Patent · US Expired

Device for cleaning and polishing an optical fiber

US5325452A · kind A · utility

28Cited by
5References
25Claims
0Family size

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 9, 1993
Grant dateJun 28, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 9, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG02B6/3863
  • WIPO fieldOptics
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A mechanical connector that normally interfaces two fiber optic cables together has a fiber optic cable inserted in a receptacle on one side of the connector. A device for cleaning and/or polishing the end surface of an optical fiber strand within the cable is disposed in a second receptacle on the opposite side of the connector. The device includes an insert located within the receptacle in the connector, the insert having a hole drilled therethrough that is eccentric to the transmission axis of the optical fiber strand. A cleaning rod may be inserted in the eccentric hole in the insert such that an end surface of the cleaning rod contacts the end surface of the optical fiber strand therein. The cleaning rod is rotated to effectuate cleaning of the end surface of the fiber optic cable and corresponding optical fiber strand. In the alternative, the polishing rod may be inserted in the eccentric hole in the insert and rotated so as to effectuate polishing of the end surface of the optical fiber strand.

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