Method and apparatus for cleaning optical connector

Abstract

The present invention provides a method and apparatus for delivering a cleaning and inspection device to an appropriate position on a backplane having an optical connector. A set of tubes corresponding to the number of optical connectors is attached to the rear of a connector assembly or some other similar device capable of being coupled to a connector housing containing the optical connector. The diameter of the hollow tube large enough to accommodate the insertion of several types of cleaning and inspection devices including optical cleaning swabs and scopes. After the connector assembly is mated with the connector housing, the tubes can provide direct access to each optical connector for cleaning and inspection.

1 . An optical connector cleaning tool comprising:
 a hollow guide including a first end and a second end opposite the first end; and   a mating connector attached to the first end of the hollow guide, wherein the mating connector is configured to connect to an optical connector, and   wherein the hollow guide is configured to receive a cleaning implement at the second end and to guide the cleaning implement to the optical connector at the first end.   
   
   
       2 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide is tubular. 
   
   
       3 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the optical connector is attached to a backplane. 
   
   
       4 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide comprises a plurality of tubes attached to the mating connector. 
   
   
       5 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide comprises an electrically insulating material. 
   
   
       6 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the mating connector is attached to the first end of the hollow guide to provide an air-tight seal between the mating connector and the hollow guide. 
   
   
       7 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the mating connector is a multi-fiber type. 
   
   
       8 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide is rigidly attached to an insertion card. 
   
   
       9 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide is rigid. 
   
   
       10 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide comprises a plastic material. 
   
   
       11 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide comprises an inert material. 
   
   
       12 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning implement comprises a cleaning swab. 
   
   
       13 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide is further configured to receive a scope at the second end and to guide the scope to the optical connector at the first end. 
   
   
       14 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the cleaning implement comprises a dynamic cleaning device. 
   
   
       15 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide defines a diameter of approximately 0.4 mm. 
   
   
       16 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the hollow guide is further configured to restrain the cleaning implement to prevent the cleaning implement from inadvertently coming into contact with a system component. 
   
   
       17 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1 , wherein the mating connector is configured to align the hollow guide with the optical connector such that a fiber end of the optical connector is approximately centered with respect to the hollow guide. 
   
   
       18 - 40 . (canceled) 
   
   
       41 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 1  further comprising an insertion card attached to the hollow guide. 
   
   
       42 . The optical connector cleaning tool of  claim 41 , wherein the insertion card is configured to be attached to a backplane. 
   
   
       43 . An apparatus for cleaning an optical connector, the apparatus comprising:
 a connecting means having means for connecting to an optical connector; and   a guiding means having means for attaching to the connecting means at a first end, the guiding means further having means for receiving a cleaning implement at a second end opposite the first end and means for guiding the cleaning implement to the optical connector at the first end.   
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 43  further comprising a card means having means for attaching to a backplane and means for attaching to the guiding means. 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the guiding means further includes means for attaching to the connecting means to provide an air-tight seal between the guiding means and the connecting means. 
   
   
       46 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the cleaning implement comprises a cleaning swab. 
   
   
       47 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the cleaning implement comprises a dynamic cleaning device. 
   
   
       48 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the guiding means further includes means for receiving a scope at the second end and means for guiding the scope to the optical connector at the first end. 
   
   
       49 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the guiding means further includes means for restraining the cleaning implement to prevent the cleaning implement from inadvertently coming into contact with a system component. 
   
   
       50 . The apparatus of  claim 43 , wherein the connecting means further includes means for aligning the guiding means with the optical connector such that a fiber end of the optical connector is approximately centered with respect to the guiding means.