| 摘要 |
The invention is directed to techniques for controlling access to an optical interface using a shutter that moves away (e.g., sideways) from the optical interface when exposing the optical interface. Such movement away form the optical interface avoids pushing dirt and debris toward the optical interface when the shutter exposes the optical interface to form an optical connection. Such operation keeps the optical interface clean as well as prevents light from inadvertently escaping from the optical interface that could otherwise cause eye injury (e.g., due to the light intensity). One arrangement is directed to an optical connection system having a first optical connector and a second optical connector. The first optical connector has a connector body, an optical interface disposed within the connector body, a shutter, and a shutter controller that attaches the shutter to the connector body and that permits the shutter to move between a first position that covers the optical interface and a second position that exposes the optical interface. The second optical connector has a connector body that defines an actuator. The actuator is configured to (i) move the shutter away from the optical interface such that the shutter moves from the first position that covers the optical interface to the second position that exposes the optical interface when the second optical connector connects with the first optical connector, and (ii) maintain the shutter in the second position when the second optical connector remains connected with the first optical connector. Since the shutter moves away from the optical interface rather than toward the optical interface, any dirt and debris on the shutter is drawn away from the optical interface. This operation is superior to that of the conventional hinged-cover adaptor approach in which dirt and debris on the adaptor covers is pushed into the adaptor cavity and toward the fiber end of a fiber optic connector.
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