GB2138161A - Attenuator in optical fibre connector - Google Patents
Attenuator in optical fibre connector Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2138161A GB2138161A GB08310272A GB8310272A GB2138161A GB 2138161 A GB2138161 A GB 2138161A GB 08310272 A GB08310272 A GB 08310272A GB 8310272 A GB8310272 A GB 8310272A GB 2138161 A GB2138161 A GB 2138161A
- Authority
- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- ferrules
- tapers
- optical
- coupling element
- attenuator
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/36—Mechanical coupling means
- G02B6/38—Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
- G02B6/3807—Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
- G02B6/3833—Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture
- G02B6/3834—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
- G02B6/3841—Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule using rods, balls for light guides
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G02—OPTICS
- G02B—OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
- G02B6/00—Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
- G02B6/24—Coupling light guides
- G02B6/26—Optical coupling means
- G02B6/264—Optical coupling means with optical elements between opposed fibre ends which perform a function other than beam splitting
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Optics & Photonics (AREA)
- Mechanical Coupling Of Light Guides (AREA)
- Light Guides In General And Applications Therefor (AREA)
- Optical Couplings Of Light Guides (AREA)
Abstract
An attenuator for an optical fibre system is based upon a design of demountable optical fibre connector in which fibres (1,2) are terminated in ferrules (3,4) with conical surfaces, and the ferrules are introduced into opposite ends of a coupling member (10) whose central aperture tapers (11) inwardly from both ends. A slot (13) in the coupling member accommodates an attenuating filter (12), and the size of the tapers is such that the mated ferrules terminate just short of the filter. <IMAGE>
Description
SPECIFICATION
Attenuator for optical fibre systems
This invention relates to attenuators for optical fibre systems.
It has been found that optical fibre to fibre connectors with reproducable attenuation characteristics can be made in which thefibresterminate in ferrules with conical surfaces which mate in opposite ends of a coupling element whose central aperture tapers inwardly from both ends at an angle matching the tapers on the ferrules.
In a connector requiring minimal attenuation the size of the tapers is such as to bring the opposed ends of the mated ferrule terminated fibres as close together as possible without risk of direct contact between them. One way of deliberately introducing additional attenuation is to redimension the coupling element aperture so that the fibres held by it are spaced apart by a significantly greater distance than before. However, when this approach is used for providing an attenuation of in the region of 10 dB or greater for multimode fibre it has been found to introduce excessive modal noise. This has been attributed to the fact that the length of air gap to produce this magnitude of attenuation produces a coupling between the fibres that is relatively highly mode selective, discriminating against the higher order modes.
According to the present invention there is provided an optical attenuator including two ferrule terminated optical fibres and a coupling attenuating element with a central aperture incorporating an optical filter, wherein the ferrules are provided with conical tapers that mate in opposite ends of the coupling element central aperture which tapers inwardly from both ends at an angle matching the tapers on the ferrules, and is dimensioned such that the ends of the two ferrules are held in alignment just spaced from contact with the optical attenuating filter which is housed in a slot in the coupling element extending in a plane normal to the coupling element axis.
There follows a description of an optical attenuator embodying the invention in a preferred form.
The description refers to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 depicts a longitudinal section of the attenuator, and
Figure 2 depicts an end view of the attenuator coupling element.
A pair of optical fibres 1,2 terminate in ferrules 3 and 4 in which they are secured so that each is precisely aligned with the axis of its ferrule. Typically these ferrules are made of brass or stainless steel.
One way of achieving this alignment is to provide the inside of each of the ferrules with a conical surface 5 coaxial with a conical portion of the outer surface 6 and to trap the fibre in the interface formed by three spheres 7 urged into the cone by an annular member 8. The interior is next filled with resin which is cured, and then the ferrule end is lapped back to provide a smooth end face 9 to the fibre close to the region where it is trapped by the spheres.
The two ferrules are mated by inserting them into opposite ends of the central aperture of a coupling member 10, also typically of brass or stainless steel.
This aperture is provided with conically tapered surfaces 11 lying on a common axis, and the angle of these tapers matches that of the tapers on the outer surfaces 6 of the ferrules. The spacing of these tapers is such that when the ferrules are mated their ends lie just short of a slot 13 in which an attenuating filter element 14 is housed. In a typical attenuator the filter produces an insertion loss of at least 10 dB.
Typically the filter is 125 microns thick, the slot 130 microns wide, and the separation between the ferrule ends 140 microns.
1. An optical attenuator including two ferrule terminated optical fibres and a coupling element with a central aperture incorporating an optical filter, wherein the ferrules are provided with conical tapers that mate in opposite ends of the coupling element central aperture which tapers inwardly from both ends at an angle matching the tapers on the ferrules, and is dimensioned such that the ends of the two ferrules are held in alignment just spaced from contact with the optical filter which is housed in a slot in the coupling element extending in a plane normal to the coupling element axis.
2. An optical attenuator as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. An optical attenuator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the insertion loss of the optical filter is at least 10 dB.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.
Claims (3)
1. An optical attenuator including two ferrule terminated optical fibres and a coupling element with a central aperture incorporating an optical filter, wherein the ferrules are provided with conical tapers that mate in opposite ends of the coupling element central aperture which tapers inwardly from both ends at an angle matching the tapers on the ferrules, and is dimensioned such that the ends of the two ferrules are held in alignment just spaced from contact with the optical filter which is housed in a slot in the coupling element extending in a plane normal to the coupling element axis.
2. An optical attenuator as claimed in claim 1 and substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. An optical attenuator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the insertion loss of the optical filter is at least 10 dB.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08310272A GB2138161B (en) | 1983-04-15 | 1983-04-15 | Attenuator in optical fibre connector |
SE8402072A SE8402072L (en) | 1983-04-15 | 1984-04-13 | OPTICAL FIBER SYSTEM DUMPING |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB08310272A GB2138161B (en) | 1983-04-15 | 1983-04-15 | Attenuator in optical fibre connector |
Publications (3)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
GB8310272D0 GB8310272D0 (en) | 1983-05-18 |
GB2138161A true GB2138161A (en) | 1984-10-17 |
GB2138161B GB2138161B (en) | 1986-05-08 |
Family
ID=10541168
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
GB08310272A Expired GB2138161B (en) | 1983-04-15 | 1983-04-15 | Attenuator in optical fibre connector |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
GB (1) | GB2138161B (en) |
SE (1) | SE8402072L (en) |
Cited By (16)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2173319A (en) * | 1985-04-02 | 1986-10-08 | Kinaut Instr Ltd | Attenuators for optical fibres |
US4900124A (en) * | 1988-12-12 | 1990-02-13 | American Telephone & Telegraph Company, At&T Bell Laboratories | Biconic optical fiber connecting device having attenuator |
US4989938A (en) * | 1988-09-08 | 1991-02-05 | Light Control Systems, Inc. | Continuously variable fiber optic attenuator |
FR2657697A1 (en) * | 1990-01-29 | 1991-08-02 | Radiall Sa | CONNECTOR FOR OPTICAL FIBERS. |
US5062684A (en) * | 1990-01-17 | 1991-11-05 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Optical fiber filter |
EP0457268A2 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1991-11-21 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Multiple optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
EP0457284A2 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1991-11-21 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
EP0457266A2 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1991-11-21 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
US5073004A (en) * | 1990-05-18 | 1991-12-17 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Tunable optical filter |
EP0475572A1 (en) * | 1990-08-13 | 1992-03-18 | AT&T Corp. | Optical fiber connecting device including attenuator |
US5208886A (en) * | 1990-01-17 | 1993-05-04 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Methods of making an optical fiber filter |
US5319733A (en) * | 1992-01-02 | 1994-06-07 | Adc Telecommunications, Inc. | Variable fiber optical attenuator |
US5588087A (en) * | 1992-01-02 | 1996-12-24 | Adc Telecommunications, Inc. | Overlapping fusion attenuator |
EP0852338A1 (en) * | 1997-01-02 | 1998-07-08 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Optical packaging assembly for transmissive devices |
US6433924B1 (en) * | 2000-11-14 | 2002-08-13 | Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. | Wavelength-selective optical amplifier |
CN101916899A (en) * | 2010-06-30 | 2010-12-15 | 南京信息工程大学 | Telescopiform resistance high-voltage pulse attenuator |
-
1983
- 1983-04-15 GB GB08310272A patent/GB2138161B/en not_active Expired
-
1984
- 1984-04-13 SE SE8402072A patent/SE8402072L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Cited By (25)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB2173319A (en) * | 1985-04-02 | 1986-10-08 | Kinaut Instr Ltd | Attenuators for optical fibres |
US4989938A (en) * | 1988-09-08 | 1991-02-05 | Light Control Systems, Inc. | Continuously variable fiber optic attenuator |
EP0373825A3 (en) * | 1988-12-12 | 1991-03-27 | AT&T Corp. | Biconic optical fiber connecting device having attenuator |
US4900124A (en) * | 1988-12-12 | 1990-02-13 | American Telephone & Telegraph Company, At&T Bell Laboratories | Biconic optical fiber connecting device having attenuator |
EP0373825A2 (en) * | 1988-12-12 | 1990-06-20 | AT&T Corp. | Biconic optical fiber connecting device having attenuator |
US5062684A (en) * | 1990-01-17 | 1991-11-05 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Optical fiber filter |
US5208886A (en) * | 1990-01-17 | 1993-05-04 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Methods of making an optical fiber filter |
EP0441676A1 (en) * | 1990-01-29 | 1991-08-14 | RADIALL Société anonyme dite: | Connector for optical fibres |
FR2657697A1 (en) * | 1990-01-29 | 1991-08-02 | Radiall Sa | CONNECTOR FOR OPTICAL FIBERS. |
US5134676A (en) * | 1990-01-29 | 1992-07-28 | Radiall | Connector for fiber optics |
EP0457268A2 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1991-11-21 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Multiple optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
EP0457284A2 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1991-11-21 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
EP0457266A2 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1991-11-21 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
EP0457266A3 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1992-05-06 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
EP0457268A3 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1992-05-13 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Multiple optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
EP0457284A3 (en) * | 1990-05-16 | 1992-05-13 | Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. | Optical fiber connector terminal and method of making same |
US5073004A (en) * | 1990-05-18 | 1991-12-17 | At&T Bell Laboratories | Tunable optical filter |
EP0475572A1 (en) * | 1990-08-13 | 1992-03-18 | AT&T Corp. | Optical fiber connecting device including attenuator |
US5319733A (en) * | 1992-01-02 | 1994-06-07 | Adc Telecommunications, Inc. | Variable fiber optical attenuator |
US5588087A (en) * | 1992-01-02 | 1996-12-24 | Adc Telecommunications, Inc. | Overlapping fusion attenuator |
EP0852338A1 (en) * | 1997-01-02 | 1998-07-08 | Lucent Technologies Inc. | Optical packaging assembly for transmissive devices |
US5940558A (en) * | 1997-01-02 | 1999-08-17 | Lucent Technologies, Inc. | Optical packaging assembly for transmissive devices |
US6433924B1 (en) * | 2000-11-14 | 2002-08-13 | Optical Coating Laboratory, Inc. | Wavelength-selective optical amplifier |
CN101916899A (en) * | 2010-06-30 | 2010-12-15 | 南京信息工程大学 | Telescopiform resistance high-voltage pulse attenuator |
CN101916899B (en) * | 2010-06-30 | 2013-01-02 | 南京信息工程大学 | Telescopiform resistance high-voltage pulse attenuator |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
GB8310272D0 (en) | 1983-05-18 |
SE8402072D0 (en) | 1984-04-13 |
SE8402072L (en) | 1984-10-16 |
GB2138161B (en) | 1986-05-08 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
PCNP | Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee |