OPTICAL FIBER CONNECTOR
An optical fiber connector includes an optical fiber ferrule and a single-piece housing in which the ferrule is received. The housing can be installed in an adapter to make an optical connection. A rotational locking mechanism has a rotor mounted on the housing for rotation with respect the housing about a rotational axis. The rotor can be rotated between a locked position and an unlocked position. The rotational locking mechanism is configured to inhibit the housing from being withdrawn from the adapter in the locked position of the rotor and to permit the housing to be withdrawn from the adapter in the unlocked position, and further comprising a guide pin, wherein the housing comprises an integral guide pin retainer configured to hold the guide pin in place on the housing.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/980,472 filed on May 15, 2018, titled “Optical Fiber Connector”, which is fully incorporated by reference into the present application.
FIELD OF INVENTIONThis disclosure generally relates to optical fiber connectors such as multi-fiber push-on (MPO) connectors.
BACKGROUNDAn optical fiber connector is configured to mechanically couple the end of an optical fiber cable to another optical fiber structure (e.g., an adapter, another connector, a transceiver, etc.) to establish an optical connection between one or more pairs optical fibers. That is, an optical fiber connector generally functions as a mechanical coupling device that is configured to align opposed ends of optical fibers for optical communication. An MPO connector is an industry standard form of optical fiber connector that is configured to establish an optical connection of a multi-fiber ferrule.
An MPO connector is typically plugged into an adapter that facilitates aligning the connector with another connector or optical device. An adapter has a front side (e.g., an in-front-of-the-wall side) and a rear side (e.g., a behind-the-wall side). Connectors can be installed in one or more positions on the front side of an adapter. In a cable-to-cable adapter, connectors can also be installed at one or more positions on the rear side of the adapter. The adapter aligns connectors installed in the front and rear sides of the adapter for optical communication. Other types of adapters can be configured for aligning connectors installed in the front side of the adapter with other optical devices that are installed on the rear side of the adapter.
A conventional MPO connector includes a housing, a locking mechanism, a ferrule assembly, and a ferrule spring. A locking mechanism can be mounted on the housing for locking the MPO connector in place in an adapter. Various locking mechanisms for MPO connectors are known. For example, a rotational locking mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 9,726,831, which is attached as an Appendix. The housing of an MPO connector defines an interior configured to receive the ferrule assembly. Conventionally, the ferrule assembly includes a guide pin subassembly comprising first and second guide pins mounted on a pin holder that is separate from the housing. The ferrule assembly also includes a ferrule that has guide pin holes. The ferrule can be installed on the guide pin subassembly by inserting the guide pins through the holes. The ferrule assembly can be installed as a unit in the interior of the housing. When the ferrule assembly is installed in the housing, the housing permits relative movement between the ferrule assembly and the housing (e.g., the ferrule assembly can “float” relative to the housing). The ferrule spring is received between the proximal end of the ferrule assembly and the proximal end of the housing. The ferrule spring yieldably biases the ferrule assembly distally with respect to the housing, allowing the ferrule assembly to float within the housing.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONIn one aspect, an optical fiber connector generally comprises an optical fiber ferrule and a single-piece housing. The ferrule is received inside the housing. The housing is configured to be installed in an adapter to make an optical connection. A rotational locking mechanism comprises a rotor mounted on the housing for rotation with respect the housing about a rotational axis. The rotor is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The rotational locking mechanism further comprises a guide pin. The housing has an integral guide pin retainer configured to hold the guide pin in place on the housing.
In another aspect of the present invention, an optical fiber connector generally comprises an optical fiber ferrule and a single-piece housing having a length with opposing tabs. The ferrule is received inside the housing and secured by the tabs. The housing and the ferrule are configured to be in direct engagement with one another, so that the direct engagement between the housing and the ferrule is configured to substantially block movement of the ferrule with respect to the housing along the length of the housing. The optical fiber connector is free of a ferrule spring.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, an optical fiber connector generally comprises an optical fiber ferrule and a single-piece housing. The ferrule is received inside the housing, and the housing is configured to be installed in an adapter to make an optical connection. The housing has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, and the proximal end portion of the housing comprises a shaft having an axis. The shaft comprises first and second shaft members, each of which has a proximal end portion defining a lip. A rotor configured to be mounted on the shaft for rotation with respect the shaft about the axis is rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position. The rotor is configured to inhibit the housing from being withdrawn from the adapter in the locked position of the rotor and to permit the housing to be withdrawn from the adapter in the unlocked position. The rotor comprises a rotor body having a proximal end and a distal end spaced apart along the axis. The rotor body defines a hole extending through the rotor body along the axis and a chamfered edge surface adjacent the distal end of the rotor body that extends around at least a portion of the hole. Thus, the rotor is configured to be pressed distally onto the shaft such that the shaft extends through the hole and the lips of the first and second shaft members and engages the proximal end of the rotor body to inhibit the rotor from moving proximally along the axis with respect to the shaft. The chamfered edge surface is configured to engage the free ends of the first and second shaft member and deflect the first and second shaft members toward one another as the rotor is pressed onto the shaft.
Other aspects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out apparent hereinafter.
Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONReferring to
Referring to
Throughout this disclosure, terms of relative position, such as top, bottom, up, down, above, below, left, right, side, etc., refer to the orientation of features as shown in the drawings. It will be understood that the relative positions of the features can vary from what is shown in the drawings during use. Thus, unless otherwise indicated, such terms of position should be understood to be used in the relative, and not absolute, sense.
Referring to
In general, each guide pin retainer 36 is formed integrally with the housing 12 and comprises structure that defines a recess for receiving a portion of a guide pin 16 therein to operably attach the guide pin to the housing 12. In one or more embodiments, the guide pin retainer comprises a clip for clipping the guide pin 16 in place with respect to the housing 12. For example, the retainer 36 can be configured so that a guide pin 16 can snap into place in the retainer whereby the retainer attaches the guide pin to the housing. The retainer can also hold the guide pin in the housing in other ways in other embodiments. In the illustrated embodiment, the guide pin retainer 36 extends along the length L (refer to
Referring to
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Each side wall 30, 32 further defines a rib 50 that protrudes into and blocks the groove 48. In the illustrated embodiment, the rib 50 extends along the height H of the ferrule receiver 22 from a top surface to a bottom surface of the groove 48. As explained in further detail below, the rib 50 is configured to bear against the catch C when the connector 10 is installed in the adapter A to provide a restraint against the connector being withdrawn from the adaptor. The rib 50 has a sloped distal end 50A and a sloped proximal end 50B. Similarly, the catch C has sloped outer end CA and a sloped inner end CB. As will be explained below, the sloped surfaces CA, CB of the catch C are configured to slide over the sloped surfaces 50A, 50B of the rib 50 as the connector 10 is inserted into and withdrawn from the adapter A. Subject to the locking mechanism (as explained below), when the connector 10 is installed in the adapter A, the rib 50 can provide a detent that engages the catch C but allows the catch to slide over the rib when a withdrawal force is imparted on the connector 10. As will be explained below, however, the locking mechanism 20 can also selectively prevent the catch C from sliding over the rib 50 to lock the connector 10 in place in the adapter A.
Each of the side walls 30, 32 of the ferrule receiver 22 also defines a respective tab 60 for securing the ferrule 14 in the housing 12. Each tab 60 has a length extending along the length L of the housing 12 from a respective distal end to a respective proximal end. As shown in
Referring to
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The locking rotor 80 further includes diametrically opposed arm portions 90 (the arm portions are portions of the rotor body in one or more embodiments) that extend radially outward from the central ring 82. The arm portions 90 have radially outer ends, and the locking rotor comprises locking tabs 92 that extend distally along the axis A from the radially outer ends of the arm portions. As explained below, the locking tabs 92 are sized and arranged to radially overlap the catches C of the adapter A when the locking mechanism 20 is in a locked configuration. Referring to
Referring to
In general, each handle tabs 96 are configured to provide a grip to facilitate manipulating the locking rotor 80 during use. More specifically, a user can grasp the handle tabs 96 to rotate the locking rotor 80 about the axis A with respect to the housing 12 between a locked position and an unlocked position. In the locked position (
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The ferrule 14 has a flange 110 adjacent the proximal end portion that defines a distally facing shoulder 112. In the illustrated embodiment, the shoulder 112 extends about the entire perimeter of the ferrule and includes side portions adjacent the side walls 30, 32 of the ferrule receiver 22. The ferrule can have other configurations in other embodiments. The ferrule 14 is sized and arranged so that, as it is inserted into the open distal end of the ferrule receiver 22, the proximal end of the flange 110 engages the tabs 60 and bends them outwardly at the hinge portions 66. After the ferrule 14 is fully inserted into the housing 12 and the tabs 60 rebound, the shoulder 112 is sized and arranged for engaging the latch surfaces 64 of the tabs 62. The proximal end of the flange 110 simultaneously engages the distal ends 36A of the guide pin retainers 36, which function in this context as distal facing stops of the ferrule receiver 22. The flange 110 is thus captured between the distal facing stops 36A and the latch surfaces 64 of the ferrule receiver 22 and is thereby substantially prevented from moving relative to the housing 12 (e.g., the latch surfaces and distal facing stops substantially prevent the ferrule from moving along the length L of the housing). The connector 10 is free of a ferrule spring between the ferrule 14 and the housing 12. Thus, the ferrule 14 does not float relative to the housing, which can make operatively aligning the ferrule with a floating ferrule of another connector easier in comparison to if both of the ferrules to be connected were floating ferrules.
Referring to
Without placing a ferrule spring in the interior 34 of the ferrule receiver 22, the user can install the ferrule 14 over the guide pins 16 that are already secured to the housing 12. Specifically, the user positions the ferrule 14 so that the guide pin holes 108 are aligned with the guide pins 16. The user then moves the housing 12 and guide pins 16 distally with respect to the ferrule 14. In one embodiment, an optical fiber cable (not shown) is connected to the proximal end of the ferrule and is threaded through the proximal end of the housing 12 before moving the ferrule 14 along the guide pins 16. As the user moves the housing 12 distally with respect to the ferrule 14, the guide pins slide distally through the holes 108. Furthermore, the proximal end of the flange 110 engages the inner surfaces 62 of the tabs 60 and bends the tabs outwardly to create lateral space for the ferrule 14 to move proximally through the interior 34 of the ferrule receiver 22. The distal shoulder 112 passes distally beyond the latch surfaces 64 of the tabs 60 as the proximal end of the flange 110 comes to engage the distally facing stop surfaces 36A provided by the pin retainers 36. The tabs 60 rebound inwardly so that the latch surfaces 64 engage the shoulder 112 of the flange 110 and substantially prevent distal movement of the ferrule 112 with respect the housing. If removal of the ferrule 14 is ever required, access to the tabs 60 is available through the space 68. The user can thus bend the tabs 60 outwardly and then withdraw the ferrule from the interior 34 of the ferrule receiver 22 without interference.
At any point in the assembly process, the locking rotor 80 can be pressed onto the locking mechanism shaft 24 of the housing 12 as described above. After the connector 10 is assembled, a user can install the connector into the adapter A for making an optical connection. Referring now to
To unlock the locking mechanism 20, the user rotates the rotor 80 about the axis A away from the locked position to an unlocked position. With a moderate rotational force, the detent protrusions 94 can pass out of the slots 46. When the rotor 80 is rotated to the unlocked position, the locking tabs 92 are circumferentially spaced apart from the catches C with respect to the axis A. Accordingly, when the user imparts a proximal force on the connector 10, the catch C can deflect outwardly to allow the sloped inner end CB of the catch C to slide past the sloped proximal end 50B of the rib 50.
Referring to
Like the connector 10, the connector 210 comprises, in addition to the housing 212, a ferrule 214 and guide pins 216. The guide pins 216 and the ferrule 214 can be identical to the guide pins 16 and the ferrule 14 described above in certain embodiments. Like the housing 12, the sides of the housing 212 define tabs 260 for latching the ferrule 214 in place inside the housing. The tabs 260 secure the ferrule 214 in the housing without a ferrule spring in the illustrated embodiment, just as the tabs 60 secure the ferrule 14 as described above. The housing 212 further comprises guide pin retainers 236 (see,
Modifications and variations of the disclosed embodiments are possible without departing from the scope of the invention defined in the appended claims.
When introducing elements of the present invention or the embodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.
Claims
1. An optical fiber connector comprising:
- an optical fiber ferrule;
- a single-piece housing, the ferrule being received inside the housing and supported by the housing, the single-piece housing including a guide pin retainer formed as one piece of material with the single-piece housing, the single-piece housing being configured to be installed in an adapter to make an optical connection;
- a guide pin received in the guide pin retainer of the single-piece housing so that the guide pin is supported by the housing.
2. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the guide pin retainer constitutes a first guide pin retainer and wherein the single-piece housing further includes a second guide pin retainer formed as one piece of material with the single-piece housing.
3. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 2 wherein the guide pin constitutes a first guide pin, the optical fiber connector further comprising a second guide pin received in the second guide pin retainer of the single-piece housing so that the second guide pin is supported by the housing.
4. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 3 wherein the single-piece housing further comprises a latch formed as one piece of material with the single-piece housing, the latch being configured for movement relative to the single-piece housing to latch and unlatch the fiber optic connector from a fiber optic connector receptacle.
5. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein guide pin retainer comprises a top brace and a bottom brace and wherein the guide pin is received between top and bottom braces and urges the top brace and the bottom brace apart from one another.
6. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1 wherein the single-piece housing further comprises a latch formed as one piece of material with the single-piece housing, the latch being configured for movement relative to the single-piece housing to latch and unlatch the fiber optic connector from a fiber optic connector receptacle.
7. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a rotor mounted on the single-piece housing for rotation relative to the single-piece housing about a rotational axis, the rotor being rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position.
8. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 7, further comprising a protrusion on one of the single-piece housing and the rotor configured to engage the other of the single-piece housing and the rotor to provide a restraint against rotation of the rotor about the axis away from the locked position.
9. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 8 wherein the protrusion is on the rotor.
10. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 9, wherein the single-piece housing has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion that are spaced apart along the rotational axis, wherein the protrusion is configured to engage the proximal end portion of the single-piece housing when the rotor is in the locked configuration.
11. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein the proximal end portion of the single-piece housing defines a recess that is configured to receive the protrusion therein when the rotor is in the locked configuration.
12. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein the rotor comprises a handle tab extending from the rotor and configured to provide a grip for manually rotating the rotor with respect to the single-piece housing.
13. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 12, wherein the handle tab extends from an opposite end of the rotor body along the axis away from the single-piece housing.
14. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 12, wherein the handle tab comprises a first handle tab and the rotor further comprises a second handle tab that is circumferentially spaced apart.
15. The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein the single-piece housing further comprises a shaft having a lip and the rotor is configured to clear the lip as the rotor is pressed onto the shaft, wherein the shaft is configured to resiliently rebound after the rotor clears the lip whereby the lip holds the rotor on the housing.
16. An optical fiber connector comprising:
- an optical fiber ferrule;
- a housing, the ferrule being received inside the housing, the housing being configured to be installed in an adapter to make an optical connection, the housing having a distal end portion and a proximal end portion, the proximal end portion of the housing comprising a shaft having an axis, the shaft comprising first and second shaft members, the first and second shaft members being spaced apart from each other; and
- a rotor configured to be mounted on the shaft for rotation with respect the shaft about the axis, the rotor being rotatable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the rotor being configured to inhibit the housing from being withdrawn from the adapter in the locked position of the rotor and to permit the housing to be withdrawn from the adapter in the unlocked position, the rotor comprising a rotor body mounted on the first and second shaft members, the rotor body holding the first and second shaft members in a deflected position so that the first and second shaft members bear radially outwardly against the rotor body.
17. The fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 16 wherein the rotor body includes an opening in which the first and second shaft members are received, free ends of the first and second shaft members and the rotor body adjacent to the opening being configured to facilitate press on mounting of the rotor body on the first and second shaft members.
18. The fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 17 wherein the rotor body includes a chamfered edge around the opening, the chamfered edge being configured to engage the first and second shaft members to drive them radially inwardly as the rotor body is pressed on to the first and second shaft members.
19. The fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 18 wherein the free end of each of the first and second shaft members includes a lip arranged to prevent removal of the rotor body from the first and second shaft members.
20. The fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 16 wherein the rotor further comprises handle tabs at opposite sides of the rotor configured to facilitate grasping of the rotor for turning the rotor on the shaft.
Type: Application
Filed: Oct 2, 2020
Publication Date: Jan 28, 2021
Applicant: Senko Advanced Components, Inc. (Marlborough, MA)
Inventors: Benjamin LEE (Wayland, MA), Jimmy Jun-Fu CHANG (Worcester, MA), Kazuyoshi TAKANO (Tokyo)
Application Number: 17/061,864