Optical connector

• US 10,168,486 B2
• Filed: 09/28/2016
• Issued: 01/01/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Haase, Michael A., Smith, Terry L., Koch, Barry J., Wang, Ding, Mathews, Alexander R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Radkowski, Peter
• Application Number:
  US15/278,093
• Publication Number:
  US 20170017047A1
• Time in Patent Office: 825 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3829 Bent or angled connectors G02B6/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/383 Hermaphroditic connectors, i.e. two identical plugs mating with one another, each plug having both male and female diametrically opposed engaging parts; electric hermaphroditic coupling H01R24/84, H01R13/28
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3881 using grooves to align ferrule ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/40 having fibre bundle mating means

Abstract

A connector is disclosed that includes a housing and first and second attachment areas located in the housing and spaced apart from each other along the mating direction of the connector. The second, but not the first, attachment area is designed to move relative to the housing. The connector further includes an optical waveguide that is permanently attached to, and under a first bending force between, the first and second attachment areas. The connector also includes a light coupling unit located in the housing for receiving light from the optical waveguide and transmitting the received light to a mating connector along a direction different than the mating direction of the connector. The mating of the connector to the mating connector causes the optical waveguide to be under a greater second bending force between the first and second attachment areas.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a housing;

first and second attachment areas disposed in the housing and spaced apart from each other along a mating direction of the connector, the second, but not the first, attachment area configured to move relative to the housing;

an optical waveguide permanently attached to, and under a first bending force between, the first and second attachment areas;

a light coupling unit disposed in the housing for receiving light from the optical waveguide and transmitting the received light to a mating connector along a direction different than a mating direction of the connector, such that a mating of the connector to a mating connector causes the optical waveguide to be under a greater second bending force between the first and second attachment areas.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first bending force is substantially zero.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the second bending force maintains the mating between the connector and the mating connector.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the light coupling unit rotates when the connector mates with the mating connector.

5. The connector of claim 1, wherein the first attachment area is farther from a tongue portion of the light coupling unit, and the second attachment area is closer to the tongue portion of the light coupling unit.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the support is disposed between the first and second attachment areas.

6. A connector comprising:

a housing;

first and second attachment areas disposed in the housing and spaced apart from each other along a mating direction of the connector;

a support disposed in the housing;

an optical waveguide permanently attached to the first and second attachment areas, the support contacting and bending the optical waveguide between the first and second attachment areas;

a light coupling unit disposed in the housing for receiving light from the optical waveguide and transmitting the received light to a mating connector, such that when the connector mates with a mating connector, the optical waveguide further bends causing the optical waveguide to move away from the support.