Retractable optical fiber assembly
US6915058B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 28, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 5, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG01M11/3109
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A retractable optical fiber assembly includes a housing, a spool rotatably disposed within the housing and an optical waveguide reeled onto the spool. The optical waveguide has a central length of unjacketed optical fiber and shorter end lengths of jacketed optical fiber terminating in optical connectors. The optical waveguide is reeled onto the spool such that the end lengths of jacketed optical fiber are extracted off the spool and retracted onto the spool in the same direction. The spool is biased in a first rotational direction relative to the housing by a torsion spring that exerts a retracting force on the jacketed optical fiber. A mechanical stop is also provided to prevent rotation of the spool in a second rotational direction opposite the first rotational direction. In an exemplary embodiment, the assembly is a test fiber box for use with optical test equipment to test an optical network.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.