Abstract:
A cleaning pad for cleaning fiber optic connectors includes: a main body; and cleaning locations located along the main body, each of the cleaning locations having a space in which a fiber optic connector is to be cleaned.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S) 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/881,282 filed on Sep. 23, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Fiber optic connectors are used to terminate the ends of fiber optic cables. There are many different fiber optic connector types. Example types of fiber optic connectors include FC-type, SC-type, ST-type and D4-type. 
         [0003]    A typical connector includes a ferrule located inside the connector. The ferrule is a relatively long, thin cylinder made of a material such as ceramic. Other materials such as metal or plastic can also be used to make the ferrule. The ferrule defines a central opening sized to receive a fiber of a given cladding diameter. An epoxy is typically placed into the opening prior to inserting the fiber to hold the fiber in place. The ferrule functions to align and center the fiber, as well as to protect it from damage. 
         [0004]    It is desirable to minimize the loss of signals passing through the fiber. Parameters for evaluating the performance of a connector include insertion loss and return loss. Insertion loss is the measurement of the amount of power that is transferred through a coupling from an input fiber to an output fiber. Return loss is the measurement of the amount of power that is reflected back into the input fiber. It is desirable to enhance signal quality and therefore optimize insertion/return loss. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0005]    In one aspect, a cleaning pad for cleaning fiber optic connectors includes: a main body; and a plurality of cleaning locations located along the main body, each of the cleaning locations defining a space in which a fiber optic connector is to be cleaned. 
         [0006]    In another aspect, a cleaning system for cleaning fiber optic connectors includes: a cleaning pad including: a main body; and a plurality of cleaning locations located along the main body, each of the cleaning locations defining a space in which a fiber optic connector is to be cleaned; and a cleaning tissue positioned over the cleaning pad. 
         [0007]    In yet another aspect, a method for cleaning a plurality of fiber optic connectors includes: providing a cleaning pad including a main body and a plurality of cleaning locations located along the main body; positioning a cleaning tissue over the cleaning pad; and placing a fiber of a fiber optic connector in one of the cleaning locations to contact the cleaning tissue to clean the fiber. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  shows an example fiber optic cleaning system including an example cleaning pad. 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  shows an enlarged view of a portion of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  shows a top view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 3 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  shows an enlarged view of a portion of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 4  including a cleaning tissue positioned thereon and a fiber optic connector being cleaned. 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  shows a bottom view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  shows a side view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  shows another example fiber optic cleaning system including an example cleaning pad. 
           [0016]      FIG. 9  shows an enlarged view of a portion of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 10  shows a top view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0018]      FIG. 11  shows a cross-sectional view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 10  including a cleaning tissue positioned thereon and a fiber optic connector positioned within a fixture being cleaned. 
           [0019]      FIG. 12  shows a bottom view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0020]      FIG. 13  shows a side view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 8 . 
           [0021]      FIG. 14  shows an end view of the cleaning pad of  FIG. 8 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for cleaning fiber optic connectors. In the examples provided, a cleaning pad includes a plurality of cleaning locations. The cleaning locations are configured to allow for ease in the cleaning of the fibers of the connectors. 
         [0023]      FIGS. 1-7  show an example cleaning system  100 . The cleaning system  100  includes a plurality of cleaning locations  104  positioned along a cleaning pad  102 . 
         [0024]    In the example shown, the cleaning pad  102  has a length  106  and a width  108  that generally form a square configuration. The cleaning locations  104  are located in rows along the cleaning pad  102 . 
         [0025]    While sixty cleaning locations  104  are shown, more or fewer (see, e.g.,  FIGS. 8-14 ) can be provided. In other configurations, the cleaning pad  102  can be configured in different shapes and sizes, and the cleaning locations  104  can be positioned on the pad in different configurations. The spacing between adjacent cleaning locations  104  can also be varied, as described further below. 
         [0026]    As shown in  FIGS. 2-5 , each of the cleaning locations  104  has a length  112  extending from a first end  116  to a second end  118 . The cleaning locations  104  also have a width  114 . Each of the cleaning locations  104  has sloped sidewalls  122 ,  124  and a bottom wall  126 . As described further below, the size and shape of the cleaning location  104  is configured to optimize the cleaning of a connector. 
         [0027]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , the cleaning pad  102  is shown in use. To use, a cleaning tissue  140  is positioned over the cleaning pad  102  to cover the cleaning locations  104 . In this configuration, a connector  130  is positioned so that a ferrule  132  is located within one of the cleaning locations  104 . This is typically done by hand, with a technician holding the connector  130 , either directly or through a fixture (see  FIG. 11  below). 
         [0028]    Once in position within the cleaning location  104 , the ferrule  132  is moved along the length  112  of the cleaning location  104  from adjacent the first end  116  to adjacent the second end  118 . This causes the fiber positioned in the ferrule  132  to be moved along the cleaning tissue  140 . Debris such as dust and other undesirable material can be removed by the cleaning tissue  140 . Once complete, the connector  130  is lifted to remove it from the cleaning location  104 . 
         [0029]    The size and shape of the cleaning location  104  assist in the cleaning of the connector  130 . Specifically, the sloped sidewalls  122 ,  124  of the cleaning location  104  help to locate the ferrule  132  within the cleaning location  104  and resist movement of the ferrule  132  out of the cleaning location  104  during cleaning. The bottom wall  126  provides a flat surface for the fiber to be brought into contact with the cleaning tissue  140 . 
         [0030]    The length  112  of the cleaning location  104  provides an indication to the technician of the proper amount of cleaning material that can be used to clean the connector  130 . In other words, by starting the connector  130  adjacent to the first end  116  and moving the connector  130  to adjacent the second end  118  along the length  112  of the cleaning location  104 , a proper amount of the cleaning tissue is used. 
         [0031]    In this example, the cleaning tissue  140  that is located in each of the cleaning locations  104  is used once. When sixty connectors have been cleaned, the cleaning tissue  140  is removed, and a new cleaning tissue is placed over the cleaning pad  102 . 
         [0032]    Referring now to  FIGS. 8-14 , another example cleaning system  200  is shown. The cleaning system  200  is similar to system  100  described above. The system  200  includes a plurality of cleaning locations  204  positioned along a cleaning pad  202 . Each of the cleaning locations  204  is configured in a manner similar to the cleaning locations  104 . 
         [0033]    In the example shown, the cleaning pad  202  has a length  212  and a width  214  that generally form a rectangular configuration. The cleaning locations  204  are located in a single row  206  extending along the length  212  of the cleaning pad  202 . 
         [0034]    Referring now to  FIG. 11 , a cleaning tissue  240  is positioned over the cleaning pad  202  to cover the cleaning locations  204 . A fixture  230  holding a plurality of connectors  232 ,  236 ,  238  is positioned over one of the cleaning locations  204 . In this configuration, the connector  232  is positioned so that a ferrule  234  of the connector  232  is located within one of the cleaning locations  104 . This is typically done by hand, with the technician holding the fixture  230 . 
         [0035]    Once in position within the cleaning location  204 , the ferrule  234  is moved along the length of the cleaning location  204 . This causes the fiber positioned in the ferrule  234  of the connector  232  to be moved along the cleaning tissue  240 . Debris such as dust and other undesirable material can be removed by the cleaning tissue  240 . 
         [0036]    Because only a single row  206  of cleaning locations  204  is provided, the other connectors  236 ,  238  in the fixture  230  are not cleaned during cleaning of the connector  232 . In other words, a flat portion  208  on the cleaning pad  202  allows the connector  232  to be cleaned while keeping the other connectors  236 ,  238  in the fixture  230  from undesired contact with the cleaning pad  202 . This allows a single connector (i.e., connector  232 ) within the fixture  230  to be cleaned without removing the connector from the fixture  230 . Once complete, the fixture  230  is lifted to remove the connector  232  from the cleaning location  204 . 
         [0037]    Examples of such fixtures are provided in U.S. Patent Application Ser. No. 61/707,480 filed on Sep. 28, 2012, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Other configurations are possible. 
         [0038]    When all of the cleaning locations  204  in the row  206  have been used, the cleaning tissue  240  is indexed over so that a new portion of the cleaning tissue  240  is positioned over the cleaning locations  204 . This is repeated until the entire cleaning tissue  240  is used. When this occurs, a new cleaning tissue  240  is used. 
         [0039]    As noted, the size of the cleaning pads and the positions of the cleaning locations can be altered in other embodiments. For example, if a fixture is used, and it is desirable to clean multiple connectors located within the fixture at one time, the rows of the cleaning locations can be spaced to accommodate multiple connectors within the fixture. 
         [0040]    In example embodiments, the cleaning pads are made of a polymeric material, such as rubber. Other materials can be used. 
         [0041]    Although various embodiments are described herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will understand that many modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it is not intended that the scope of the disclosure in any way be limited by the examples provided.