U.S. patent application number 11/316196 was filed with the patent office on 2006-10-05 for expanded beam converter for mil-prf-83526/17 optical connector.
Invention is credited to Richard C. E. Durrant, Mark Krowiak, Mark R. Waldron.
Application Number | 20060222299 11/316196 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36941649 |
Filed Date | 2006-10-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060222299 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Durrant; Richard C. E. ; et
al. |
October 5, 2006 |
EXPANDED BEAM CONVERTER FOR MIL-PRF-83526/17 OPTICAL CONNECTOR
Abstract
The fiber optic connector includes a bulkhead connector housing,
an expanded beam insert body, ferrules, ball lenses, focal length
spacers, and a mating plane adapter. The expanded beam insert body
is mounted to the bulkhead connector housing. The ferrules, ball
lenses, and focal length spacers are mounted on the expanded beam
insert body. The mating plane adapter is mountable to the bulkhead
connector housing.
Inventors: |
Durrant; Richard C. E.;
(Algonquin, IL) ; Krowiak; Mark; (Oak Park,
IL) ; Waldron; Mark R.; (Poplar Grove, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Karl D. Kovach, Esq.;Stratos International, Inc.
7444 West Wilson Avenue
Chicago
IL
60706
US
|
Family ID: |
36941649 |
Appl. No.: |
11/316196 |
Filed: |
December 22, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60656692 |
Feb 28, 2005 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
385/74 ; 385/55;
385/56; 385/58; 385/59; 385/60; 385/70; 385/71; 385/72; 385/73 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G02B 6/32 20130101; G02B
6/3878 20130101; G02B 6/383 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
385/074 ;
385/055; 385/056; 385/058; 385/059; 385/060; 385/070; 385/071;
385/072; 385/073 |
International
Class: |
G02B 6/38 20060101
G02B006/38 |
Claims
1. A device comprising: a bulkhead connector housing; an expanded
beam insert body mounted to the bulkhead connector housing; a
ferrule mounted in the expanded beam insert body; a ball lens
mounted in the expanded beam insert body; a focal length spacer
mounted in the expanded beam insert body; a mating plane adapter
mountable on the bulkhead connector housing.
2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the bulkhead connector
housing conforms to the requirements of MIL-PRF-83526/17.
3. A device according to claim 2 wherein the ferrule conforms to
the requirements of MIL-PRF-29504/16.
4. A device according to claim 3 wherein the ball lens contacts the
focal length spacer.
5. A device comprising: a bulkhead connector housing; an expanded
beam insert body mounted to the bulkhead connector housing; a first
ferrule mounted in the expanded beam insert body; a second ferrule
mounted in the expanded beam insert body; a first ball lens mounted
in the expanded beam insert body; a second ball lens mounted in the
expanded beam insert body; a first focal length spacer mounted in
the expanded beam insert body; a second focal length spacer mounted
in the expanded beam insert body; a mating plane adapter mountable
on the bulkhead connector housing.
6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the first ball lens
contacts the first focal length spacer.
7. A device according to claim 6 wherein the second ball lens
contacts the second focal length spacer.
8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the first ball lens is in
optical communication with the first ferrule.
9. A device according to claim 8 wherein the second ball lens is in
optical communication with the second ferrule.
10. A device according to claim 9, further comprising a third ball
lens mounted in the expanded beam insert body.
11. A device according to claim 10, further comprising a third
focal length spacer mounted in the expanded beam insert body.
12. A device according to claim 11, further comprising a third
ferrule mounted in the expanded beam insert body.
13. A device according to claim 12 wherein the third ball lens
contacts the third focal length spacer.
14. A device according to claim 13 wherein the third ball lens is
in optical communication with the third ferrule.
15. A device according to claim 14, further comprising a fourth
ball lens mounted in the expanded beam insert body.
16. A device according to claim 15, further comprising a fourth
focal length spacer mounted in the expanded beam insert body.
17. A device according to claim 16, further comprising a fourth
ferrule mounted in the expanded beam insert body.
18. A device according to claim 17 wherein the fourth ball lens
contacts the fourth focal length spacer.
19. A device according to claim 18 wherein the fourth ball lens is
in optical communication with the fourth ferrule.
20. A device according to claim 19 wherein the bulkhead connector
housing conforms to the requirements of MIL-PRF-83526/17.
21. A device according to claim 20 wherein the first ferrule, the
second ferrule, the third ferrule, and the fourth ferrule conform
to the requirements of MIL-PRF-29504/16.
22. A fiber optic connector comprising: a bulkhead connector
housing which conforms to the requirements of MIL-PRF-83526/17; an
expanded beam insert body mounted to the bulkhead connector
housing; ferrules mounted in the expanded beam insert body, and
wherein the ferrules conform to the requirements of
MIL-PRF-29504/16; ball lenses mounted in the expanded beam insert
body; focal length spacers mounted in the expanded beam insert
body; a mating plane adapter mountable on the bulkhead connector
housing.
Description
[0001] This non-provisional application claims the priority of the
earlier filed U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/656,692,
filed Feb. 28, 2005. U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No.
60/656,692 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention pertains to fiber optic devices. The
invention more particularly concerns a fiber optic connector
converter.
[0004] 2. Discussion of the Background
[0005] The TFOCA MIL-PRF-83526/17 is an accepted connector in use
by the military. The current TFOCA MIL-PRF-83526/17 connector is a
physical contact design. As a physical contact design, repeated
mating can degrade performance. FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 display the
current TFOCA MIL-PRF-83526/17 connector 10. The optical signal
entering or exiting the any one of the ferrules 16, 17, 18, 19 can
be blocked by a piece of debris placed in the axis of optical
emission of the ferrule; thus causing system failure since the
optical signal can not traverse the piece of debris.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide a fiber optic
connector which utilizes a bulkhead connector housing that conforms
to MIL-PRF-83526/17 (draft dated Sep. 14, 2004), but where the
optics of the device utilize expanded beam technology.
[0007] The expanded beam technology is less sensitive to
contamination as compared to physical contact connector technology.
Therefore, the expanded beam fiber optic bulkhead connector is well
suited for harsh environments.
[0008] The components of the expanded beam technology provide for
the retro fitting of the existing, in the field, prior art bulkhead
connectors that utilizes physical contact technology. The
conversion incurs little added time or expense while providing
improved operating characteristics.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] A more complete appreciation of the invention and many of
the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the
same becomes better understood by reference to the following
detailed description when considered in connection with the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior art bulkhead
connector;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the prior art
bulkhead connector of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fiber optic
bulkhead connector of the invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fiber optic bulkhead
connector of FIG. 3; and
[0014] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the fiber optic
bulkhead connector of FIG. 3.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0015] Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference
numerals designate identical or corresponding parts throughout the
several views, and more particularly to FIGS. 3-5 thereof, an
embodiment of the present invention is a device or fiber optic
bulkhead connector 50 which is displayed therein.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the prior art fiber optic
bulkhead connector 10. FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of
the prior art fiber optic bulkhead connector 10. The fiber optic
bulkhead connectors 10 of the prior art utilize a well accepted
part, the bulkhead connector housing 30, as one element of the
invention. However, as previously described, the prior art fiber
optic bulkhead connector 10 has disadvantages. As shown in FIG. 2,
the disadvantageous parts, such as the insert body or cap 11 and
the alignment sleeves 12 and 13, are removed. The parts are removed
by unscrewing screws 14, and 15 from the bulkhead connector housing
30 so as to be able to remove the cap 11 and the alignment sleeves
12, and 13.
[0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fiber optic
bulkhead connector 50 of the present invention. After the prior art
parts 11, 12, and 13 have been removed, the expanded beam insert
body 60 and mating plane adapter 70 are installed on the bulkhead
connector housing 30. The expanded beam insert body 30 is retained
adjacent to the bulkhead connector housing 30 with the screws 14,
and 15. The mating plane adapter 70 is mounted on the bulkhead
connector housing 30 using the existing thread form 31 of the
bulkhead connector housing 30. The mating plane adapter 70 has an
internal thread form that is compatible with the thread form 31 of
the bulkhead connector housing 30, but the internal thread form is
not shown. The external thread form 71 of the mating plane adapter
70 is substantially the same as thread form 31 of the bulkhead
connector housing 30. The mating plane adapter 70 has a knurled
cylindrical surface 72 for easy handling by a user in the
field.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the assembled fiber optic
bulkhead connector 50.
[0019] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the fiber optic
bulkhead connector 50 where the mating plane adapter 70, ball
lenses 81, 82, 83, and 84, focal length spacers 86, 87, 88, and 89,
expanded beam body 60, ferrules 16, 17, 18, and 19, and bulkhead
connector housing 30 are shown. The bulkhead connector housing 30
conforms to the requirements set forth in MIL-PRF-83526/17. The
ferrules 16, 17, 18, and 19 conform to the requirements set forth
in MIL-PRF-29504/16 (draft dated Sep. 15, 2005).
[0020] The expanded beam insert body 60 is hermaphroditic. The ball
lenses 81, 82, 83, and 84, and the focal length spacers 86, 87, 88,
and 89 are mounted in the expanded beam insert body 60 by way of an
optical adhesive, a mechanical retainer such as a snap ring, a
transparent cover, or by any other suitable mechanism or means well
known in the art. The focal length spacers 86, 87, 88, and 89 are
used as shims so that the focal point of each respective ball lens
81, 82, 83, and 84 is placed on the respective ferrule 16, 17, 19,
and 18.
[0021] Thus, the fiber optic bulkhead connector 50 can accept a
fiber optic cable having a connector that is hermaphroditic with
the expanded beam insert body 60. Out in the field, if a small
piece of debris (i.e., smaller than the diameter of the ball lens
81, 82, 83, and 84) is placed along the optical emission path of
the optical signal, the optical signal will still be able to enter
or exit the ferrules 16, 17, 18, and 19, and the ferrules of the
mating connector of the fiber optic cable.
[0022] Obviously, numerous modifications and variations of the
present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. It
is therefore to be understood that within the scope of appended
claims, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as
specifically described herein.
* * * * *