WO2004043619A1 - Cleaning device for fiber optic connectors - Google Patents
Cleaning device for fiber optic connectors Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2004043619A1 WO2004043619A1 PCT/US2003/028531 US0328531W WO2004043619A1 WO 2004043619 A1 WO2004043619 A1 WO 2004043619A1 US 0328531 W US0328531 W US 0328531W WO 2004043619 A1 WO2004043619 A1 WO 2004043619A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- base
- fastening
- cleaning
- cleaning media
- group
- Prior art date
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
- G02B6/385—Accessories for testing or observation of connectors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B1/00—Cleaning by methods involving the use of tools, brushes, or analogous members
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B11/00—Cleaning flexible or delicate articles by methods or apparatus specially adapted thereto
-
- 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
-
- 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
- G02B6/3866—Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B08—CLEANING
- B08B—CLEANING IN GENERAL; PREVENTION OF FOULING IN GENERAL
- B08B2240/00—Type of materials or objects being cleaned
- B08B2240/02—Optical fibers or optical fiber connectors
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a cleaning device useful for cleaning the optical fibers in a connector.
- the present invention relates to a hand-held device suitable for cleaning the optical fibers that have been mounted in a ferrule.
- Optical fibers have become useful for transmitting information such as data and voice communication.
- the advantage of optical fiber cables over traditional wire cables lies in the fibers' improved transmission rate and in the increased capacity to transmit information.
- Optical fibers are often terminated and coupled to other optical fibers or to other terminals through the use of connectors.
- ferrules are used.
- the ferrule typically has a plurality of fiber receiving channels where the optical fibers are mounted.
- a first connector typically contains a ferrule that has at least one guide pin extending from its end face.
- a second connector contains a mating ferrule that has at least one guide pin hole on its end face. In this particular design, alignment and mating of the two connectors occurs when the guide pin is inserted in the guide pin hole.
- the optical fibers in mating connectors should have intimate contact in order to minimize light transmission loss between them.
- the mating end faces of the ferrules be free of lint, dirt, oil, and other debris. It is known in the art to clean the ferrule end faces to minimize light transmission loss by minimizing the dirt.
- US Patent No. 6,449,795 Bl (Sato) discloses a cleaning tool for optical fiber connectors comprising a bar form stem, a support, the outside of which is covered with a cleaning cloth made of ultra fine filament bundle having a filament fiber size of 0.1 denier or less.
- the stem and the support are made integrally from resin.
- US Patent No. 6,415,471 Bl discloses another device for cleaning the polished end faces of fibers in an optical connector having guide pins.
- the device has a surface with at least one rail disposed on the surface.
- the rail has a height above the surface sufficient to accommodate guide pins extending from an optical connector.
- An overlay is disposed over the surface of the device and functions as the cleaning cloth.
- US Patent No. 5,220,703 discloses yet another optical connector cleaner.
- the cleaner comprises (i) a cleaning cloth woven with ultrafine fiber less than 0.1 denier, (ii) a casing formed with at least one opening for protecting the cleaning cloth from dust, and (iii) a mechanism for shifting the cleaning cloth exposed in the opening for renewing the cloth after ferrule end surface has been cleaned.
- the present invention provides a unique device useful for cleaning fiber optic connectors.
- the device is particularly suited to clean the polished end faces of a ferrule that has optical fibers mounted therein and to clean the mating surfaces of connectors, it can also be used to clean other surfaces of the connector.
- the device is designed to easily accommodate the polished end faces of a ferrule that contains no guide pins or at least one guide pin.
- the present invention pertains to a device for cleaning a polished end-face of an optical connector, the device comprising (a) a three-dimensional base having at least three sides, the base having a polygonal cross-section (b) a cleaning media disposed on at least a portion of at least one side of the base; and (c) means for fastening the cleaning media to the base.
- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment in accordance with the present invention.
- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention
- Figures 3a and 3b are isometric views of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention in the unfastened and fastened conditions respectively
- Figures 4a and 4b are, respectively, side view and isometric view of a means for fastening that can be used in accordance with the present invention
- Figure 5 is a isometric view of another embodiment in accordance with the present invention using the means for fastening shown in Figures 4a and 4b; and Figure 6 is an isometric view of a connector.
- Figure 1 is a cross-sectional view of one embodiment of the present invention wherein device 1 has a cleaning media 12 disposed on at least a portion of three- dimensional base 10.
- the base is a truncated triangle having a substantially flat p eak 1 0a and sides 10b, 10c and 1 Od and means for fastening cleaning media 12 to polygonal base 10 is the roughened surface (not shown) of sides 10b and 10c. Sand blasting the surfaces is one way to roughen them.
- At least one of the angles, indicated as angle ⁇ is truncated. When the truncated angle ⁇ is projected out, as shown by the dashed line, the included angle measures less than about 30°.
- a lthough cleaning m edia 12 i s s hown t o be d isposed o n s ides 1 0b and 1 0c, i t i s within the scope of the present invention to have it wrap around all sides of the base. And, it is within the scope of the present invention to have a base whose cross-section has no truncated angles, i.e., side 10a would be a true peak. Thus, the base has a minimum of three sides.
- an operator can clean the polished end surface of the comiector using the cleaning media at the general area designated at peak 10a. The operator can advance new cleaning media to the peak 10a by removing it from the base and repositioning it on to the base.
- Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the present invention wherein device 2 uses means for fastening 14 to fasten cleaning media 12 to at least a portion of base 10.
- the means for fastening is a tape, e.g., a microreplicated tape having an adhesive backing that can be laminated to sides 10b and 10c.
- the microreplicated tape has protrusions extending outwardly from the bacldng to grab cleaning media 12 so as to secure it.
- the tape allows for repositioning of the cleaning media so that new cleaning media could be advanced to the peak area once it has been used.
- Figures 3 a and 3b illustrate yet another embodiment of the present invention in the unfastened and fastened conditions respectively.
- the means for fastening cleaning media 12 to polygonal base 10 is frame 16 having an opening 16a.
- frame 16 is disposed near the peak area of base 10 holding the cleaning media to the base while opening 16a exposes a portion of the cleaning media for cleaning the optical connector.
- means for fastening 14 shown in Figure 2
- roughened sides 10b and 10c can also be used in conjunction with frame 16.
- Figures 4a and 4b show yet another means for fastening the cleaning media to the polygonal base.
- Means for fastening 18 is a cover with opening 18a and optional finger tab 18b.
- means for fastening 18 is substantially triangular in cross- section, similar in shape to the cross-section of base 10.
- Figure 5 shows yet another device 5 having cleaning media 12 sandwiched between means for fastening 18 and base 10 with opening 18a disposed near the peak of the base thereby exposing a portion of the cleaning media for cleaning the optical connector.
- Hemispherical finger tab 18b allows for easy removal of means for fastening 18, as a user can push upwards on the tab and remove it.
- a hemispherical finger tab is one of many possible designs that can be used.
- the means for fastening 18 has a portion 18c that function to protect at least a portion of the underlying cleaning media from contamination of dirt.
- the cover provides advantages in that it protects the cleaning media, contains an opening for easy access to the cleaning media and simultaneously secures it to the base.
- Figure 5 shows a means for fastening 18 that is in a form of an open cover, it is within the scope of the invention that the means for fastening is closed such that it slips over the polygonal base 10 and cleaning media 12.
- the means for fastening 18 can have up to three cut out portions 18a, each disposed over one of the angles of the base. In this case, the finger tabs 18b would most likely not be used.
- Figure 6 shows a terminated connector 400 comprising a housing 410, a polished ferrule 420 and guide pin holes 422.
- the optical fibers 421 have been mounted in the ferrules. While not shown, in use, there would be a mating connector similar to that shown in Figure 6 except that where there are guide pin holes, there would be guide pins.
- the guide pins reside in the guide pin holes. Prior to mating, it would be desirable to clean the end faces of the connector 400 as well as the mating connector. Because the mating connector contains guide pins, it can be difficult to clean in the area of the mounted optical fibers, i.e., the area between the guide pins.
- the present device allows for cleaning the polished end faces of the ferrules, whether they contain guide pins or not.
- the three-dimensional base can be made of any material, so long as it does not introduce contaminants during use. Thus, materials that flake or chip easily are not suitable.
- the base should be sturdy, i.e., firm enough so that during use it will not move.
- Useful materials for the base include metals, polymers, ceramics, and wood.
- Suitable polymeric materials include those containing acetal homopolymers and copolymers (such as CELCONTM from Hoechst Celanese Co. and DELRINTM from Du Pont Co.), nylon, polycarbonate, rigid polyvinyl chloride (PNC), and ABS (acetylene-butadiene-styrene).
- the base can be made by any number of methods depending on the material used. For example, when the base is polymeric, it can be injection molded.
- the three-dimensional base is polygonal.
- the cross-sectional view can be taken either parallel or perpendicular to the bottom of the base, as represented, for example, by side lOd in Figure 1.
- a truncated triangle is one useful cross-section, one skilled in the art will recognize that a number of other polygons can be used as long as at least one of the angles is less than about 30°.
- the base can have a star shaped cross-section in which case, all five angles can be used to clean the connector. There can be five separate means for fastening for each of the five angles or one continuous means for fastening, e.g., one continuous cover, to slip over the base.
- wedges and rhomboids are other useful three-dimensional bases.
- the three dimensional base does not contain a rail.
- the base can be modified to include cut outs or notches.
- the base 10 contains cut outs on the peak area (i.e., near 10a, not shown) front and rear portion thereof. This particular embodiment is useful in that it clearly delineates to a user where the cleaning media should be placed.
- one embodiment of a base has the following dimensions.
- the sides 10b and 10c are rectangular and have a length of about 3.5 inch (88.9 mm) with a width of about 1.0 to 1 .25 inch (25.4 to 31.8 mm).
- the height of the base i.e., the distance from side lOd to peak 10a
- the flat peak 10a is about 0.035 to 0.045 inch (0.89 to 1.14 mm) with the angle ⁇ being about 30°.
- the surfaces of at least one of the sides of the base can be modified, e.g., they can be roughened.
- the sides can be surface roughened by sand blasting, hi particular, when the base is CELCONTM, one can roughen the side surfaces by bead blasting using a Dayton Co. from Dayton, OH model #3Z850 with a silicone carbide media at an air pressure of about 50 psi.
- the cleaning media can be a swatch that covers a portion of the base or it can encircle the entire base.
- Suitable cleaning media includes products, such as (i) Tex Wipe® TX304, 100% cotton wipes, and Absorbond® TX404, hydroentangled polyester wipes from The Tex Wipe Co., Upper Saddle, NJ and at the website www.texwipe.com; (ii) the non-woven cloth from the Fiberclean dispenser System, Part No. FOI, from the HellermannTyton, Milwaukee, WI and at the website www.hellermann.tvton.com; (iii) the micro fiber cleaning cloth from the OPTIPOP reel cleaner from NTT Advanced Technology Co. in Tokyo, Japan, and (iv) polyester wipes from the Tech Spray Co. in TX.
- Other types of polymeric cleaning media such as nylon, polyethylene, and polypropylene can be used.
- the means for fastening the cleaning media to the base can be selected from the group consisting of surface roughening the sides of the base, adhesives, frames, covers, and the like. Combinations of these means can be used.
- the means for fastening are a frame or a cover, it can be made from a wide selection of materials, such as metals, polymers, and ceramics. Suitable polymers include polycarbonates, nylon, ABS, and rigid PNC. Each of the above recited means allow for repositioning of the cleaning media. If desired, the means for fastening can also be made static or electrostatic dissipative.
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
EP03752266A EP1558406A1 (en) | 2002-11-07 | 2003-09-11 | Cleaning device for fiber optic connectors |
AU2003270565A AU2003270565A1 (en) | 2002-11-07 | 2003-09-11 | Cleaning device for fiber optic connectors |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US42453402P | 2002-11-07 | 2002-11-07 | |
US60/424,534 | 2002-11-07 |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2004043619A1 true WO2004043619A1 (en) | 2004-05-27 |
Family
ID=32312826
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2003/028531 WO2004043619A1 (en) | 2002-11-07 | 2003-09-11 | Cleaning device for fiber optic connectors |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20040088813A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1558406A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2003270565A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2004043619A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (11)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7856690B2 (en) * | 2006-11-22 | 2010-12-28 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Brushing assembly |
US7698773B2 (en) * | 2007-08-14 | 2010-04-20 | Helen Sotelo | Holder for hygienic wipes and the like |
JP2012529928A (en) * | 2009-06-15 | 2012-11-29 | スリーエム イノベイティブ プロパティズ カンパニー | Grout cleaning tools |
US8631535B2 (en) * | 2009-08-26 | 2014-01-21 | Brian Phillips | Articulated, multiple cleaning surface cleaning tool and method |
US20160274312A1 (en) * | 2013-10-16 | 2016-09-22 | Afl Telecommunications Llc | Attachable Disposable Fiber Optic Cleaning Pad |
US9645326B1 (en) | 2016-05-26 | 2017-05-09 | Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development Lp | Optical connector with a movable cleaning element |
JP2018146910A (en) * | 2017-03-09 | 2018-09-20 | 株式会社フジクラ | Cleaning tool |
JP2018146909A (en) * | 2017-03-09 | 2018-09-20 | 株式会社フジクラ | Cleaning tool and adhesive body |
WO2021018328A1 (en) * | 2019-08-01 | 2021-02-04 | Waldemar Manko | Apparatus for treating optical fibres |
WO2022004096A1 (en) * | 2020-07-01 | 2022-01-06 | 株式会社フジクラ | Cleaning tool |
EP4319930A1 (en) * | 2021-04-05 | 2024-02-14 | Zynon Technologies, LLC | Method for non-contact cleaning of fiber optic connectors and end faces |
Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5220703A (en) * | 1989-04-06 | 1993-06-22 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Co. | Combination of optical connector cleaner and holder jig |
US6006768A (en) * | 1996-06-07 | 1999-12-28 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Fiber optic cable cleaner |
US6449795B1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2002-09-17 | Toray Industries, Inc. | Cleaning tool for optical fiber connector |
Family Cites Families (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US6415471B1 (en) * | 1999-06-30 | 2002-07-09 | Corning Cable Systems Llc | Device for cleaning mechanism for fiber optic connectors |
-
2003
- 2003-09-11 AU AU2003270565A patent/AU2003270565A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-09-11 US US10/660,339 patent/US20040088813A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-09-11 WO PCT/US2003/028531 patent/WO2004043619A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2003-09-11 EP EP03752266A patent/EP1558406A1/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5220703A (en) * | 1989-04-06 | 1993-06-22 | Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Co. | Combination of optical connector cleaner and holder jig |
US6006768A (en) * | 1996-06-07 | 1999-12-28 | 3M Innovative Properties Company | Fiber optic cable cleaner |
US6449795B1 (en) * | 1999-04-23 | 2002-09-17 | Toray Industries, Inc. | Cleaning tool for optical fiber connector |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20040088813A1 (en) | 2004-05-13 |
AU2003270565A1 (en) | 2004-06-03 |
EP1558406A1 (en) | 2005-08-03 |
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