Optical connectors with reversible polarity
DCFirst Claim
1. A reversible polarity fiber optic connector comprising:
- at least first and second optical ferrules;
a connector housing at least partially surrounding the first and second optical ferrules and having a first exterior wall positioned above the first and second optical ferrules and a second exterior wall positioned beneath the first and second optical ferrules;
a latch coupling positioned on each of the first and second exterior walls of the housing;
a removable latch for engaging either of the first and second exterior wall latch couplings on the connector housing;
wherein positioning the removable latch on the first exterior wall of the connector housing yields a fiber optic connector with a first polarity and positioning the removable latch on the second exterior wall of the housing yields a fiber optic connector with a second polarity, the second polarity being opposite to the first polarity.
2 Assignments
Litigations
1 Petition
Reexamination
Accused Products
Abstract
Reversible polarity fiber optic connectors are provided having housings at least partially surrounding first and second optical ferrules with walls above and beneath the ferrules. Positioning removable elements such as latches, removable arms, or push-pull tabs on the first wall above the ferrules yields fiber optic connectors with a first polarity type, and positioning the removable elements on the second wall beneath the ferrules yields fiber optic connectors with a second, opposite polarity type. Various engagement mechanisms are provided on either the connector housing walls or on the removable elements, or both, to assist in affixing the removable element to the connector housing.
230 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A reversible polarity fiber optic connector comprising:
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at least first and second optical ferrules; a connector housing at least partially surrounding the first and second optical ferrules and having a first exterior wall positioned above the first and second optical ferrules and a second exterior wall positioned beneath the first and second optical ferrules; a latch coupling positioned on each of the first and second exterior walls of the housing; a removable latch for engaging either of the first and second exterior wall latch couplings on the connector housing; wherein positioning the removable latch on the first exterior wall of the connector housing yields a fiber optic connector with a first polarity and positioning the removable latch on the second exterior wall of the housing yields a fiber optic connector with a second polarity, the second polarity being opposite to the first polarity. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A reversible polarity fiber optic connector with exchangeable arms for changing connector type comprising:
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at least first and second optical ferrules; a common connector housing at least partially surrounding the first and second optical ferrules and having a first exterior wall positioned above the first and second optical ferrules and a second exterior wall positioned beneath the first and second optical ferrules; a coupling surface positioned on each of the first and second exterior walls of the common connector housing; a removable arm for engaging either of the first and second exterior wall coupling surfaces on the common connector housing, the removable arm including either a latch or a latch recess; wherein positioning the removable arm on the first exterior wall of the connector housing yields a fiber optic connector with a first polarity and positioning the removable arm on the second exterior surface of the housing yields a fiber optic connector with a second polarity, the second polarity being opposite to the first polarity. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A reversible polarity fiber optic connector comprising:
at least first and second optical ferrules; a connector housing at least partially surrounding the first and second optical ferrules and having a first exterior wall positioned above the first and second optical ferrules and a second exterior wall positioned beneath the first and second optical ferrules; a first aperture in the first exterior wall of the housing and a second aperture in the second exterior wall of the housing; a removable push-pull tab including a protrusion for positioning through either of the first or second apertures in the first and second exterior walls, respectively, of the connector housing; wherein positioning the removable push-pull tab with its protrusion in the first aperture of the first exterior wall of the connector housing yields a fiber optic connector with a first polarity and positioning the removable push-pull tab with its protrusion in the second aperture of the second exterior wall of the housing yields a fiber optic connector with a second polarity, the second polarity being opposite to the first polarity. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. A reversible polarity fiber optic connector comprising:
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at least first and second optical ferrules; a connector housing at least partially surrounding the first and second optical ferrules and having a first exterior wall positioned above the first and second optical ferrules and a second exterior wall positioned beneath the first and second optical ferrules; a first deformable region in the first exterior wall of the housing and a second deformable region in the second exterior wall of the housing; a removable push-pull tab including a protrusion for positioning within though either of the first or second deformable regions in the first and second exterior walls, respectively, of the connector housing; wherein positioning the removable push-pull tab with its protrusion through the first deformable region of the first exterior wall of the connector housing yields a fiber optic connector with a first polarity and positioning the removable push-pull tab with its protrusion through the second deformable region of the second exterior wall of the housing yields a fiber optic connector with a second polarity, the second polarity being opposite to the first polarity. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A reversible polarity fiber optic connector comprising:
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at least first and second optical ferrules; a connector housing at least partially surrounding the first and second optical ferrules and having a first exterior wall positioned above the first and second optical ferrules and a second exterior wall positioned beneath the first and second optical ferrules; a removable push-pull tab; a first push-pull tab retainer positioned on the first exterior wall and a second push-pull tab retainer positioned on the second exterior wall; wherein positioning the removable push-pull tab in the retainer on the first exterior wall of the connector housing yields a fiber optic connector with a first polarity and positioning the removable push-pull tab in the retainer on the second exterior wall of the housing yields a fiber optic connector with a second polarity, the second polarity being opposite to the first polarity. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25)
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Specification