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Method and apparatus for sealing fiber optic connectors for industrial applications

a fiber optic connector and industrial application technology, applied in the direction of optics, instruments, optical light guides, etc., can solve the problems of not being able to permit dirt or moisture ingress, the process of terminating an optical fiber to an optical is laborious and painstaking, and the tolerances of connectors are fairly tigh

Active Publication Date: 2008-02-28
TYCO ELECTRONICS LOGISTICS AG (CH)
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a protective enclosure that can be used with different types of connectors, including LC type fiber optic connectors. The enclosure has a plug portion and an adapter portion. The plug portion can hold one or two LC plug connectors, while the adapter portion can hold an LC adapter connector. The enclosure provides protection for the connectors and ensures reliable performance.

Problems solved by technology

The connectors are made to precise tolerances and the process of terminating an optical fiber to an optical fiber connector, which process often is performed in the field, is laborious and painstaking.
Generally, the aforementioned standardized connectors have fairly tight tolerances and do not permit the ingress of dirt or moisture under mild conditions, such as in homes and office buildings.
However, in factories, motor vehicles, and outdoor settings, such as cellular antenna towers, in which moisture or dust may be significant, standard fiber optic connectors may not be adequate to prevent the ingress of dust or moisture into the connectors.

Method used

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  • Method and apparatus for sealing fiber optic connectors for industrial applications
  • Method and apparatus for sealing fiber optic connectors for industrial applications
  • Method and apparatus for sealing fiber optic connectors for industrial applications

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0022]In order to reduce the number of components that must be design and manufactured to provide dust and moisture protection for the various types of connectors commonly used in telecommunications and other fields, it would be desirable to provide a protective enclosure that can be adapted for use with multiple types of connectors with minimal componentry needed to adapt between usage for the two or more different connector types. The present invention provides a protective enclosure that can be used, with minimal changes, to protect both RJ-45 type conductive connectors and LC type fiber optic type connectors and that also can be used in connection with both simplex and duplex LC connector.

[0023]Referring to FIG. 1, it shows the two halves 2 and 3 of an LC style protective enclosure 1 constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

[0024]The figures in this application illustrate a duplex embodiment of the invention. However, it will be readily apparent to ...

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PUM

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Abstract

The invention is a protective enclosure that can be adapted for use with different types of connectors, including LC type fiber optic connectors. The protective enclosure includes a plug portion and an adapter portion. The plug portion includes a plug housing having an internal longitudinal bore adapted to accept a plug connector of a connector type larger than an LC adapter, but includes a clip to which one or two LC plug connectors can be fixedly mounted that can optionally fixedly clip into the internal bore of the housing so that an LC connector can be fixedly mounted within the housing. The adapter portion includes an adapter housing having an internal longitudinal bore adapted to accept an adapter connector of a connector type larger than an LC adapter, but including an optional sleeve that can fixedly snap into the internal bore of the adapter housing and within which an LC adapter connector can be fixedly mounted.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention pertains to fiber optic connectors. More particularly, the invention pertains to a method and apparatus for sealing fiber optic connectors to protect them from dust, moisture, and other contaminants.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Optical fibers are becoming increasingly more prevalent as a medium for transmitting high bandwidth voice and data signals in telecommunications systems. There are a number of different standardized connectors in the fiber optic cable industry used for interconnecting two fiber optic cables to each other or for interconnecting a fiber optic cable to a piece of equipment. Some of the more common standardized connectors are the LC, ST, SC, and FC type connectors. Each of these types of connectors must meet certain dimensional standards. Also, typically, any type of connector system typically comprises two complementary connectors, e.g., a plug (the male connector) and an adapter (the female connector).[0003]Unlike c...

Claims

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Application Information

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Patent Type & Authority Applications(United States)
IPC IPC(8): G02B6/38
CPCG02B6/3849G02B6/3879G02B6/3891G02B6/3893
Inventor GURRERI, MICHAEL LAWRENCEERDMAN, DAVID DONALD
Owner TYCO ELECTRONICS LOGISTICS AG (CH)
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