Optic sensing assembly

[54] OPTIC SENSING ASSEMBLY

[75] Inventors: Philip J. Dambach, Naperville, 111.;

Ray Brown, Los Gatos, Calif.

[73] Assignee: Molex Incorporated, Lisle, 111.

[21] Appl. No.: 119,012

[22] Filed: Nov. 10,1987

[51] Int. CI.* G02B 6/32

[52] U.S. CI 350/96.18; 350/96.15;

350/96.29; 250/227

[58] Field of Search 350/96.15, 96.18, 96.29;

250/227

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

4,329,017 5/1982 Kapany et al 350/96.15

4,358,960 11/1982 Porter 250/227

4,692,611 9/1987 Hoogenboom 250/227

FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS

0102506 6/1985 Japan 250/227

0259139 11/1986 Japan 250/227

1216752 3/1986 U.S.S.R 350/96.15

Primary Examiner— William L. Sikes

Assistant Examiner—Xuan Thi Vo

Attorney, Agent, or Firm—John W. Cornell; Louis A.

Hecht

[57] ABSTRACT

An optic sensing assembly for detecting reflection at a target area includes a cable holding element formed as an integral, one-piece body having sockets for directly receiving nonterminated ends of a light supply fiber optic cable and a light receiving fiber optic cable. Stop portions in the sockets accurately position the fiber optic cable ends. A housing has a cavity slideably receiving the holding element and latch structures on the holding element and housing engage with one another to secure the holding element with stop portions positioned at a precise location relative to housing. A strain relief structure is effective upon engagement of the latch structures for holding fiber optic cable ends within the sockets. An aperture in the housing communicates with the cavity for permitting light transmission between the cable ends and the target area. A lens structure formed integrally in the holding element directs or focuses light along paths from the cable ends to the target area.

23 Claims, 3 Drawing Sheets