Polarity checking apparatus for multi-fiber connectors
View Patent ↗A polarity checking apparatus for multi-fiber connectors includes a body, a diverging lens attached to the body and a screen attached to the body, wherein the apparatus is configured to determine test and/or determine polarity of the multi-fiber connector. The screen may be translucent or may be opaque in part and rotatable for checking whether a signal is being transmitted on an individual optical fiber position of the multi-fiber connector. The invention is also directed to a method for checking the polarity of an optical assembly.
1. A polarity checking apparatus for multi-fiber connectors, comprising:
a body having a first portion and a second portion;
a diverging lens attached to the first portion of the body; and
a screen attached to the second portion of the body, wherein the apparatus determines polarity of a fiber optic connector that is mated to a first portion of the body by transmitting an optical signal from the fiber optic connector through the diverging lens and onto the screen.
2. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body further includes a keyed portion for alignment with the fiber optic connector.
3. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first portion of the body further is configured to avoid contact with a ferrule end face of the fiber optic connector.
4. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen is adjustable for checking optical fiber positions of the fiber optic connector.
5. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen includes at least one target for checking optical fiber positions of the multi-fiber connector.
6. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen includes an opaque portion.
7. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the screen includes an opaque portion and is rotatable for checking optical fiber positions of the fiber optic connector.
8. A polarity checking apparatus for multi-fiber connectors, comprising:
a body, the body further including a mating portion for attaching to a portion of a multi-fiber connector, wherein the mating portion has a keyed portion for alignment with the multi-fiber connector;
a diverging lens attached to the body; and
a screen, the screen attached to the body, wherein the apparatus determines polarity of the multi-fiber connector.
9. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the screen is adjustable for checking optical fiber positions of the multi-fiber connector.
10. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the screen includes at least one target for checking optical fiber positions of the multi-fiber connector.
11. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the mating portion is configured to avoid contact with a ferrule end face of the multi-fiber connector.
12. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the screen includes an opaque portion.
13. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the screen is rotatable for checking optical fiber positions of the multi-fiber connector and includes an opaque portion.
14. A polarity checking apparatus for multi-fiber connectors, comprising:
a body having a first end, a medial portion and a second end;
a diverging lens attached to a medial portion the body; and
a screen attached to a second end of the body and being adjustable for checking optical fiber positions of a multi-fiber connector, wherein the first end of the body can receive a multi-fiber connector for determining the polarity of the multi-fiber connector.
15. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the body further includes a mating portion for attaching to a portion of the multi-fiber connector.
16. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the body further includes a keyed portion, wherein the keyed portion is configured for alignment with the multi-fiber connector.
17. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the body further includes a mating portion for attaching to a portion of the multi-fiber connector, wherein the mating portion is configured to avoid contact with a ferrule end face of the multi-fiber connector.
18. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the screen further includes at least one target for checking optical fiber positions of the multi-fiber connector.
19. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 14 , further comprising a cover for protecting the diverging lens.
20. The polarity checking apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the screen includes an opaque portion.
21. A method for checking a polarity of a fiber optic assembly, comprising:
providing a polarity checking apparatus having a screen;
attaching the polarity checking apparatus to an assembly having a multi-fiber ferrule such that the polarity checking apparatus does not contact a ferrule end face of the multi-fiber array connector ferrule; and
assessing a polarity of the multi-fiber array connector ferrule by checking for a light from a fiber of the multi-fiber array connector ferrule on the screen.
22. The method as in claim 21 , wherein the screen includes at least one target for checking optical fiber positions of the multi-fiber array connector ferrule.
23. The method as in claim 21 , further comprising adjusting the screen to check individual optical fiber positions of the assembly having the multi-fiber ferrule.
24. The method as in claim 21 , wherein the screen includes a translucent portion and an opaque portion.