Patent · US Expired

Underwater-mateable optical fiber connector

US4682848A · kind A · utility

86Cited by
2References
48Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 1985
Grant dateJul 28, 1987
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2005

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/38875
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A low-loss, underwater-mateable optical fiber connector is provided which permits connection between a pair of optical fibers through a fiber-to-fiber butt junction effected by a pair of connector units. Each connector unit houses a fluid-tight interior chamber. A fiber junction contained in one chamber includes an alignment device holding the terminal end of one fiber. The other interior chamber contains a fiber guide and transport mechanism which, when actuated by the joinder of the connector units, provides a fluid-resistant, pressure compensated channel between the chambers and advances the terminal end of the other fiber through the channel to the junction where it is guided into the alignment device to be butt-joined with the one fiber.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.