FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR ASSEMBLY

摘要

The invention is directed generally to connectors and more particularly to an assembly for use in a fiber optic cable connector which aligns and spaces the terminal ends of a pair of cables. Prior art connectors for this purpose have not been completely satisfactory, particularly where frequent connects and disconnects must be made under adverse environmental conditions, or where multiple fiber optic circuits must be connected in a single connector because of the difficulty of maintaining an accurate consistent alignment between the ends of coupled cable segments under such conditions. The invention provides an assembly for aligning and spacing the terminal ends of a pair of fiber optic cables to achieve efficient light transfer between the cables. The assembly includes a first terminal pin having a bore for receiving the terminal end of one of the cables and having an external shoulder portion, a second terminal pin having a bore for receiving the terminal end of the other cable and having an external shoulder portion, and resilient sleeve means tightly received over the terminal pins for aligning the terminal ends in facing relation and for contacting the external shoulders to effect a predetermined spacing to provide an efficient light transfer between the fiber optic cables. In a preferred form, each terminal pin includes an insert member which has a concentric channel for receiving and aligning the fiber optic cables concentric with the outer dimension of the terminal pins.