초록 ▼

An optical adapter 100 includes a pair of cylindrical ferrules 121, 122, each containing an optical fiber disposed along its central axis 101-101. The ferrules are aligned with their central axes being collinear. Moreover, the ferrules are captured within a plastic housing that comprises a plug memb

An optical adapter 100 includes a pair of cylindrical ferrules 121, 122, each containing an optical fiber disposed along its central axis 101-101. The ferrules are aligned with their central axes being collinear. Moreover, the ferrules are captured within a plastic housing that comprises a plug member 110 and a jack member 140. These members interlock with each other to form an adapter that can be used, for example, for attenuating an optical signal or for interconnecting two ferrules having different diameters. Preferably, the ferrules are identical to each other. Each ferrule includes an optical fiber that is disposed in a bore, which extend s along the central axis of the ferrule between its opposite ends, and each ferrule has an end face 126 that is angled at about 82 degrees with respect to the central axis. In one embodiment, the angled end faces of the ferrules are in direct contact with each other and attenuation is determined by the optical path length between the centers of the angled end faces, which is a function of the axial rotation of the ferrules with respect to each other. In another embodiment, the angled end faces of the ferrules are in contact with opposite sides of a spacer 170 so that attenuation is a function of the spacer's thickness and the axial rotation of the ferrules with respect to each other. Such a design enables precision optical attenuators to be fabricated. Wavelength division multiplexing systems are improved by the use of such precision optical attenuators at the inputs of the multiplexer 200 and/or the outputs of the demultiplexer 500.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] An optical adapter for interconnection between a plug connector and a jack connector, said adapter including a ferrule assembly and a housing, wherein the ferrule assembly comprises at least one cylindrical ferrule having an optical fiber disposed along its central axis between fro

[ We claim:] [1.] An optical adapter for interconnection between a plug connector and a jack connector, said adapter including a ferrule assembly and a housing, wherein the ferrule assembly comprises at least one cylindrical ferrule having an optical fiber disposed along its central axis between front and back portions thereof, and wherein the housing comprises:a plug member having front and back ends and a cavity that extends therebetween, the front portion of the ferrule assembly being installed into the back end of the plug member and protruding from the front end thereof, the plug member having a cantilever latch and being adapted to fit into the jack connector;a jack member having a cavity that extends between front and back ends thereof, the opening being adapted to receive a back portion of the ferrule assembly into the front end of the jack member, the back end of the jack member being adapted to receive the plug connector; andthe front end of the jack member being interlocked to the back end of the plug member to enclose the ferrule assembly.