Connector engagement sensing mechanism
First Claim
1. A connector assembly comprising:
- an adapter including a first adapter wall;
a housing device including a housing receivable by the adapter and having a bore, the housing device further including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and a first housing wall such that when the first housing wall is received in the adapter and is on an inner side of the first adapter wall, the first adapter wall facing a first direction, movement of the first housing wall in a second direction opposite the first direction is limited by the first adapter wall;
a ferrule within the bore of the housing and having a mating end extending beyond the front end of the housing device;
a sensor mounted on the rear end of the housing device or mounted on the adapter such that the sensor confronts the rear end of the housing device, the sensor being configured for detecting a force applied by the rear end of the housing device, wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate a predetermined force has been applied by the housing device.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connector assembly includes an adapter, a housing device, a ferrule assembly, and a sensor. The housing device is received by the adapter and has a bore, a front end, and a rear end opposite the front end. A ferrule of the ferrule assembly is within the bore of the housing device and has a mating end extending beyond the front end of the housing device. The sensor is mounted on the rear end of the housing, the rear end of the ferrule assembly, or on the adapter confronting and spaced apart from the housing device or the ferrule assembly. The sensor is configured for detecting a force applied by the housing device or the ferrule assembly, respectively. An electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate a predetermined force has been applied by the housing device or the ferrule assembly, respectively.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A connector assembly comprising:
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an adapter including a first adapter wall; a housing device including a housing receivable by the adapter and having a bore, the housing device further including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and a first housing wall such that when the first housing wall is received in the adapter and is on an inner side of the first adapter wall, the first adapter wall facing a first direction, movement of the first housing wall in a second direction opposite the first direction is limited by the first adapter wall; a ferrule within the bore of the housing and having a mating end extending beyond the front end of the housing device; a sensor mounted on the rear end of the housing device or mounted on the adapter such that the sensor confronts the rear end of the housing device, the sensor being configured for detecting a force applied by the rear end of the housing device, wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate a predetermined force has been applied by the housing device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A connector assembly comprising:
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an adapter including a first adapter wall; a housing device including a housing receivable by the adapter and having a bore, the housing device further including a front end, a rear end opposite the front end, and a first housing wall such that when the first housing wall is received in the adapter and is on an inner side of the first adapter wall, the first adapter wall facing a first direction, movement of the first housing wall in a second direction opposite the first direction is limited by the first adapter wall; a ferrule within the bore of the housing and having a mating end extending beyond the front end of the housing device; a sensor mounted on the rear end of the housing device or mounted on the adapter such that the sensor confronts the rear end of the housing device, the sensor being configured for detecting translation of the housing device, wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the housing device to a predetermined position.
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14. A connector assembly comprising:
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an adapter; a housing device including a housing receivable by the adapter and having a bore, a front end, and a rear end opposite the front end, the bore of the housing defining an opening at the rear end of the housing device; a ferrule assembly including a ferrule within the bore of the housing and having a mating end extending beyond the front end of the housing device, the ferrule assembly having a front end and a rear end opposite the front end of the ferrule assembly; a sensor mounted on the rear end of the ferrule assembly or on the adapter such that the sensor confronts the rear end of the ferrule assembly, the sensor including a probe and being configured for detecting either one or both of (i) a force applied by the rear end of the ferrule assembly and (ii) translation of the ferrule assembly, wherein the probe is aligned with the ferrule assembly such that the ferrule assembly is in contact with the probe when the sensor detects the respective one of the force applied by the rear end of the ferrule assembly or translation of the ferrule assembly, wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate (i) a predetermined force has been applied by the ferrule assembly when the sensor is configured for detecting a force applied by the rear end of the ferrule assembly or (ii) a translation of the ferrule assembly to a predetermined position when the sensor is configured for detecting translation of the ferrule assembly. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification