Optical fibre splice connector

US7537398B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Tyco Electronics Raychem GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Jan Watte · Grimbergen, BE
• Lodewijk Van Noten · Louvain-la-Neuve, BE
• Jacob Arie Elenbaas · 's-Hertogenbosch, NL
• Thomas Taake de Boer · Hummelstown, US
• Willy Rietveld · Benschop, NL

Key dates

• Filing date: Oct 27, 2004
• Grant date: May 26, 2009
• Expiry date: Dec 18, 2024

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G02B6/25
• WIPO field: Optics
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

An optical fiber connector (1) for forming a mechanical splice between first and second bare optical fibers (9) stripped of coatings, the connector comprising a connector body that is divided into at least two parts (3, 5) along at least part of a length thereof arranged such that the optical fibers may be clamped between the parts, and the connector body comprises at least two independently openable main clamping sections (23) dimensioned to clamp directly onto the bare fiber of the first and second optical fibers, and the connector body includes at least one additional clamping section (25) dimensioned to clamp onto a coated portion of one of the optical fibers, and the clamping sections are arranged such that the first optical fiber may be clamped by a first of the main clamping sections independently of the second optical fiber, enabling the clamping of the first fiber against rotational and axial movement with respect to the connector body to remain substantially undisturbed by subsequent clamping or unclamping of the second fiber.