Methods and apparatus for cleaning optical connectors

US6839935B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Teradyne, Inc. · US

Inventors

• Sepehr Kiani · Cambridge, US
• Chung Yi Chou · Nashua, US
• David Gessel · San Francisco, US
• Richard F. Roth · Downers Grove, US
• John A. Lehman · Ellwood City, US

Key dates

• Filing date: May 29, 2002
• Grant date: Jan 11, 2005
• Expiry date: Jul 29, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/3897
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A system cleans a set of optical connectors. The system includes a fluid source, a vacuum source, a support member which defines a cleaning device edge, and a set of cleaning devices. Each cleaning device includes (i) a fluid intake member which connects to the fluid source, (ii) a fluid output member which connects to the vacuum source, and (iii) a cleaning head which connects to the fluid intake member and the fluid output member. Each cleaning device is disposed along the cleaning device edge of the support member. The set of cleaning devices is configured to (a) align over a set of optical interfaces of the set of optical connectors, (b) direct fluid (e.g., gas, gaseous snow, etc.) from the fluid source toward the set of optical interfaces, and (c) draw the directed fluid away from the set of optical interfaces and toward the vacuum source.