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
  • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
  • G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
  • G02B6/3855—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule
• • 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
  • G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
  • G02B6/32—Optical coupling means having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends
• • 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
• • 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
• • 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
  • G02B6/3887—Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features
  • G02B6/3888—Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• • 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
  • G02B6/42—Coupling light guides with opto-electronic elements
  • G02B6/4201—Packages, e.g. shape, construction, internal or external details
  • G02B6/4246—Bidirectionally operating package structures

Definitions

• the invention relates to an optical waveguide terminating sleeve usable for optical waveguide connectors, as well as to an optical waveguide connector for coupling optical waveguides with each other and for coupling optical waveguides with optical or optoelectronic components.
• optical waveguide will be abbreviated in the following by "OWG” .
• terminating devices each comprising a sleeve- like terminating member - referred to as "terminating sleeve” herein - which is provided with a through-opening having an OWG length or section firmly disposed in its one end, with an end portion of the OWG to be terminated being insertable into the other end thereof substantially up to said OWG section.
• both the OWG section and the OWG to be terminated consist of optically highly transparent plas ⁇ tics material, for instance acrylic glass.
• the terminating sleeve usually consists of optically non-transparent plastics materials.
• this object is met for a terminating sleeve according to the generic clause of patent claim 1 by the features indicated in the cha ⁇ racterizing part thereof.
• Dependent claims 2 to 10 indicate advantageous developments of the terminating sleeve.
• Patent claim 11 indicates an OWG connector comprising a terminating sleeve according to any one of claims 1 to 10.
• the OWG terminating sleeve according to the invention and the OWG connector equipped therewith are used mainly for bidirectional light transmission.
• Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a first embodiment of a terminating sleeve according to the invention
• Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the terminating sleeve of Fig. 1 along sectional line I-I;
• Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the terminating sleeve of Fig. 1 along sectional line I-I in Fig. 1, with the sectional plane being rotated by approx. 90° with respect to that of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the terminating end of the terminating sleeve illustrated in Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the termina- ting sleeve of Fig. 2 along sectional line II-II;
• Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the termina ⁇ ting sleeve of Fig. 2 along sectional line III-III;
• Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of two terminating sleeves confronting each other at their respective terminating ends
• Fig. 8 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a second embodiment of a terminating sleeve according to the invention
• Fig. 9 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a third embodiment of a terminating sleeve according to the invention.
• Fig. 10 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a con ⁇ nector assembly comprising two pluggable connectors, one thereof being provided with two terminating sleeves of the type shown in Fig. 9;
• Fig. 11 shows a longitudinal side view of the connec- tor assembly according to Fig. 10
• Figs. 12 and 13 show longitudinal side views, offset by 90°, of a crimping barrel crimped to an OWG and to a strain relief means;
• Figure 14 shows a side plan view of a connector housing for receipt of a ferrule member according to any of the embodiments of Figures 1-7, 8 or 9;
• Fig. 15 and 16 show a cross sectional view through the connector housing of Figure 14;
• Figure 17 show the connector housing of Figures 14-16 with the fibre inserts of Figures 1-7 positioned therein;
• Figure 18 shows an outer shell housing which is capable of receiving two connectors as shown in Figure 17; and Figure 19 shows two connectors of Figure 17 installed in the outer shell housing of Figure 18.
• Fig. 1 shows a plan view of a terminating sleeve 1 according to the invention prior to being supplemented by assembly of a locking clevis or strap (not shown) so as to form a terminating member.
• Terminating sleeve 1 has in essence three partial regions, namely a hollow cylindrical part 2 on its left-hand mating side end in Fig. 1, which hereinafter is also referred to as terminating end, a locking clevis receiving part 3 on its right-hand end in Fig. 1 on the OWG insertion side, as well as a central part 4 located therebetween.
• Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the terminating sleeve 1 depicted in Fig. 1, as seen along sectional line I-I. The direction of this section is marked la-la in Fig. 5.
• the sleeve body of the terminating sleeve 1 is made of a transparent material of optical grade, e.g. polycarbonate or polymethylmetacrylate (PMMA) , and preferably also of the same material as the OWG when the OWG is made of plastics material.
• Terminating sleeve 1 has at its terminating end a coupling face 5 of an optical coupling means 6, which in the first embodiment has a convexly curved optical surface 61.
• the optical coupling face 5 is formed with an annular groove 7 surrounding the convexly curved surface 61 such that a circumferential rib 71 is formed projecting in axial direction beyond the convexly curved surface 61.
• Circumferential rib 71 thus protects the convexly curved surface 61 and may also have a positioning function.
• the inner surface of the OWG receiving channel 8 is provided in a preferred embodiment with a positioning means in the form of an insertion centering means 9.
• Insertion centering means 9 in a particularly preferred embodiment consists of three guide ribs 10a, 10b, 10c which are evenly spaced apart in the direction of the circumference of the OWG receiving channel 8 and arranged in parallel in the OWG receiving channel 8 in the longitudinal direction and whose radial distance from the longitudinal axis of the OWG receiving channel 8 decreases towards the terminating end of the terminating sleeve 1 so that upon insertion of an OWG in the OWG receiving channel 8, lateral play of the OWG being inserted decreases as the insertion operation progresses, until the inserted OWG abuts the side 62 of the optical coupling means 6 facing towards the OWG insertion end while being substantially radially centered.
• a matching gel (not shown) having preferably the same refractive index as the OWG material.
• the contact gel ensures a reliable optical coupling effect between OWG and optical coupling means 6. Excess contact gel may flow off to the rear in the interstices 13 left between ribs 10.
• Fig. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the terminating sleeve 1 illustrated in Fig. 1, as seen along connecting line I-I, with the sectional plane being rotated by 90° with respect to that of Fig. 2.
• This sectional view shows two ribs 10a, 10b of the in total three guide ribs 10 provided. The direction of this section is marked lb-lb in Fig. 5.
• Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the terminating end of the terminating sleeve 1 depicted in Fig. 1, showing the convex surface 61, the annular groove 7 and the cir- cumferential rib 71.
• Fig. 5 shows a cross-sectional view of the terminating sleeve 1 depicted in Fig. 1 as seen along sectional line II-II.
• the three guide ribs 10a, 10b, 10c are arranged in evenly spaced apart manner on the wall of the OWG receiving channel 8. Steps 11a, lib, lie and 12a, 12b, 12c provide a clearance for the OWG to be inserted, which becomes smaller towards the terminating end of terminating sleeve 1.
• Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the terminating sleeve 1 illustrated in Fig. 2, as seen along sectional line III-III. Excess contact gel (now shown) can flow off through the cavities 13a, 13b, 13c left between guide ribs 10a, 10b, 10c, in the direction towards the OWG insertion end of terminating sleeve 1.
• Fig. 7 shows a longitudinal sectional view of two terminating sleeves la, lb confronting each other with their respective terminating end. The air gap space formed between the terminating sleeves la, lb in the form of the abutting annular grooves 7a, 7b has the effect that e.g.
• the beam 15 of light leaving the terminating sleeve la is coupled in a large range of angles into the terminating sleeve lb and the OWG 16b disposed therein.
• the abutting circumferential ribs 71 prevent that the convexly curved surfaces 6a, 6b are subject to mechanical damage due to frictional effects between the opposing surfaces.
• the afore-described first embodiment of the termina ⁇ ting sleeve according to the invention distinguishes itself in that the optical coupling means 6, the adjoining positioning means with the guide ribs 10a, 10b, 10c, and the remainder of the terminating sleeve 1 are combined to form an integral component part consisting of transparent material of optical grade. In most cases, an as good as possible permeability of the light waves through the optical coupling means 6 is desired. In these cases the component part is made of highly transparent material . For obtaining e.g. a filter effect, the transparent material may also be dyed.
• the optical coupling means 6 has a convexly curved surface 61 on the side directed towards the terminating end of the terminating sleeve 1. This provides the optical effect of a convex lens as outlined in Fig. 7 by a light beam 15.
• this surface may be a concavely curved surface, e.g. when the optical area of a complementary connector has a larger diameter than the optical coupling means 6, e.g. in case of an optical coupling with a light-emitting diode or a phototransistor in the complementary connector.
• the surface of the optical coupling means 6 located at the terminating end of terminating sleeve may also be a planar surface oriented either perpendi ⁇ cularly to the OWG axis or at an angle thereto.
• An inclined planar surface may be used when reflections of the light coming from the OWG are to be avoided or at least reduced on the planar surface.
• a second embodiment of a terminating sleeve according to the invention whose optical coupling means is provided on both sides with a planar surface disposed perpendicularly to the OWG longitudinal axis, is illu- strated in Fig. 8. As for the rest, this embodiment is identical with the first embodiment shown in Figs . 1 to 7. In the two preceding embodiments the entire integral terminating sleeve is determined with respect to the optical function of the surface of the optical coupling means 6 facing the terminating end of the terminating sleeve.
• terminating sleeves In case it is necessary for different fields of application to have terminating sleeves with a different optical function of their optical coupling means, a corresponding number of different terminating sleeves is necessary. Moreover, the entire terminating sleeve must be made of transparent or even highly transparent material of high optical grade.
• a terminating sleeve 91 is shown in Fig. 9.
• This terminating sleeve is a two-piece member and comprises a sleeve body 91 and a component 92 attached thereto by means of a latching connection.
• Component 92 contains, in integrally formed manner therewith, an optical coupling means 6 and a positioning means 93 following the optical coupling means 6 towards the OWG insertion end and serving for radially centering an inserted OWG.
• the inner space of the positioning means 93 constitutes a continuation of the OWG receiving channel 8.
• Positioning means 93 may either be formed with guide ribs (not shown in Fig.
• positioning means 93 may itself effect radial centering. In that event the inner diameter of the positioning means 93 may converge towards the optical coupling means 6 so that an inserted OWG, with increasing distance to the optical coupling means 6, is centered in increasingly exact manner.
• positioning means 93 may also be used for axially positioning the OWG by fixing the OWG in axially non-slidable manner in the positioning means 93. In the embodiment shown in Fig.
• latching takes place between component 92 and sleeve body 91 with the aid of latching projections 94 projecting outwardly from component 92 in radial direction, as well as complementary latching recesses 95 in sleeve body 91.
• latching recesses 95 extending through the entire wall of the sleeve body 91, preferably a plurality of latching projections 94 and latching recesses 95 are distributed about the circumferences of component 92 and sleeve body 91.
• latching recess 95 When the latching recess 95 does not extend completely through the wall of sleeve body 91, it may be designed as a latching groove extending about the inner circumference of the sleeve body 91, and component 92 may be provided with a corresponding latching flange extending about the outer circumference thereof. This allows particularly simple mounting of the component 92 within the sleeve body
• the sleeve body 91 may be made of an arbitrary other material, with the optical properties having no relevance.
• connections there are also other types of connections possible between sleeve body 91 and component 92 than the latching connection shown in Fig. 9. Examples in this respect are an adhesive connection, a welding connection, a friction-type connection, and a threaded connection.
• Figs. 10 and 11 show a longitudinal sectional view and a longitudinal side view, respectively, of an OWG con ⁇ nector assembly employing two terminating sleeves of the type shown in Fig. 9, although it should be understood that the embodiments of Figures 1-8 could also be used.
• the connector assembly shown in Fig. 10 corresponds to that OWG connector assembly which is shown in Fig. 1 of the initially cited prior application P 41 41 009.2 of the same applicant.
• the optical waveguide connector assembly shown in Fig. 10 in a longitudinal sectional view comprises a pluggable connector 111 terminating two OWGs 113, and a complementary pluggable connector 115 accommodating a phototransistor 117 and a light-emitting diode (LED) 119.
• Connector 111 comprises a connector housing 121 having two juxtaposed through-channels 123 extending therethrough. In the mating side end of each through-channel 123 located opposite the complementary connector 115, there is located a terminating sleeve 1 according to the invention. In the OWG receiving channel 8 thereof there is inserted the end of one of the two OWGs 113. At the end of each terminating sleeve 1 remote from said complementary connector 115, there is located one end of a coil spring 131 which at the other end is supported on a radial shoulder 113 in the respective through-channel 123.
• An OWG insertion side opening of the connector 111 has inserted therein, at its end opposite the mating side, a strain relieving plug 135 having at the same time the function of a sealing plug.
• Extending through the strain relieving plug 135 are two OWG channels 137 through which the OWGs 113 extend.
• Strain relieving plug 135 has radial outer beads 139 projecting from the outer circumference thereof and radial inner beads 141 projecting into the OWG channels 137. The outer beads 139 and the inner beads 141 effect sealing of the OWG 113.
• the strain relieving plug 135 is provided with two cylinder-like sockets 143, the interiors thereof constituting a continuation of the OWG channels 137.
• the OWGs 113 have an optical waveguide core surrounded by a cladding provided for improving the optical waveguiding properties of the OWG.
• the cladding is surrounded by a protective plastics jacket.
• the plastics jacket together with the OWG surrounded by the latter extends up to the side 62 of the optical coupling means 8 of terminating sleeve 1 facing the OWG insertion end.
• each OWG 113 has a crimping barrel 145 provided thereon.
• Each crimping barrel 145 has a first crimping region 147 crimped about the associated socket 143 of the strain relieving plug 135 and a second crimping region 149 crimped about the adjacent portion of the OWG 113.
• each crimping barrel 145 is provided with a cylindrical locking portion 151 from whose diametrically opposed sides one locking lance 153 each projects obliquely towards the second crimping region 149.
• the locking lances 153 cooperate with a correspondingly positioned radial locking shoulder 155 in the associated through-channel 123.
• the light-conducting cores of the OWGs 113 also consist of plastics material, preferably acrylic glass.
• a substantially U-shaped locking clevis or strap whose legs are constituted by two locking forks, namely a mating side locking fork 161 and an OWG insertion side locking fork 163.
• the two locking forks 161 and 163 each extend perpendicularly from a web of the locking clevis, said web extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of OWG 113.
• Each locking fork 161, 163 has a clamping slot for clamping the locking fork 161 or 163 on the plastics jacket of the OWG 113.
• the two locking forks 161 and 163 are each seated in a mating side fork receiving opening 165 and an OWG insertion side fork receiving opening 167, respectively.
• the effect achieved by means of the coil spring 131 is that the OWG 113 is always urged against the opposing side 62 of the coupling means 6 and that the coupling face 5 of the terminating sleeve 1 is always urged in optimum manner against the associated optoelectronic or optical component.
• connector 111 and complementary connector 115 are in known manner attached to a housing wall 201 having a through-opening 202 therein for the housing of the complementary connector 115.
• Terminal legs 203 of the complementary connector 115 which are preferably constituted by terminal legs of optoelectronic components accommodated in the complementary connector 115, are connected to a circuit board 204.
• Connector 111 has on the OWG insertion side a covering hood 205 connected to the housing of connector 111 by means of a bayonet-type coupling.
• the OWGs 113 are each optically coupled with an optoelectronic com ⁇ ponent via the associated terminating sleeves 1.
• the terminating sleeves 1 can also cooperate with a com ⁇ plementary connector which also terminates OWGs.
• the terminating sleeve 1 can be inserted in a housing body member 221, similar to that shown in Figure 15.
• Fig. 15 shows a longitudinal sectional view through the connector housing 221 of connector 211, with said housing being provided merely with a sealing collar 289 on its outer circumference.
• Fig. 16 shows an assembly phase in which a coil spring 231 is inserted in each of the two through-channels 223.
• a terminating sleeve according to Fig. 1 is inserted next into each through-channel 223, as illustrated in Fig. 17.
• strain relieving plug 235 has radial outer beads projecting from the outer circumference thereof and radial inner beads projecting into the OWG channels. The outer beads and the inner beads effect on the one hand sealing and on the other hand retention of the OWGs 213 in the strain relieving plug 235.
• the strain relieving plug 235 is provided with cylinder-like sockets 243, the interiors thereof constituting a continuation of the OWG channels.
• the crimping barrels 245 have several functions. On the one hand they hold the strain relieving plug 235, which at the same time serves as sealing plug, in the connector housing 221. On the other hand they hold the associated OWG 213 in a specific position within connector housing 221. Furthermore, they effect strain relief for OWG 213. Pulling at the end of OWG 213 extending out of the connector housing 221 is taken up by the strain relieving plug 235 on the one hand and by the locking lances 253 on the other hand.
• the OWGs 213 have an optical waveguide core surrounded by a cladding provided for improving the optical waveguiding properties of the OWG.
• the cladding is surrounded by a protective plastics jacket.
• the plastics jacket is removed only from a front part of the end of the OWG 213 for disposition in the terminating sleeve 1 of Figure 1, whereas the OWG 213 on the remaining length thereof is enclosed by the plastics jacket.
• locking clevis 259 preferably is brought first into a pre-assembled position in which it is not yet completely pressed into the terminating sleeve 1, but still projects partly into the connector housing.
• locking clevis 259 is urged into a final assembly position in terminating sleeve 1 in which the two locking forks 261, 263 engage the plastics jacket of OWG 213. In doing so, locking clevis 259 is positioned such that the locking forks 261 and 263 thereof are seated in the fork receiving openings
• Each locking fork 261, 263 has a clamping slot for clamping the locking fork 261 or 263 on the plastics jacket of OWG 213.
• the two locking forks 261 and 263 are each seated in a mating side fork receiving opening 265 and an OWG insertion side fork receiving opening 267, respectively, as shown in Figure 17.
• the two fork receiving openings 265 and 267 are dimensioned so as to permit, to a predetermined extent, movement play of the locking forks 261, 263 and thus of the locking clevis 259 in the longitudinal direction of the OWGs .
• the OWG insertion side end of the terminating sleeve 1 is provided in the form of an actuating ram 269 that is longitudinally movable relative to the remainder of the terminating sleeve 1, and is integrally connected to the locking clevis receiving part 3 and thus to the sleeve body 1 consisting of plastics material.
• the resilient connection between locking clevis receiving part 3 and actuating ram 269 is such that the actuating ram 269 is resiliently movable relative to the locking clevis receiving part 3 in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the sleeve body.
• Figures 3 and 17 shows in particularly distinct manner the construction of the actuating ram 269 and its connecting web for resilient connection to the locking clevis receiving part 3. As shown in Fig. 17, the latter is of such a width that it can be engaged by coil spring 231. The mating side end of the actuating ram 269, when urged against the locking clevis receiving part 3, engages the OWG insertion side locking fork 263 when the locking clevis 259 is inserted in the locking clevis receiving part 3.
• the spring pressure exerted on locking clevis 259 by coil spring 231 via actuating ram 269 has the effect that the locking forks 261 and 263 positioned on the plastics jacket of OWG 213, in accordance with the movement play permitted to them by the fork receiving openings 265 and 267, perform a movement towards surface 62 along with a concomitant movement of OWG 213.
• the two fork receiving openings 265 and 267 must have a correspondingly large width in the axial direction of the OWG 213.
• both the surface 62 and the OWG 213 are always urged against each other, and that the mating end of the terminating sleeve 1 are always urged in optimum manner against the mating component .
• the locking clevises 259 are preferably pressed onto the respective OWG 213 in such a manner that the locking forks 261 and 263 still have movement play in the direction towards the mating side limit of the fork receiving openings 265 and 267 so that the end face of the OWG 213 can still be urged against the insertion end 62 with the aid of the pressure force of the coil springs 231 if this has not yet been achieved during insertion of the OWGs 213 in the connector housing 221 and the sleeve bodies 271.
• the locking clevis 259 When the locking clevis 259 is in a pre-assembled position in which locking forks 261 and 263 are already inserted partly in the fork receiving openings 265 and 267, due to the fact that an OWG 213 has not yet been inserted which could abut against the insertion end 62, the locking clevis 259 is urged by coil spring 231 so as to abut the mating side limit of the fork receiving opening 265 and 267, respectively.
• FIG. 18 A cross-sectional view of a housing sleeve 291 is shown in Fig. 18, which allows the interconnection of two connectors such as 211.
• centering means 293 having two centering receiving chambers 299.
• the connectors 211 connected to each other, terminating a pair of optical waveguides 213, with the terminating sleeves 1 of the two connectors 211 having their end faces located opposite one another.
• the two connectors 211 are held to each other by means of the housing sleeve 291.
• Each of the two connectors 211 is provided on its circumference with an annular seal 289 which sealingly engages an outer wall 297 of housing sleeve 291.
• the connectors 211 have latching means which cooperate with latch members in the outer shell 291, to retain the connectors 211 in position.
• each OWG 213 has a crimping barrel 245 provided thereon.
• Each crimping barrel 245 has a first crimping region 247 ( Figure 12) crimped about the associated socket 243 of the strain relieving plug 235 and a second crimping region 249 crimped about the adjacent portion of the OWG 213.
• each crimping barrel 245 is provided with a cylindrical locking portion 251 from whose diametrically opposed sides one locking lance 253 each projects obliquely towards the second crimping region 249.
• the locking lances 253 cooperate with a correspondingly positioned radial locking shoulder 255 in the associated through channel 223.
• the free ends of the locking lances 253 under normal conditions have a predetermined spacing from the locking shoulders 255.
• the locking lances 253 and thus the OWG 213 still have movement play until the free ends of the locking lances 253 hit the locking shoulders 255, thereby compressing coil spring 231.
• coil spring 231 takes care that OWG 213 is moved again in the direction towards the mating side end of the connector housing 221.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Optics & Photonics (AREA)
• Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
• Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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• 1992
  • 1992-06-17 DE DE4219901A patent/DE4219901A1/de not_active Withdrawn
• 1993
  • 1993-06-07 WO PCT/US1993/005405 patent/WO1994000785A2/en not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 1993-06-07 EP EP93921170A patent/EP0598900A1/de not_active Ceased
  • 1993-06-18 JP JP5171231A patent/JPH0651166A/ja active Pending
• 1994
  • 1994-02-15 FI FI940701A patent/FI940701A/fi unknown

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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