The present invention relates to an optical connector for use in a fibre optic communications system, and particularly an expanded beam optical connector (20) for connecting optical fibres. The connector (20) comprises a housing (6), a port (48) within the housing for receiving an end (35) of an opt
The present invention relates to an optical connector for use in a fibre optic communications system, and particularly an expanded beam optical connector (20) for connecting optical fibres. The connector (20) comprises a housing (6), a port (48) within the housing for receiving an end (35) of an optical fibre (38), a cylindrical ferrule (32) within the housing (6) having opposite first and second ends (33, 35), and an optical fibre stub held axially (14) within the ferrule (32) and extending between said ferrule ends (33, 35). The connector (20) also has a lens (8) for projecting and/or receiving an expanded beam (40) optically coupled with the optical fibre stub at the first ferrule end (33). A sleeve (34) surrounds the ferrule (32) and extends towards the port (48) axially away from the second ferrule end (35) to present an open end to the sleeve for receiving a termination ferrule (36) of an optical fibre (38) inserted into the port. The connector (20) has a connector portion (2, 4, 5) for connecting the optical fibre connector (20) to another expanded beam optical fibre connector so that said expanded beam (40) traverses between the connectors. A channel (28) extends through the housing (6) from the port (48) towards the lens (8), the ferrule (32) being secured by means of a cured adhesive (30) to the housing (6) and in alignment with respect to the lens (8), the open end of the sleeve (34) and/or the second end (35) of the ferrule being surrounded by a void (60) within the channel (28).
대표청구항▼
1. An expanded beam optical fibre connector for joining optical fibre cables, comprising: a housing; a port within the housing for receiving an end of an optical fibre; a cylindrical ferrule within the housing having opposite first and second ends, an optical fibre stub held axially within the ferru
1. An expanded beam optical fibre connector for joining optical fibre cables, comprising: a housing; a port within the housing for receiving an end of an optical fibre; a cylindrical ferrule within the housing having opposite first and second ends, an optical fibre stub held axially within the ferrule and extending between said ferrule ends; an optical system for projecting and/or receiving an expanded beam, said system comprising at least one lens arranged to optically couple said expanded beam with the optical fibre stub at the first ferrule end; a sleeve within the housing surrounding the ferrule and extending towards the port axially away from the second ferrule end to present an open end to the sleeve for receiving a termination ferrule of an optical fibre inserted into the port; and a connector portion for connecting the optical fibre connector to another expanded beam optical fibre connector so that said expanded beam traverses between said connectors; wherein a channel extends through the housing from the port towards the optical system, the ferrule being secured by means of a cured adhesive to the housing and in alignment with respect to the optical system, the open end of the sleeve and/or the second end of the ferrule being surrounded by a void within the channel. 2. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing is a one-piece housing. 3. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the housing is formed from more than one piece or component. 4. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 3, in which the housing includes a main component and also one or more subsidiary components within the main component, the ferrule being secured by means of said cured adhesive to the main component and/or one or more of said subsidiary components. 5. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as in claim 3, in which the housing includes a main body portion and within the main body portion a tubular portion held to the main body portion, the ferrule being secured by means of said cured adhesive to the tubular portion forming part of the housing. 6. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 5, in which the tubular portion of the housing is fixed by means of a friction fit and/or a cured adhesive to the main body portion of the housing. 7. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the ferrule is surrounded by the cured adhesive which proximate the first end of the ferrule fills at least a portion of the void between the ferrule and the housing. 8. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the ferrule is secured solely by means of the cured adhesive. 9. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the ferrule is secured by means of a cured adhesive that extends between the ferrule and the optical system. 10. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 9, in which the ferrule is secured by means of a cured adhesive that extends between the ferrule and said at least one lens. 11. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the cured adhesive extends over the first end of the ferrule 12. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 1, in which the cured adhesive overlaps the sleeve surrounding the ferrule to secure the sleeve axially with respect to the ferrule. 13. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two vents leading to the channel through the housing extend from a location in the channel between the optical system and the second end of the ferrule. 14. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 13, in which there is a pair of vents spaced apart along the length of the channel. 15. An expanded beam optical fibre connector as claimed in claim 14, in which the cured adhesive blocks both vents. 16.-19. (canceled) 20. A method of fabricating an expanded beam optical connector for joining optical fibres, comprising the steps of: securing an optical fibre stub within a cylindrical ferrule, said ferrule having opposite first and second ends; placing a sleeve over at least part of the ferrule so that the sleeve extends away from the second ferrule end to present an open end to the sleeve for receiving a termination ferrule of an optical fibre inserted into the port; forming a substantially hollow housing having a channel extending therethrough; placing an optical system comprising at least one lens at one end of the channel; inserting the optical fibre stub and sleeve into the channel such that the first end of the ferrule is brought into proximity with the optical system; introducing a curable adhesive into a space between the ferrule and the housing; aligning the ferrule with respect to the optical system so that the optical fibre stub and optical system are optically coupled for the transmission (or reception) of an expanded beam from (or by) the optical system; and curing the adhesive to secure the relative alignment of the optical fibre stub and optical system; wherein the channel is formed so that a portion of the channel proximate the ferrule and the sleeve has a diameter or dimensions sufficiently larger than those of the ferrule and sleeve such that the ferrule and sleeve may be freely moved without contacting the housing to optimise the optical coupling of the optical fibre stub and the optical system prior to curing of the adhesive. 21. A method as claimed in claim 20, in which the housing has at least two vents leading to the channel that extend from a location in the channel between the optical system and the second end of the ferrule, the method comprising the steps of: introducing the adhesive through a first one of the vents; monitoring the appearance of adhesive at a second vent; and controlling the amount of adhesive introduced through the first vent in response to the appearance of adhesive at the second vent. 22. A method of fabricating an expanded beam optical connector for joining optical fibres, comprising the steps of: securing an optical fibre stub within a cylindrical ferrule, said ferrule having opposite first and second ends; placing a sleeve over at least part of the ferrule so that the sleeve extends away from the second ferrule end to present an open end to the sleeve for receiving a termination ferrule of an optical fibre inserted into the port; forming a substantially hollow first component having a first channel extending therethrough; placing an optical system comprising at least one lens at one end of said first channel; inserting the optical fibre stub and sleeve into said first channel such that the first end of the ferrule is brought into proximity with the optical system; introducing a curable adhesive into a space between the ferrule and the housing; aligning the ferrule with respect to the optical system so that the optical fibre stub and optical system are optically coupled for the transmission (or reception) of an expanded beam from (or by) the optical system; curing the adhesive to secure the relative alignment of the optical fibre stub and optical system; incorporating said first component in an optical fibre connector; wherein the first channel is formed so that a portion of the first channel proximate the ferrule and the sleeve has a diameter or dimensions sufficiently larger than those of the ferrule and sleeve such that the ferrule and sleeve may be freely moved without contacting the housing to optimise the optical coupling of the optical fibre stub and the optical system prior to curing of the adhesive. 23. A method as claimed in claim 22, comprising the steps of forming a substantially hollow second component having a second channel extending therethrough, and securing the first component within the second component. 24.-26. (canceled)
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.