G02B6/3838—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using grooves for light guides
- G02B6/3839—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using grooves for light guides for a plurality of light guides
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3869—Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3873—Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
- G02B6/3885—Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
- G02B6/3632—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3636—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers characterised by the cross-sectional shape of the mechanical coupling means the mechanical coupling means being grooves
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/3628—Mechanical coupling means for mounting fibres to supporting carriers
- G02B6/3648—Supporting carriers of a microbench type, i.e. with micromachined additional mechanical structures
- G02B6/3652—Supporting carriers of a microbench type, i.e. with micromachined additional mechanical structures the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/381—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
- G02B6/3818—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type
- G02B6/3821—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres of a low-reflection-loss type with axial spring biasing or loading means
Abstract
CONNECTOR APPARATUS
Abstract Connector apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cables. The apparatus comprises a pair of plug members each holding a truncated pyramid configured member universally mounting a substrate device terminating light carrying fibers of optical fiber cables. A sleeve member is arranged to slidably receive each substrate device inserted in one end thereof and apply quadrantal forces to both substrate devices to align and optically couple together corresponding ones of the fibers terminated on each substrate device.
Abstract Connector apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cables. The apparatus comprises a pair of plug members each holding a truncated pyramid configured member universally mounting a substrate device terminating light carrying fibers of optical fiber cables. A sleeve member is arranged to slidably receive each substrate device inserted in one end thereof and apply quadrantal forces to both substrate devices to align and optically couple together corresponding ones of the fibers terminated on each substrate device.
Description
, CONNECTOR APPARATUS
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to connector apparatus. In particular it relates to connector apparatus arranged to interconnect optical fiber cables and to connect optical fiber cables with circuit boards.
Background of the Invention Optical fiber cables are belng used with 1~ increasing re~uenc~ in the Communication~ and Electronic Indu~tr~ to tran~mit and receive voice, data and ineormation signals. Optical Eiber cables, as used in the Communications Industry, consist of a number of light carrying conductors or fibers that may individually appear in the cable or appear as polymer ribbons each holding an array of the fibers. Typically, each light carrying fiber comprises a filamentary core region having a high index of refraction and is surrounded by a cladding region having a lower index of refraction. The fiber is then coated with a polymer material.
In interconnecting optical fiber cables it is necessary to align the filamentary core regions of two corresponding fibers and abut the ends together to obtain a low coupling loss. Substrate devices are oEtentimes used to terminate the fibers which are each positioned in parallel channels formed on one chip substrate with another chip substrate positioned on top thereof to form the 5ubstrate device. One end o~ the substrate device is polished ~uch ~hat the enc1s oE the fib~r~ are locat~cl in 3~ the end per~endicular to ~he encl planar ~urfac~ o~ ~he substrat~ d~vlce~ In lnt~rconnecting optical ~lber cables the polished end o~ one substrate device terminating fibers of a cable is aligned with and abutted ~gainst the poli~hed end oE another substrate device terminating ~ibers of a second cable. Both substrate devices are mechanically locked together to prevent one substrate device from being disengaged with the other. In another arrangement complex ` ~ ~.!' V ,;' .. - ~ - . ~ . - , . .
" ,' ~.' ', ' ,' ~ ' ', ' ' ', ~ ' . " ' ' . ' - - : '- . :, .
: .
- ., electrical switching apparatus is arranged to hol~ several and mechanically switch one substrate device in and out of substrate devices alignment with another substrate device for the purpose of interconnecting optical fiber cables together.
Communication and electronic systems often include plug-in type of circuit boards that are inserted into equipment mounting apparatus to engage backplanes for interconnecting the circ~lit boards with inter apparatus cablin~. Although componen~ apparatus ~or modulating and demodulatln~ signal3 onto optlcal Eiber~ may be assembled on plug-in circuit boards a problem arlses with the aforementioned interconnection locking and switching apparatus in enabling plug-in circuit boards to be installed in equipment mounting apparatus without requiring the operation of switching or the assembly and disassembly of connector locking apparatus. Similarly, a problem arises in the use of locking and switching apparatus to interconnect optical fiber cables together so that equipment mounting frames may be easily installed at a system location and ~uickly coupled together to form a working system.
The foregoing and other problems are solved and a technical advance is achieved by connector apparatus arranged for use in enabling optical fiber cables to be slidably coupled together and for enabling optical apparatus installed on a plug-in circuit board to be slidably coupled with an optical fiber cable termina~ed on a back~lane as the cirauit board i~ in~tallqd in equipment 3~ mQ~lntin~ app~ratu~
~ummary_o the Invention In the exemplary ~mbodlment o~ the invention a connector for interconnecting optical fiber cables comprise~ apparatus ~or universally mounting ~ubstrate devices ter~ninating light carrying fibers Oe the optical fiber cables. The connector apparatus is further arranged for separably receiving the universally mounting apparatus - . .
.-. ~ .. . , . ~ , .
. . .
: -. :
~ 2'7~BZS
and applyin~ spring forces on the terminating substrate devices to axially align and optically couple together corresponding ones of fibers terminated on the substrate devices.
In accordance with one feature of the invention, the connector apparatus for interconnecting light carrying fibers of optical fiber cables comprises a pair of plug members each having a truncated pyramid configured member arranged to accept one oE the Eibers and support a 1~ ~ub~trate dev1ce terminatin~ the Eiber~ with universal movement o~ the ~ubstrate device about a center line o~ the plug member.
In accordance with another Eeature of the invention, connector apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cables comprises a sleeve member arranged to slidably receive and self align substrate devices terminating fiber conductors of each optical fiber cable and apply quadrantal spring forces thereto to axially align and couple fiber conductors terminated on one substrate device with corresponding fiber conductors terminated on another substrate device.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, a sleeve member of connector apparatus arranged for the interconnection of cables comprises first and second pairs of opposing leaf springs positioned in an inner channel oE the sleeve member with each located at a right angle to another and each having an arcuate center ~eckion extendin~ toward a center llne of the ~leeve member ~or ~lidably recelvill~ conductor termlnating substra~e 3~ device~ and applylng ~uadran~al forces thereto ~o axiall~
allgn and optically ouple together correspondlng one~ o~
the conduc~ors.
In accordance with another ~eature oE the lnvention, plug members oE connector apparatus arranged for the interconnection o optical Eiber cable~ comprises a spacer member positioned in one end of a channel oE a retaining member adjacent the base section of a truncated - . : -.
,~ : ' ., . ~ . :
~2'7~i8~5 pyramid member held by the retaining member to enable universal movement of a fiber terminating substrate device supported by the truncated end of the pyramid member.
Also in accordance with the invention, connector apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cable through a backplane of equipment mounting apparatus with a plug-in circuit board comprises a housing member having first and second sections with the first section sized for engagement with the backplane and with the sections having interconnected ~0 chambers ~or holding a sleeve member extended throuyh the backplane. ~ach chamber o~ the housiny member is sl~ed to receive a first plug member holding a substrate device terminating fiber conductors of an optical fiber cable and a second plug member holding a substrate device terminating fiber conductors coupled with the circuit board with each substrate device slidably inserted in a sleeve member having leaf springs applying quadrantal ~orces to the substrate device to axially align and couple together corresponding fiber conductors terminated on each substrate.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cables comprising means for mounting substrate devices terminating light carrying fibers of the optical fiber cables and enabling universal movement of said substrate devices about a center line of said mounting means, and means having opposite pairs of spring means for receiving and slidably sel~-aligning ones of said mounting means by applying quadrantal spring forces on said terminatin~ substrate devices to axially align and optically aouplc to~ethe~ corre~pondiny ~ibers termlnated on said ~ub9trata devices.
~n oP,the_~awin~
~he ~oreyoing as well as other objects, ~eatures and advantages o~ the invention will be more apparent from a descriptioll of the drawing in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates connector apparatus embodyiny the principles o~ the instant invention.
FIG. 2 sets forth an exploded view o~ members of the . , ~
.
-.:- . : ., ::' , - ' ., .
':
- ' s 4cL
connector apparatus set forth in FIG. 1 for terminating a first optical eiber cable.
FIG. 3 sets forth a detailed view of apparatus for enabling universal movement of a fiber terminating substrate device.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the assembled optical cable terminating members set forth in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 sets forth an exploded view of the members of th~ connector app~ratus set forth in FIG. 1 for .. - ' , , - . - .
.
~7~ 25 terminating a second optical iber cable and for terminating light carrying fibers coupled with a circuit board.
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the assembled optical fiber cable and circuit board fiber terminating members set forth in FIG. 5.
FIG~ 7 is a sectional view of the optical Eiber connector sleeve member set forth in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the position oE the arcuate ~pring members oE the optica:L fiber connector ~leeve member set eorth in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7.
FIG. 9 is a per~pective vlew illustrating assembly of an optical fiber terminating substrate device, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the assembled optical fiber connector set forth in FIG. 1.
Description of the Invention 1. Apparatus Description Referring to the drawing and more specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawing, connector apparatus 1 set forth therein is intended for use in interconnecting optical fiber cable 2 with optical fiber cable 3. In another embodiment of the invention connector apparatus 1 may be used to couple optical fiber 2 with a backplane 6 of equipment mounting apparatus that is arranged to slidably receive plug-in circuit board 5. Backplane 6 has a row and column configuration of pins 61 used to terminate conductors of conventional multiwire cable or printed wiring circuitry of backplane 6. Connector 4 is arranged so kha~ when plug~in circuit board 5 ia in~erted into yuicle member 60 of the equipmen~ mountlng apparaku~, terminal~ oE
connector ~ engage corresponding ones o~ plns 61 and e~tabli~h a conventional electric circuit therefrom through connector 4 terminals with circuitry Oe circuit board 5.
Optical Eiber connector apparatus 1, here1na~ter reEerred to as connector 1, comprises a pair of plug members 11, 12 each arranged to hold and ~upport a substrate 21 terminating light carrying fibers of optical .. .
.. .
~ :- - ~ - .
- -..
. . ': ' , ' .'- ' '~
12761~5 fiber cables 2, 3. One plug member, for example plug member 12, may be used to terminate an optical cable 2 with backplane 6 and another plug member 11 may be connected with connector 4 of plug-in circuit board 5 and used to terminate light carrying fibers coupled with the apparatus of circuit board 5 . In addition, connector 1 comprises a sleeve member 10 that is arranged to slidably receive substrates 21 of plug members 11 and 12 and apply spring forces on substrates 21, 31 to axially align and optically couple together corresponding ones of the fibers terminated on substrate 21 and 31.
Referr$ng now to FIG. 9 of the drawing, substrate 21 consists of a pair of chip devices 210, 211 constructed of silicon or similar type of material to form a generally rectangular conflguration. Each chip device 210, 211 has a number of parallel channels 2100 formed on one surface thereof to each receive an individual light carrying fiber 20 or a light carrying fiber 20 located in a ribbon of optical fiber cable 2. Both chip devices 210, 211 are joined together sandwiching fibers 20 between them to form substrate 21. The end is then polished to form a planer surface containing the end of each fiber 20 which is positioned flush and in the plane of the planer end surface. 5ubstrate 31 is identical to substrate 21.
As set forth in FIG. 2, plug member 12 comprises a generally truncated pyramid configured member 1215.
Truncated pyramid member 1215, FIG. 3, has a keyed base section 12150 and is formed with a slot 12153 extending from base section 12150 along the side thereof to truncated end section 12154. In assembly, the fibers or fiber carrying ribbon of optical fiber cable 2 are positioned in and accepted by slot 12153 such that substrate 21 is supported at the truncated end 12154 with the polished end of substrate 21 extending perpendicularly outward with respect to base section 12150. Plug member 12 also has a retaining member 121, FIG. 2 of the drawing, intended for use ln holding pyramid member 1215 such that supported r ,,. .~,. .
.
.
.; ' ' .
, ' ' ' , ~.2'7~ 5 substrate 21 is positioned to extend along a central axis thereof. Retaining member 121 has a generally rectangular configuration having an inner chamber seized to rece.ive spacer member 1214 and truncated pyram.id member 1215.
Spacer member 1214, set forth in detail in FIG. 3 of the drawing, has a pair of spherically tipped pins 12141, 12142 formed thereon with each pin projecting perpendicularly outward from opposite sides of one surface of spacer member 1214. Similarly, a pair o~ pins 12151, 12152 each project perpendicular.1.y outward ~rom opposite sides of the bottom sur:Eacq o~ pyramid base ~ection 12150. Spacer member 1214 and pyramid member 1215, E`IG. 2, are assembled wlthin retaining member 121, FIG. 2, with spacer member 1214 positioned adjacent the pyramid base section 12150 and the end of retaining member 121 with pins 12141, 12142 rotated at right angles with respect to pins 12151, 12152. Spacer member pins 12141, 12142 act in concert with pyramid member pins 12151, 12152 to enable universal movement of fiber terminating substrate 21 about the central axis of retaining member 121. Although pins 12141, 12142 and 12151, 12152 are located on spacer member 1214 and pyramid member 1215 respectively, other arrangements would work equally well. For example, pins located on the edges oE
the rear wall of retaining plug 121 and the surface of pyramid member base section 1214 would enable spacer member to allow universal movement of substrate 21.
Retaining member 121, FIG. 2, also has a slot 1211 Eormed along one side thereof to enable the ribbon or ib~rs oE an optical Eiber cable to be locatecl initlally in the chamber 90 that ~pacer memher 1214 and pyramid mqmber 1215 can be alicJned with and sub~equently inserted lnto retaining member 121. Opposite surEaces of retaining member 121 are provided with a raised sur~aced 1210 used Eor positionincl retaining member 121 withln hou~ing 120 SQ
that inclined tab 1212 can engage a corresponding opening 12~3 of housing member 120.
Plug member 12 also includes housing member 120 - , . . . . . . ........................................ .
. - , ' : : :- .
- . .
~ 76~
which is arranged to receive sleeve member 10 in combination with retaining member 121 and truncated pyramid member 1215 coupled with the fibers of optical ~iber cable 2. Housing member 120 has a first section 1201 with an outer surEace seized for slidable insertion through a hole of a backplane such as backplane 6. Tabs 1204 positioned around the outer surface of section 12~1 snaps in position aEter housing member 120 has been inserted into backplane 6 and locks hou~ing m0mber 120 into position. Sections 1200 anc~ 1201 have lnterconnected internal chambers 1205 and 1206 with chamber 1205 sized Eor sliclably recelving sleeve member 10 and retaining member 121 with fiber terminating substrate 21 engaged with sleeve member 10. Alignment channels 1202 are formed on opposite surfaces of section 1200 to receive raised surfaces 1210 of retaining member 121 and thereby enable inclined tab 1212 to engage corresponding hole 1203. Chamber 1206 is sized to slidably receive plug member 11 such that a fiber terminating substrate 31 of plug member 11 may be engaged with sleeve member 10 to optically couple together optical Eiber cables 2 and 3.
Plug member 1 1, set forth in FIG. 5, is used for holding and supporting substrate 31 used to terminate the fibers or ribbon of another optical fiber cable 3, or may as set forth in one embodiment oP the invention, terminate fibers coupled with component apparatus located on circuit board 5. The a~paratus comprises another truncated generally pyramld confi~ured member 1108 constructed in the manner o~ pyramid membqr 1215 to accept ~iber~ and suppor~
terminating ~ubstrate 31 at the truncatecl end thereo~.
generally rec~an~ularly con~igurecl retaining m~mber 110 ha~
a rear section l100 extended into a ~maller front section 1101 ~ized Eor slidable insertion, E~IG. 2, into chamber 1206 oE housing 120. Channel 1104, FIG. S, extends Erom a Eront opening through retaining member 110 to an opening in the end of rear section 1100 and is sized to receive pyramid member 1108 and spacer 1109. In addition, plug ~", - - . . . . . - .
- ' - - ' ' ' ' member 11 may also include a spring assembly 1107 having a spiral spring 11070 abutted with spring seating member 11071 and spring retaining member 11072. Spring assembly 1107 is positioned in retaining member channel 1104 with spring seating member 11071 adjacent spacer member 1109 and with spring retaining member raised sections 110720 inserted into guide channels 1102 so as to enable tab members 110721 to engage holes 1103 ancl thereby lock sprin~
retaining member 11072 within retaining member 110.
~s ~et orth in FIG. 6, the assembled plug member 11 holds pyramld memher 1108 which supE?orts Eiber terminating substrate 31 positioned and extended along the center line of retaining member 110. Similarly to plug member 12, pins located on one surface of spacer member 1109 and positioned at right angles with respect to pins located on the base of pyramid member 1108 enable universal movement of fiber terminating substrate 31 about the center line of retaining member 110. Spiral spring assembly 1107 positioned adjacent spacer member 1109 exerts a force along the retaining member center line against spacer member 1109 to normally maintain the base of pyramid member 11OB in a fully extended position biased against retaining tabs 1110.
The light carrying fibers or the ribbon carrying the fibers are protected by a bend radius limiter 32 which serves to prevent the flexing of fibers and ribbon extending outward the ends of plug members 11, 12 from exceeding a predefined radius of curvature.
The bottom surface o~ retaining memker 110 may have perpendicular split pin~ 1111 extending there~rom ~or use, FIG. 1, ln a~ixing plug member 11 to circui~ board ~.
Plug member 11 may be loca~ed ad~acent or ~ormed a~ a part o~ connector ~ moun~ed on an ed~e oE circuit board 5.
Insertion oE plug-in circuit board 5 into equipment mounting apparatus enable~ connector ~ and plug member 11 to slidably engage pins 61 and plug member 12, respectively, so that the circuitry and component apparatus located on circuit board 5 may be interconnecked with the . .
~.Z~7~
circuitry oE backplane 6 and optical fiber cable 2.
Connector 1 also includes sleeve member 10 that is arranged to slidably receive and apply quadrantal spring forces against fiber terminating substrates 21. 31 to axially align and optically couple together corresponding fibers terminated on substrates 21, 31. Sleeve member 10, FIG. 2, has a generally rectangular body 100 with one end 101 sized Eor insertion into the chamber of retaining member 121 of plug member 12 and with the opposite end 102 ~i~ed or slldable ln~qrtion into the chamber o:E retaining member 110 o plug member 11. End 101 has pin members 1011 extending vertically outward Erom the surface thereoE for use in aligning sleeve member 10 with respect to housing 120.
15Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawing, sleeve member 10 has an inner channel 1000 formed along a center axis with openings 1010. 1020 at each end sized to slidably engage the truncated end of pyramid members 1215, 1108 and supported fiber termination substrates 21, 31. Positioned within inner channel 1000 are four spring members 103, 104, 105, 106 arranged to slidably engage fiber terminating substrates 21, 31 and apply quadrantal forces thereto to axially align and optically couple the ends of the fibers terminated on substrates 21, 31. Each spring member 103, 104, 105, 106 is a generally rectangular spring constructed of any one of a number of resilient materials and is of a type commonly referred to as a leaf spring. A spring member, such a~ spring member 103, FIG. 8, has a center arcuate sqction 1030 extended t~ward ~he c~n~er line o~
sleeve member 10 and ha~ each end Eorm~d into a curv~d ~ec~lon 1031, 1032 used to pre-bias and hold spring member 103 in sleeve member channel 1000. ~he other spring member 104 oE the Eirst pair o~ spring members 103, 104 is positioned within sleeve member channel 1000 directly oppo~ite sleeve member 103 with the center arcuate section thereoE extended toward the center line of sleeve member 10 to normally rest against arcuate section 1030 of spring -: , ~ - , - : ,, -: ," - ~ : " ~ ; ' ' ,,'. ' ' ' ' ' .''~ '' .
31.Z7~ 5 member 103 in the relaxed state.
A second pair of springs 105, 106 is positioned in sleeve member channel 1000 directly opposite each other with their respective arcuate sections extended toward the sleeve member center line and rotated to form a right angle with the first pair of spring members 103, 104. In the relaxed state the arcuate sections of the second pair of spring members 105, 106 extend toward the center line of sleeve member 10 and normally rest on the relaxed arcuate sections of the first pair of spring member 103, 104. The slidable insertion o~ the fiber terminating substrates 21, 31 in the appropriate ends of sleeve member 10 result in the engagement of substrates 21, 31 with the first pair of ~pring members 103, 104. Spring members 103, 104 are compressed and apply forces to the top and bottom surfaces o~ both sub~trates 21 and 31 and operate to position the poli8hed ends of substrates 21, 31 together with the row of ~iber~ terminated in substrate 21 vertically aligned with the row of fibers terminated in substrate 31. As the first pair of spring members 103, 104 are compressed the second pair of spring members 105, 106 are released to exert a second pair of forces at right angles with respect to the first pair of forces against the sides of both substrates to horizontally align each fiber on substrate 21 with a corresponding fiber on substrate 31. The combined action of spring members 103, 104, 105, 106 generate quadrantal forces that are applied to substrates 21, 31 slidably inserted in sleeve member 10 to axially align and optically couple together light carrying fibers of optical fiber cables 2, 3.
Apparatus Assembly Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, plug member 12 is assembled by aligning pins 1011 of sleeve member 10 with alignment channels formed on each side of the inner chamber 1205 of housing member 120. Sleeve member 10 is then inserted into housing member 120 such that alignment pins 1011 are located at the end of chamber 1205 with sleeve . .
' " ' ' ~ ' -12'~ 2~
member end section 102 extended through chamber 1206 perpendicularly outward from housing member 120. Truncated pyramid 1215 with supported substrate 21 terminating Eibers of optical fiber cable 2 is assembled with spacer member 1214 in retaining member 121. Raised surfaces 1210 of retaining member 121 are then aligned with alignment channels 1202 and retaining member 121 inserted in chamber 1205 of housing member 120 with the truncated end of pyramid memher 121~ and supported subst:rate 21 slidably inserted in ~nd sec~tion 101 o sleeve 10. Housing member 120 i~ then inserted lnto backplane w:lth tabs 1204, FIG. 1, securing housiny member 120, sleeve member 10, and optical fiber cable 2 to backplane 6.
Plug member 11, FIG. 5, is assembled by inserting truncated pyramid member 1108 and supported substrate 31 terminating fibers of optical fiber cable 3 into channel 1104 of retaining member t10 with the base of pyramid member 1108 engaging tab sections 1110. Spacing member 1109 and spring assembly 1107 are positioned in channel 1104 adjacent pyramid member 1108 with spring retaining member 11072 in alignment slot 1102. Tab 110721 of spring retaining member 11072 engages hole 1103 to secure pyramid member 1108, space member 1109 and spring assembly 1l07 in retaining member 110. Plug member 11 may, i~ desired, be mounted on circuit board 5, FIG. 1, by locating pin members 1111 into holes o the circuit board or circuit board connector 4~ As plug-in circuit board 5 is inserted into equipment mounting apparatus an edge of circuit board 5 m~ve~ in a channel o~ alignmenk member 6~ ~o that end ~ection 102 o sleeve member 10 enters the open end o~ plug m~mber 1 1. Supported ~ub~trate 31, FIG. 10, i~ slidably in~erted into an end opening o~ sleeve member 10 to engage the spring members located in the channel o~ sleeve member 10. As plug member 11 is engaged with plug member 12 the truncated end of pyramid member 1108 partially enters th~
end o sleeve member 10 spiral spring 11070 compresses to exert a force along the center line of retaining member 110 .
-` - ' ' ' . ' - - .
- - . - :
.
against the base o~ pyramid member 1108. Sleeve spring members 103, 104, 105, 106 apply quadrantal Forces, FIG. 8 on the surfaces of universally mounted substrates 21 and 31 such that the substrate ends are verti~ally and horizontally aligned with each fiber of cable 2 terminated on substrate 21 axially aligned and optically coupled with a corresponding fiber of cable 3 terminated on substrate 31. In the fully engaged positions, the end section 1~01 of retaining m~mber 110, FIG. 10, is inserted in chamber 1206 of hou~in~ member 120 ancl compre~ed .~piral spr:Lng a~embly 1107 maintain~ the end of substrate 31 abutted against the end of substrate 21. To disengage, plug 11 and circuit board 5 is withdrawn to remove the end of retaining member 110 from housing member 120 and thereby disengage fiber terminating substrate 31 from the end of sleeve member 10.
Summary of the Invention It is obvious from the foregoing that the facility, economy and efficiency of connectors may be substantially enhanced by a connector apparatus arranged for enabling optical fiber cables to be slidably coupled together. It is further obvious from the foregoing that a connector apparatus arranged for enabling optical fibers coupled with apparatus on plug-in circuit boards to be slidably coupled with optical fibers terminated on the equipment mounting apparatus backplanes by axially a:Ligning and optically coupling together the fibers, improves the u~e oE optical apparatu~ in electronic and communication network~.
1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to connector apparatus. In particular it relates to connector apparatus arranged to interconnect optical fiber cables and to connect optical fiber cables with circuit boards.
Background of the Invention Optical fiber cables are belng used with 1~ increasing re~uenc~ in the Communication~ and Electronic Indu~tr~ to tran~mit and receive voice, data and ineormation signals. Optical Eiber cables, as used in the Communications Industry, consist of a number of light carrying conductors or fibers that may individually appear in the cable or appear as polymer ribbons each holding an array of the fibers. Typically, each light carrying fiber comprises a filamentary core region having a high index of refraction and is surrounded by a cladding region having a lower index of refraction. The fiber is then coated with a polymer material.
In interconnecting optical fiber cables it is necessary to align the filamentary core regions of two corresponding fibers and abut the ends together to obtain a low coupling loss. Substrate devices are oEtentimes used to terminate the fibers which are each positioned in parallel channels formed on one chip substrate with another chip substrate positioned on top thereof to form the 5ubstrate device. One end o~ the substrate device is polished ~uch ~hat the enc1s oE the fib~r~ are locat~cl in 3~ the end per~endicular to ~he encl planar ~urfac~ o~ ~he substrat~ d~vlce~ In lnt~rconnecting optical ~lber cables the polished end o~ one substrate device terminating fibers of a cable is aligned with and abutted ~gainst the poli~hed end oE another substrate device terminating ~ibers of a second cable. Both substrate devices are mechanically locked together to prevent one substrate device from being disengaged with the other. In another arrangement complex ` ~ ~.!' V ,;' .. - ~ - . ~ . - , . .
" ,' ~.' ', ' ,' ~ ' ', ' ' ', ~ ' . " ' ' . ' - - : '- . :, .
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- ., electrical switching apparatus is arranged to hol~ several and mechanically switch one substrate device in and out of substrate devices alignment with another substrate device for the purpose of interconnecting optical fiber cables together.
Communication and electronic systems often include plug-in type of circuit boards that are inserted into equipment mounting apparatus to engage backplanes for interconnecting the circ~lit boards with inter apparatus cablin~. Although componen~ apparatus ~or modulating and demodulatln~ signal3 onto optlcal Eiber~ may be assembled on plug-in circuit boards a problem arlses with the aforementioned interconnection locking and switching apparatus in enabling plug-in circuit boards to be installed in equipment mounting apparatus without requiring the operation of switching or the assembly and disassembly of connector locking apparatus. Similarly, a problem arises in the use of locking and switching apparatus to interconnect optical fiber cables together so that equipment mounting frames may be easily installed at a system location and ~uickly coupled together to form a working system.
The foregoing and other problems are solved and a technical advance is achieved by connector apparatus arranged for use in enabling optical fiber cables to be slidably coupled together and for enabling optical apparatus installed on a plug-in circuit board to be slidably coupled with an optical fiber cable termina~ed on a back~lane as the cirauit board i~ in~tallqd in equipment 3~ mQ~lntin~ app~ratu~
~ummary_o the Invention In the exemplary ~mbodlment o~ the invention a connector for interconnecting optical fiber cables comprise~ apparatus ~or universally mounting ~ubstrate devices ter~ninating light carrying fibers Oe the optical fiber cables. The connector apparatus is further arranged for separably receiving the universally mounting apparatus - . .
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and applyin~ spring forces on the terminating substrate devices to axially align and optically couple together corresponding ones of fibers terminated on the substrate devices.
In accordance with one feature of the invention, the connector apparatus for interconnecting light carrying fibers of optical fiber cables comprises a pair of plug members each having a truncated pyramid configured member arranged to accept one oE the Eibers and support a 1~ ~ub~trate dev1ce terminatin~ the Eiber~ with universal movement o~ the ~ubstrate device about a center line o~ the plug member.
In accordance with another Eeature of the invention, connector apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cables comprises a sleeve member arranged to slidably receive and self align substrate devices terminating fiber conductors of each optical fiber cable and apply quadrantal spring forces thereto to axially align and couple fiber conductors terminated on one substrate device with corresponding fiber conductors terminated on another substrate device.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, a sleeve member of connector apparatus arranged for the interconnection of cables comprises first and second pairs of opposing leaf springs positioned in an inner channel oE the sleeve member with each located at a right angle to another and each having an arcuate center ~eckion extendin~ toward a center llne of the ~leeve member ~or ~lidably recelvill~ conductor termlnating substra~e 3~ device~ and applylng ~uadran~al forces thereto ~o axiall~
allgn and optically ouple together correspondlng one~ o~
the conduc~ors.
In accordance with another ~eature oE the lnvention, plug members oE connector apparatus arranged for the interconnection o optical Eiber cable~ comprises a spacer member positioned in one end of a channel oE a retaining member adjacent the base section of a truncated - . : -.
,~ : ' ., . ~ . :
~2'7~i8~5 pyramid member held by the retaining member to enable universal movement of a fiber terminating substrate device supported by the truncated end of the pyramid member.
Also in accordance with the invention, connector apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cable through a backplane of equipment mounting apparatus with a plug-in circuit board comprises a housing member having first and second sections with the first section sized for engagement with the backplane and with the sections having interconnected ~0 chambers ~or holding a sleeve member extended throuyh the backplane. ~ach chamber o~ the housiny member is sl~ed to receive a first plug member holding a substrate device terminating fiber conductors of an optical fiber cable and a second plug member holding a substrate device terminating fiber conductors coupled with the circuit board with each substrate device slidably inserted in a sleeve member having leaf springs applying quadrantal ~orces to the substrate device to axially align and couple together corresponding fiber conductors terminated on each substrate.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cables comprising means for mounting substrate devices terminating light carrying fibers of the optical fiber cables and enabling universal movement of said substrate devices about a center line of said mounting means, and means having opposite pairs of spring means for receiving and slidably sel~-aligning ones of said mounting means by applying quadrantal spring forces on said terminatin~ substrate devices to axially align and optically aouplc to~ethe~ corre~pondiny ~ibers termlnated on said ~ub9trata devices.
~n oP,the_~awin~
~he ~oreyoing as well as other objects, ~eatures and advantages o~ the invention will be more apparent from a descriptioll of the drawing in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates connector apparatus embodyiny the principles o~ the instant invention.
FIG. 2 sets forth an exploded view o~ members of the . , ~
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connector apparatus set forth in FIG. 1 for terminating a first optical eiber cable.
FIG. 3 sets forth a detailed view of apparatus for enabling universal movement of a fiber terminating substrate device.
FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the assembled optical cable terminating members set forth in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 sets forth an exploded view of the members of th~ connector app~ratus set forth in FIG. 1 for .. - ' , , - . - .
.
~7~ 25 terminating a second optical iber cable and for terminating light carrying fibers coupled with a circuit board.
FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the assembled optical fiber cable and circuit board fiber terminating members set forth in FIG. 5.
FIG~ 7 is a sectional view of the optical Eiber connector sleeve member set forth in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating the position oE the arcuate ~pring members oE the optica:L fiber connector ~leeve member set eorth in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 7.
FIG. 9 is a per~pective vlew illustrating assembly of an optical fiber terminating substrate device, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view of the assembled optical fiber connector set forth in FIG. 1.
Description of the Invention 1. Apparatus Description Referring to the drawing and more specifically to FIG. 1 of the drawing, connector apparatus 1 set forth therein is intended for use in interconnecting optical fiber cable 2 with optical fiber cable 3. In another embodiment of the invention connector apparatus 1 may be used to couple optical fiber 2 with a backplane 6 of equipment mounting apparatus that is arranged to slidably receive plug-in circuit board 5. Backplane 6 has a row and column configuration of pins 61 used to terminate conductors of conventional multiwire cable or printed wiring circuitry of backplane 6. Connector 4 is arranged so kha~ when plug~in circuit board 5 ia in~erted into yuicle member 60 of the equipmen~ mountlng apparaku~, terminal~ oE
connector ~ engage corresponding ones o~ plns 61 and e~tabli~h a conventional electric circuit therefrom through connector 4 terminals with circuitry Oe circuit board 5.
Optical Eiber connector apparatus 1, here1na~ter reEerred to as connector 1, comprises a pair of plug members 11, 12 each arranged to hold and ~upport a substrate 21 terminating light carrying fibers of optical .. .
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12761~5 fiber cables 2, 3. One plug member, for example plug member 12, may be used to terminate an optical cable 2 with backplane 6 and another plug member 11 may be connected with connector 4 of plug-in circuit board 5 and used to terminate light carrying fibers coupled with the apparatus of circuit board 5 . In addition, connector 1 comprises a sleeve member 10 that is arranged to slidably receive substrates 21 of plug members 11 and 12 and apply spring forces on substrates 21, 31 to axially align and optically couple together corresponding ones of the fibers terminated on substrate 21 and 31.
Referr$ng now to FIG. 9 of the drawing, substrate 21 consists of a pair of chip devices 210, 211 constructed of silicon or similar type of material to form a generally rectangular conflguration. Each chip device 210, 211 has a number of parallel channels 2100 formed on one surface thereof to each receive an individual light carrying fiber 20 or a light carrying fiber 20 located in a ribbon of optical fiber cable 2. Both chip devices 210, 211 are joined together sandwiching fibers 20 between them to form substrate 21. The end is then polished to form a planer surface containing the end of each fiber 20 which is positioned flush and in the plane of the planer end surface. 5ubstrate 31 is identical to substrate 21.
As set forth in FIG. 2, plug member 12 comprises a generally truncated pyramid configured member 1215.
Truncated pyramid member 1215, FIG. 3, has a keyed base section 12150 and is formed with a slot 12153 extending from base section 12150 along the side thereof to truncated end section 12154. In assembly, the fibers or fiber carrying ribbon of optical fiber cable 2 are positioned in and accepted by slot 12153 such that substrate 21 is supported at the truncated end 12154 with the polished end of substrate 21 extending perpendicularly outward with respect to base section 12150. Plug member 12 also has a retaining member 121, FIG. 2 of the drawing, intended for use ln holding pyramid member 1215 such that supported r ,,. .~,. .
.
.
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, ' ' ' , ~.2'7~ 5 substrate 21 is positioned to extend along a central axis thereof. Retaining member 121 has a generally rectangular configuration having an inner chamber seized to rece.ive spacer member 1214 and truncated pyram.id member 1215.
Spacer member 1214, set forth in detail in FIG. 3 of the drawing, has a pair of spherically tipped pins 12141, 12142 formed thereon with each pin projecting perpendicularly outward from opposite sides of one surface of spacer member 1214. Similarly, a pair o~ pins 12151, 12152 each project perpendicular.1.y outward ~rom opposite sides of the bottom sur:Eacq o~ pyramid base ~ection 12150. Spacer member 1214 and pyramid member 1215, E`IG. 2, are assembled wlthin retaining member 121, FIG. 2, with spacer member 1214 positioned adjacent the pyramid base section 12150 and the end of retaining member 121 with pins 12141, 12142 rotated at right angles with respect to pins 12151, 12152. Spacer member pins 12141, 12142 act in concert with pyramid member pins 12151, 12152 to enable universal movement of fiber terminating substrate 21 about the central axis of retaining member 121. Although pins 12141, 12142 and 12151, 12152 are located on spacer member 1214 and pyramid member 1215 respectively, other arrangements would work equally well. For example, pins located on the edges oE
the rear wall of retaining plug 121 and the surface of pyramid member base section 1214 would enable spacer member to allow universal movement of substrate 21.
Retaining member 121, FIG. 2, also has a slot 1211 Eormed along one side thereof to enable the ribbon or ib~rs oE an optical Eiber cable to be locatecl initlally in the chamber 90 that ~pacer memher 1214 and pyramid mqmber 1215 can be alicJned with and sub~equently inserted lnto retaining member 121. Opposite surEaces of retaining member 121 are provided with a raised sur~aced 1210 used Eor positionincl retaining member 121 withln hou~ing 120 SQ
that inclined tab 1212 can engage a corresponding opening 12~3 of housing member 120.
Plug member 12 also includes housing member 120 - , . . . . . . ........................................ .
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which is arranged to receive sleeve member 10 in combination with retaining member 121 and truncated pyramid member 1215 coupled with the fibers of optical ~iber cable 2. Housing member 120 has a first section 1201 with an outer surEace seized for slidable insertion through a hole of a backplane such as backplane 6. Tabs 1204 positioned around the outer surface of section 12~1 snaps in position aEter housing member 120 has been inserted into backplane 6 and locks hou~ing m0mber 120 into position. Sections 1200 anc~ 1201 have lnterconnected internal chambers 1205 and 1206 with chamber 1205 sized Eor sliclably recelving sleeve member 10 and retaining member 121 with fiber terminating substrate 21 engaged with sleeve member 10. Alignment channels 1202 are formed on opposite surfaces of section 1200 to receive raised surfaces 1210 of retaining member 121 and thereby enable inclined tab 1212 to engage corresponding hole 1203. Chamber 1206 is sized to slidably receive plug member 11 such that a fiber terminating substrate 31 of plug member 11 may be engaged with sleeve member 10 to optically couple together optical Eiber cables 2 and 3.
Plug member 1 1, set forth in FIG. 5, is used for holding and supporting substrate 31 used to terminate the fibers or ribbon of another optical fiber cable 3, or may as set forth in one embodiment oP the invention, terminate fibers coupled with component apparatus located on circuit board 5. The a~paratus comprises another truncated generally pyramld confi~ured member 1108 constructed in the manner o~ pyramid membqr 1215 to accept ~iber~ and suppor~
terminating ~ubstrate 31 at the truncatecl end thereo~.
generally rec~an~ularly con~igurecl retaining m~mber 110 ha~
a rear section l100 extended into a ~maller front section 1101 ~ized Eor slidable insertion, E~IG. 2, into chamber 1206 oE housing 120. Channel 1104, FIG. S, extends Erom a Eront opening through retaining member 110 to an opening in the end of rear section 1100 and is sized to receive pyramid member 1108 and spacer 1109. In addition, plug ~", - - . . . . . - .
- ' - - ' ' ' ' member 11 may also include a spring assembly 1107 having a spiral spring 11070 abutted with spring seating member 11071 and spring retaining member 11072. Spring assembly 1107 is positioned in retaining member channel 1104 with spring seating member 11071 adjacent spacer member 1109 and with spring retaining member raised sections 110720 inserted into guide channels 1102 so as to enable tab members 110721 to engage holes 1103 ancl thereby lock sprin~
retaining member 11072 within retaining member 110.
~s ~et orth in FIG. 6, the assembled plug member 11 holds pyramld memher 1108 which supE?orts Eiber terminating substrate 31 positioned and extended along the center line of retaining member 110. Similarly to plug member 12, pins located on one surface of spacer member 1109 and positioned at right angles with respect to pins located on the base of pyramid member 1108 enable universal movement of fiber terminating substrate 31 about the center line of retaining member 110. Spiral spring assembly 1107 positioned adjacent spacer member 1109 exerts a force along the retaining member center line against spacer member 1109 to normally maintain the base of pyramid member 11OB in a fully extended position biased against retaining tabs 1110.
The light carrying fibers or the ribbon carrying the fibers are protected by a bend radius limiter 32 which serves to prevent the flexing of fibers and ribbon extending outward the ends of plug members 11, 12 from exceeding a predefined radius of curvature.
The bottom surface o~ retaining memker 110 may have perpendicular split pin~ 1111 extending there~rom ~or use, FIG. 1, ln a~ixing plug member 11 to circui~ board ~.
Plug member 11 may be loca~ed ad~acent or ~ormed a~ a part o~ connector ~ moun~ed on an ed~e oE circuit board 5.
Insertion oE plug-in circuit board 5 into equipment mounting apparatus enable~ connector ~ and plug member 11 to slidably engage pins 61 and plug member 12, respectively, so that the circuitry and component apparatus located on circuit board 5 may be interconnecked with the . .
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circuitry oE backplane 6 and optical fiber cable 2.
Connector 1 also includes sleeve member 10 that is arranged to slidably receive and apply quadrantal spring forces against fiber terminating substrates 21. 31 to axially align and optically couple together corresponding fibers terminated on substrates 21, 31. Sleeve member 10, FIG. 2, has a generally rectangular body 100 with one end 101 sized Eor insertion into the chamber of retaining member 121 of plug member 12 and with the opposite end 102 ~i~ed or slldable ln~qrtion into the chamber o:E retaining member 110 o plug member 11. End 101 has pin members 1011 extending vertically outward Erom the surface thereoE for use in aligning sleeve member 10 with respect to housing 120.
15Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawing, sleeve member 10 has an inner channel 1000 formed along a center axis with openings 1010. 1020 at each end sized to slidably engage the truncated end of pyramid members 1215, 1108 and supported fiber termination substrates 21, 31. Positioned within inner channel 1000 are four spring members 103, 104, 105, 106 arranged to slidably engage fiber terminating substrates 21, 31 and apply quadrantal forces thereto to axially align and optically couple the ends of the fibers terminated on substrates 21, 31. Each spring member 103, 104, 105, 106 is a generally rectangular spring constructed of any one of a number of resilient materials and is of a type commonly referred to as a leaf spring. A spring member, such a~ spring member 103, FIG. 8, has a center arcuate sqction 1030 extended t~ward ~he c~n~er line o~
sleeve member 10 and ha~ each end Eorm~d into a curv~d ~ec~lon 1031, 1032 used to pre-bias and hold spring member 103 in sleeve member channel 1000. ~he other spring member 104 oE the Eirst pair o~ spring members 103, 104 is positioned within sleeve member channel 1000 directly oppo~ite sleeve member 103 with the center arcuate section thereoE extended toward the center line of sleeve member 10 to normally rest against arcuate section 1030 of spring -: , ~ - , - : ,, -: ," - ~ : " ~ ; ' ' ,,'. ' ' ' ' ' .''~ '' .
31.Z7~ 5 member 103 in the relaxed state.
A second pair of springs 105, 106 is positioned in sleeve member channel 1000 directly opposite each other with their respective arcuate sections extended toward the sleeve member center line and rotated to form a right angle with the first pair of spring members 103, 104. In the relaxed state the arcuate sections of the second pair of spring members 105, 106 extend toward the center line of sleeve member 10 and normally rest on the relaxed arcuate sections of the first pair of spring member 103, 104. The slidable insertion o~ the fiber terminating substrates 21, 31 in the appropriate ends of sleeve member 10 result in the engagement of substrates 21, 31 with the first pair of ~pring members 103, 104. Spring members 103, 104 are compressed and apply forces to the top and bottom surfaces o~ both sub~trates 21 and 31 and operate to position the poli8hed ends of substrates 21, 31 together with the row of ~iber~ terminated in substrate 21 vertically aligned with the row of fibers terminated in substrate 31. As the first pair of spring members 103, 104 are compressed the second pair of spring members 105, 106 are released to exert a second pair of forces at right angles with respect to the first pair of forces against the sides of both substrates to horizontally align each fiber on substrate 21 with a corresponding fiber on substrate 31. The combined action of spring members 103, 104, 105, 106 generate quadrantal forces that are applied to substrates 21, 31 slidably inserted in sleeve member 10 to axially align and optically couple together light carrying fibers of optical fiber cables 2, 3.
Apparatus Assembly Referring to FIG. 2 of the drawing, plug member 12 is assembled by aligning pins 1011 of sleeve member 10 with alignment channels formed on each side of the inner chamber 1205 of housing member 120. Sleeve member 10 is then inserted into housing member 120 such that alignment pins 1011 are located at the end of chamber 1205 with sleeve . .
' " ' ' ~ ' -12'~ 2~
member end section 102 extended through chamber 1206 perpendicularly outward from housing member 120. Truncated pyramid 1215 with supported substrate 21 terminating Eibers of optical fiber cable 2 is assembled with spacer member 1214 in retaining member 121. Raised surfaces 1210 of retaining member 121 are then aligned with alignment channels 1202 and retaining member 121 inserted in chamber 1205 of housing member 120 with the truncated end of pyramid memher 121~ and supported subst:rate 21 slidably inserted in ~nd sec~tion 101 o sleeve 10. Housing member 120 i~ then inserted lnto backplane w:lth tabs 1204, FIG. 1, securing housiny member 120, sleeve member 10, and optical fiber cable 2 to backplane 6.
Plug member 11, FIG. 5, is assembled by inserting truncated pyramid member 1108 and supported substrate 31 terminating fibers of optical fiber cable 3 into channel 1104 of retaining member t10 with the base of pyramid member 1108 engaging tab sections 1110. Spacing member 1109 and spring assembly 1107 are positioned in channel 1104 adjacent pyramid member 1108 with spring retaining member 11072 in alignment slot 1102. Tab 110721 of spring retaining member 11072 engages hole 1103 to secure pyramid member 1108, space member 1109 and spring assembly 1l07 in retaining member 110. Plug member 11 may, i~ desired, be mounted on circuit board 5, FIG. 1, by locating pin members 1111 into holes o the circuit board or circuit board connector 4~ As plug-in circuit board 5 is inserted into equipment mounting apparatus an edge of circuit board 5 m~ve~ in a channel o~ alignmenk member 6~ ~o that end ~ection 102 o sleeve member 10 enters the open end o~ plug m~mber 1 1. Supported ~ub~trate 31, FIG. 10, i~ slidably in~erted into an end opening o~ sleeve member 10 to engage the spring members located in the channel o~ sleeve member 10. As plug member 11 is engaged with plug member 12 the truncated end of pyramid member 1108 partially enters th~
end o sleeve member 10 spiral spring 11070 compresses to exert a force along the center line of retaining member 110 .
-` - ' ' ' . ' - - .
- - . - :
.
against the base o~ pyramid member 1108. Sleeve spring members 103, 104, 105, 106 apply quadrantal Forces, FIG. 8 on the surfaces of universally mounted substrates 21 and 31 such that the substrate ends are verti~ally and horizontally aligned with each fiber of cable 2 terminated on substrate 21 axially aligned and optically coupled with a corresponding fiber of cable 3 terminated on substrate 31. In the fully engaged positions, the end section 1~01 of retaining m~mber 110, FIG. 10, is inserted in chamber 1206 of hou~in~ member 120 ancl compre~ed .~piral spr:Lng a~embly 1107 maintain~ the end of substrate 31 abutted against the end of substrate 21. To disengage, plug 11 and circuit board 5 is withdrawn to remove the end of retaining member 110 from housing member 120 and thereby disengage fiber terminating substrate 31 from the end of sleeve member 10.
Summary of the Invention It is obvious from the foregoing that the facility, economy and efficiency of connectors may be substantially enhanced by a connector apparatus arranged for enabling optical fiber cables to be slidably coupled together. It is further obvious from the foregoing that a connector apparatus arranged for enabling optical fibers coupled with apparatus on plug-in circuit boards to be slidably coupled with optical fibers terminated on the equipment mounting apparatus backplanes by axially a:Ligning and optically coupling together the fibers, improves the u~e oE optical apparatu~ in electronic and communication network~.
3~ While the apparatu~ o~ the invention ha3 heen di~clo~e~ in ~n optlcal fiber system it l~ to be under~tood that a light carrying fiber i~ a conductor of signal~ and that the pre~ent embodiment i9 int~nded to he illustrative oE the principle~ of the invention and that other conductor coupling arrangements may be devised by tho~e skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims (16)
1. Apparatus for interconnecting optical fiber cables comprising means for mounting substrate devices terminating light carrying fibers of the optical fiber cables and enabling universal movement of said substrate devices about a center line of said mounting means, and means having opposite pairs of spring means for receiving and slidably self-aligning ones of said mounting means by applying quadrantal spring forces on said terminating substrate devices to axially align and optically couple together corresponding fibers terminated on said substrate devices.
2. The optical fiber cable interconnecting apparatus set forth in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprises means for accepting said light carrying fibers and supporting said substrate device terminating said fibers, and means for holding said accepting and supporting means with said fiber terminating substrate device extended along a center line thereof.
3. The optical fiber cable interconnecting apparatus set forth in claim 2 wherein said mounting means comprises means positioned in said holding means for enabling universal movement of said terminating substrate device about said holding means center line.
4. The optical fiber cable interconnecting apparatus set forth in claim 3 wherein said slidably self-aligning means comprises means having a channel formed therein along a center axis with an opening at each end for slidably receiving one of said substrate devices supported by said accepting and supporting means, and spring means positioned in said slidably receiving means channel for applying quadrantal forces to a pair of said terminating substrate devices to axially align and optically couple ones of said fibers terminated on one terminating substrate device with corresponding ones of said fibers terminated on said other substrate device.
5. The optical fiber cable interconnecting apparatus set forth in claim 4 comprising housing means for retaining one of a pair of said holding means with said supported substrate device in engagement with said slidably receiving means and for enabling insertion of the other one of said holding means therein to slidably engage said supported substrate device thereof with said spring means.
6. The optical fiber cable interconnecting apparatus set forth in claim 5 wherein said other one holding means comprises spiral spring means positioned therein for exerting a force along said center axis against said accepting and supporting means to maintain the inserted termination substrate device in engagement with said spring means
7. Apparatus for interconnecting an optical fiber cable through a backplane of equipment mounting apparatus with a circuit board comprising means for holding and supporting substrate devices terminating light carrying fibers of the optical fiber cables, means for separably receiving said substrate devices and applying quadrantal forces thereon to axially align and optically couple together corresponding ones of said fibers terminated on said substrate devices, and means insertable in the backplane for holding said separably receiving means extended through the backplane and for receiving ones of said holding and supporting means with each said substrate device thereof engaged with said slidably receiving means.
8. The optical fiber cable interconnecting apparatus set forth in claim 7 wherein said holding and supporting means comprises a truncated generally pyramid configured member having a base section and a slot formed along one side thereof for accepting ones of said fibers and supporting said substrate device terminating said one fibers to extend outward from the truncated end of said pyramid member, and a retaining member for holding said truncated pyramid member therein with said supported substrate device positioned along a central axis thereof.
9. The optical fiber cable interconnecting apparatus set forth in claim 8 wherein said holding and supporting means further comprises a spacer member positioned in said retaining member adjacent one end thereof and said truncated pyramid member base section for enabling universal movement of said supported substrate device about said retaining member central axis.
10. The optical fiber cable interconnecting apparatus set forth in claim 9 wherein said separably receiving means comprises a sleeve member having an inner channel formed along a center axis thereof with an opening at each end for slidably receiving said supported substrate device and truncated end of said pyramid member, and arcuate spring members positioned in said sleeve member channel for applying said quadrantal forces to a pair of said supported substrate devices to axially align said pair of supported substrate devices and optically couple ones of said fibers terminated on one supported substrate device with corresponding fibers terminated on the other supported substrate device.
11. The optical fiber cable interconnection apparatus set forth in claim 10 wherein said holding and receiving means comprises a housing member having first and second generally rectangular sections with said first section having an outer surface for engaging the backplane and with said sections having interconnected chambers for slidably receiving said retaining members at each end thereof and said second member chamber formed for receiving said sleeve member with ends thereof extending into said chambers for receiving said supported substrate devices in slidable engagement with said sleeve arcuate spring members.
12. The optical fiber cable interconnection apparatus set forth in claim 11 wherein one of said retaining members comprises a spiral spring member positioned along said central axis thereof for maintaining a force against said held truncated pyramid member to maintain said supported a force against said held truncated pyramid member to maintain the substrate device in engagement said sleeve arculate spring members.
13. Connector apparatus for interconnecting an optical fiber cable through a backplane of equipment mounting apparatus with a circuit board comprising a first truncated generally pyramid configured member having a base section and a slot formed along one side thereof for accepting light carrying fibers of the optical cable and for supporting a substrate device terminating said cable fibers to extend outward from the truncated end thereof.
a second truncated generally pyramid configured member having a base section and a slot formed along one side thereof for accepting light carrying fibers coupled with the circuit board and for supporting a substrate device terminating said circuit board fibers to extend outward from the truncated end thereof, a first retaining member for holding said first truncated pyramid member wherein with said supported cable fiber terminating substrate device positioned along a central axis thereof.
a second retaining member for holding said second truncated pyramid member therein with said supported circuit board fiber terminating substrate device positioned along a cental axis thereof.
a pair of spacer members each positioned in one of said first and second retaining members adjacent a corresponding first and second pyramid member for enabling universal movement of said fiber terminating substrate device about said retaining members central axis, a sleeve member having a generally rectangular channel formed along a center axis thereof with an opening at each end for slidably self-aligning said first and second fiber terminating substrate devices and truncted end of said pyramid members, a first pair of opposed leaf spring members positioned in said sleeve member rectangular channel with each spring member having an arcuate section extending toward said sleeve member center axis for applying a vertical aligning force on said substrate devices slidably inserted into said sleeve member.
a second pair of opposed leaf spring members positioned in said sleeve member rectangular channel and rotated at a right angle with respect to said first pair of leaf spring members with each spring member having an arcuate section extending toward said sleeve member center axis for applying a horizontal aligning force on said substrate devices slidably inserted into said sleeve member, a housing member having first and second generally rectangular sections with said first section having an outer surface sized for insertion through the backplane and with said sections having interconnected chambers formed for receiving said sleeve member with said second section chamber sized for receiving said first retaining and held pyramid member with said cable fiber terminating substrate device slidably engaged with said pairs of leaf spring members and with said first section chamber sized for slidably receiving said second retaining and held pyramid member to engage said circuit board fiber terminating substrate device with said pairs of leaf spring members to axially align and optically couple together corresponding ones of said optical cable and circuit board fibers, and spiral spring means positioned in said second retaining member adjacent the end thereof and one of said spacer members for exerting a force along said second retaining member center axis to maintain said circuit board fiber terminating substrate device engaged with said sleeve member leaf spring members and abutted against said optical cable fiber terminating substrate device.
a second truncated generally pyramid configured member having a base section and a slot formed along one side thereof for accepting light carrying fibers coupled with the circuit board and for supporting a substrate device terminating said circuit board fibers to extend outward from the truncated end thereof, a first retaining member for holding said first truncated pyramid member wherein with said supported cable fiber terminating substrate device positioned along a central axis thereof.
a second retaining member for holding said second truncated pyramid member therein with said supported circuit board fiber terminating substrate device positioned along a cental axis thereof.
a pair of spacer members each positioned in one of said first and second retaining members adjacent a corresponding first and second pyramid member for enabling universal movement of said fiber terminating substrate device about said retaining members central axis, a sleeve member having a generally rectangular channel formed along a center axis thereof with an opening at each end for slidably self-aligning said first and second fiber terminating substrate devices and truncted end of said pyramid members, a first pair of opposed leaf spring members positioned in said sleeve member rectangular channel with each spring member having an arcuate section extending toward said sleeve member center axis for applying a vertical aligning force on said substrate devices slidably inserted into said sleeve member.
a second pair of opposed leaf spring members positioned in said sleeve member rectangular channel and rotated at a right angle with respect to said first pair of leaf spring members with each spring member having an arcuate section extending toward said sleeve member center axis for applying a horizontal aligning force on said substrate devices slidably inserted into said sleeve member, a housing member having first and second generally rectangular sections with said first section having an outer surface sized for insertion through the backplane and with said sections having interconnected chambers formed for receiving said sleeve member with said second section chamber sized for receiving said first retaining and held pyramid member with said cable fiber terminating substrate device slidably engaged with said pairs of leaf spring members and with said first section chamber sized for slidably receiving said second retaining and held pyramid member to engage said circuit board fiber terminating substrate device with said pairs of leaf spring members to axially align and optically couple together corresponding ones of said optical cable and circuit board fibers, and spiral spring means positioned in said second retaining member adjacent the end thereof and one of said spacer members for exerting a force along said second retaining member center axis to maintain said circuit board fiber terminating substrate device engaged with said sleeve member leaf spring members and abutted against said optical cable fiber terminating substrate device.
14. The connector apparatus set forth in claim 13 wherein said sleeve member comprises pin members extending vertically outward from surfaces of one end of said sleeve member at right angles with respect to each other for aligning said sleeve member to receive said fiber terminating substrate devices, and wherein sidewalls of said housing member second section chamber is formed with pairs of opposite channels positioned at right angles with respect to each other for receiving said sleeve aligning pin members.
15. Connector apparatus for interconnecting signal carrying conductors through a backplane of equipment mounting apparatus comprising a pair of plug members each having a chamber for receiving a pyramid configured member arranged to accept ones of the signal carrying conductors and support a substrate device terminating said conductors to enable universal movement of said substrate device about a center line of said plug member, a sleeve member having openings at each end thereof for receiving ones of said conductor terminating substrate devices and applying quadrantal spring forces thereto to axially align and couple together corresponding conductors terminated on said substrate devices, and a receptacle member having first and second sections with said first section sized for engagement with the backplane and with said sections having interconnected chambers for holding said sleeve member extended through the backplane and with said chambers each seized for receiving one of said plug members to slidably insert said conductor terminating substrate devices into said sleeve member.
16. The connector apparatus set forth in claim 15 wherein sleeve member comprises a first pair of opposite leaf springs located in an inner channel of said sleeve member with each first spring having an arcuate section extending toward a center line of said sleeve member for exerting first alignment forces on said conductor terminating substrate devices and, a second pair of opposite leaf springs located in said sleeve member inner channel at right angles with respect to said first pair of springs with each second spring having an arcuate section extending toward said sleeve member center line normally resting on relaxed ones of said first springs for exerting second alignment forces on said conductor terminating substrate devices at right angles with respect to said first alignment forces as said conductor substrate devices are slidably engaged with said first and second pairs of springs.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US06/664,701 US4725120A (en) | 1984-10-25 | 1984-10-25 | Connector apparatus |
| US664,701 | 1984-10-25 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1276825C true CA1276825C (en) | 1990-11-27 |
Family
ID=24667090
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA000493737A Expired - Fee Related CA1276825C (en) | 1984-10-25 | 1985-10-24 | Connector apparatus |
Country Status (9)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| US (1) | US4725120A (en) |
| EP (1) | EP0203098B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH07119855B2 (en) |
| KR (1) | KR880700285A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA1276825C (en) |
| DE (1) | DE3577754D1 (en) |
| ES (1) | ES8705647A1 (en) |
| SG (1) | SG63790G (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1986002740A1 (en) |
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-
1984
- 1984-10-25 US US06/664,701 patent/US4725120A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1985
- 1985-10-23 EP EP85905374A patent/EP0203098B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-10-23 WO PCT/US1985/002093 patent/WO1986002740A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1985-10-23 DE DE8585905374T patent/DE3577754D1/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1985-10-23 JP JP60504723A patent/JPH07119855B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1985-10-24 ES ES548188A patent/ES8705647A1/en not_active Expired
- 1985-10-24 CA CA000493737A patent/CA1276825C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
-
1986
- 1986-06-25 KR KR1019860700388A patent/KR880700285A/en not_active IP Right Cessation
-
1990
- 1990-08-01 SG SG63790A patent/SG63790G/en unknown
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| SG63790G (en) | 1990-09-07 |
| DE3577754D1 (en) | 1990-06-21 |
| US4725120A (en) | 1988-02-16 |
| WO1986002740A1 (en) | 1986-05-09 |
| EP0203098B1 (en) | 1990-05-16 |
| EP0203098A1 (en) | 1986-12-03 |
| JPS62500615A (en) | 1987-03-12 |
| JPH07119855B2 (en) | 1995-12-20 |
| KR880700285A (en) | 1988-02-22 |
| ES8705647A1 (en) | 1987-05-01 |
| ES548188A0 (en) | 1987-05-01 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| MKLA | Lapsed |