EP1010023A2 - Connexion a fiche pour fibres optiques - Google Patents

Connexion a fiche pour fibres optiques

Info

Publication number
EP1010023A2
EP1010023A2 EP98945314A EP98945314A EP1010023A2 EP 1010023 A2 EP1010023 A2 EP 1010023A2 EP 98945314 A EP98945314 A EP 98945314A EP 98945314 A EP98945314 A EP 98945314A EP 1010023 A2 EP1010023 A2 EP 1010023A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
plug
fiber
socket
plug according
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.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP98945314A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Wolfram Henning
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP1010023A2 publication Critical patent/EP1010023A2/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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
    • G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/389—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet 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
    • G02B6/38—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
    • G02B6/3801—Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means
    • G02B6/3806—Semi-permanent connections, i.e. wherein the mechanical means keeping the fibres aligned allow for removal of the fibres

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a connector for optical fibers according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • Such plug connections are used for the optical coupling of two optical fibers or the optical connection of an optical fiber with a light source, such as a laser, or with a light-receiving instrument, such as a laser catheter that can be inserted into the human body.
  • a light source such as a laser
  • a light-receiving instrument such as a laser catheter that can be inserted into the human body.
  • optical fiber is understood to mean an individual fiber consisting of any material (for monomode or multimode operation) or a fiber bundle.
  • Plug connections for optical fibers according to the preamble of claim 1 are generally known, and are manufactured in a wide variety of designs, for example, by the company Optikoptik Henning GmbH, Allersberg, Germany. Standard on this
  • CONFIRMATION COPY provided plug-in connections is explicitly referred to for the explanation of all terms not described here, and with regard to possible applications.
  • plug connections of the generic type can have a socket in which the optical fiber to be coupled is held, and a plug which receives the element to be connected to the optical fiber, such as a further optical fiber or an optical element or a downstream optical system.
  • a centering element is provided in the plug, into which the optical fiber is inserted when the socket and plug are connected.
  • the plug-in connection is to enable coupling of the optical fiber with high efficiency
  • the plug-in connection and the centering element provided in it must be high-precision parts which, as a rule, cannot be produced, for example, by injection molding.
  • the known plug connections are therefore complex and therefore expensive.
  • the known plug connections are therefore too expensive, in particular, for example, for single-use laser catheters.
  • the invention has for its object to develop a connector according to the preamble of claim 1 such that a high-precision coupling of optical fibers with a possibly varying diameter is possible with comparatively little structural effort.
  • the plug has at least three wrap springs.
  • the wrap springs are stretched when unlocked; by means of the locking rotary movement they lay around the fiber and center it.
  • four or more wrap springs can also be provided.
  • the wrap-around longitudinal centering provided according to the invention provides a central connection of fibers with a different diameter, which can vary in particular by factors.
  • the centering is still precise even if the individual parts have a comparatively low precision, as is customary for injection molded parts.
  • the locking rotary movement can be carried out by rotating the bushing.
  • the rotation of the socket rotates, for example, part of the plug on which one end of the wrap springs is held.
  • the insertion of the optical fiber is facilitated if a funnel-shaped centering piece is arranged in the insertion direction in front of the wrap springs. This centering piece can in particular be held on the part on which one end of the wrap springs is held.
  • a second fiber holder for a further optical fiber or an optical system - such as an imaging system - is provided in the connector, on the center axis of which the wrap springs center the optical fiber to be coupled.
  • the other end of the wrap springs can also be attached to the second fiber holder.
  • the second fiber holder has an adjustment facility.
  • the plug and the socket can be locked by a snap-in connection, which in particular can have a ball.
  • Fig. 2 shows the connector of FIG. 1 in the locked state
  • Fig. 3 the wrap springs and the optical fiber in a plan.
  • An optical fiber which can be a single mode or a multimode fiber or a fiber bundle, is firmly inserted or clamped with its part provided with a man part 1 a in a socket, which consists of a handle 2 with a pawl 3.
  • the pawl 3 has a slot 3a, the function of which will be explained below.
  • the fiber is stripped at its front end 1 and projects beyond the handle 2 - and optionally, as shown in the figures, also via the pawl 3 - so that its front end 1 can swing freely.
  • the socket can of course also have a flange and in particular a rotary flange with which it is fastened, for example, to the housing of a light source (not shown) or to a catheter etc. (also not shown).
  • the connector described below is attached to a device or an instrument via a (in particular fixed) flange.
  • the plug which is pushed into or onto the socket, has a sleeve 4, which is designed so that it engages around the pawl 3.
  • the sleeve 4 is connected via a rear end part 5 with an inserted (detent) sleeve 6, which receives a ball 7, to a guide and stop part 8.
  • a first fiber holder 10 At the front end of the guide and stop part 8 is a first fiber holder 10 via a sleeve 9, which carries a funnel-shaped centering piece 11 at its front end.
  • a driver 12 is attached to the sleeve 9.
  • a second fiber holder 13 is provided in the guide and stop part 8, which receives a second optical fiber (not shown) or part of an optical system, the optical axis M of which is intended to “align” with the optical axis M ′ of the optical fiber 1 or 1a the second fiber holder 13 is firmly clamped by means of a pressure screw 14 in the guide and stop part 8 after the adjustment of the fibers or the fibers 1, 1a and the optical system.
  • the wrap springs 15 can be made of quartz, for example, so that they have the same surface hardness as the optical fiber 1, which generally also consists of quartz or a “quartz derivative”, and cannot damage them when locked.
  • the wrap springs can also made of another material, such as a spring steel. 1 shows the plug connection according to the invention in the assembled but not yet locked state:
  • the sleeve 4 of the plug is pushed onto the socket consisting of handle 2 with pawl 3 and fiber 1a until the guide and stop part 8 abuts the pawl 3.
  • the pawl 3 is aligned with its slot 3a to the ball 7 and to the driver 12 of the plug.
  • the wrap springs 15 close around the fiber 1 and center it exactly in the center with respect to the second fiber holder 13 or the axis M of the optical system accommodated by it.

Landscapes

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

Abstract

L'invention concerne une connexion pour fibres optiques, comprenant une douille dans laquelle est maintenue la fibre optique à connecter, et un connecteur recevant la fibre optique dans un élément de centrage dans lequel la fibre optique est enfichée par liaison de la douille et du connecteur, caractérisée en ce que le connecteur présente, comme élément de centrage, au moins trois ressorts enroulés qui, à l'état déverrouillé, sont sensiblement étirés, et qui, par verrouillage et rotation s'appliquent autour de la fibre, permettant ainsi son centrage.
EP98945314A 1997-09-05 1998-09-07 Connexion a fiche pour fibres optiques Withdrawn EP1010023A2 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE19739052 1997-09-05
DE19739052 1997-09-05
PCT/EP1998/005672 WO1999013365A2 (fr) 1997-09-05 1998-09-07 Connexion a fiche pour fibres optiques

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1010023A2 true EP1010023A2 (fr) 2000-06-21

Family

ID=7841431

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP98945314A Withdrawn EP1010023A2 (fr) 1997-09-05 1998-09-07 Connexion a fiche pour fibres optiques

Country Status (5)

Country Link
US (1) US6402391B1 (fr)
EP (1) EP1010023A2 (fr)
JP (1) JP2001516069A (fr)
DE (1) DE19840505A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO1999013365A2 (fr)

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3936145A (en) * 1974-11-07 1976-02-03 International Telephone And Telegraph Corporation Fiber optic alignment sleeve
FR2344853A1 (fr) * 1976-02-27 1977-10-14 Thomson Csf Fiche d'interconnexion de cables a fibres optiques
NL184342C (nl) 1978-05-05 1989-06-16 Philips Nv Losneembare koppeling voor lichtgeleidende vezels.
JPS55130509A (en) 1979-03-28 1980-10-09 Ibm Hollow connector
FR2508657A1 (fr) * 1981-06-24 1982-12-31 Lyonnaise Transmiss Optiques Connecteur optique monofibre
DE4216254C2 (de) 1992-05-16 1994-08-18 Heraeus Kulzer Gmbh Lichtleiter für ein Bestrahlungsgerät

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO9913365A3 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE19840505A1 (de) 1999-04-29
US6402391B1 (en) 2002-06-11
WO1999013365A2 (fr) 1999-03-18
WO1999013365A3 (fr) 2000-02-17
JP2001516069A (ja) 2001-09-25

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