Patent · US Expired

Optical fiber with electrical encoding

US5085492A · kind A · utility

111Cited by
4References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 1, 1990
Grant dateFeb 4, 1992
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 1, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01S5/4025
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A fiber optic connector system. A first connector (25) associated with the fiber (15) includes a fiber holder (40) and a first engagement member. A second complementary connector (30) includes a fiber receptacle (95) and a second engagement member (90). The fiber holder is maintained in a precise position by the second connector when the first and second engagement members engage one another. The second connector may be associated with a radiation source. Associated with the first connector is a contact element (75) electrically coupled to the first engagement member through a network (80) for establishing a defined electrical characteristic therebetween. A second contact element (92, 103) associated with the second connector is normally insulated from the second engagement member and is mounted relative to the second engagement member so that the first and second contact elements make electrical contact with each other when the first and second engagement members are mechanically engaged with each other. Sensing circuitry (32) provides an electrical signal that represents the electrical characteristic between the second contact element and the second engagement member. Thus, when …

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