Connector engagement sensing mechanism
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A connector assembly comprising:
- an adapter;
a housing received by the adapter and comprising a main body defining a bore and a projection extending from the main body;
a ferrule translatable within the bore of the housing; and
a sensor mounted on the housing or on the adapter, the sensor being configured for detecting translation of the ferrule,wherein (i) the sensor is mounted on the projection when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the sensor is configured for contacting the projection when the sensor is mounted on the adapter,wherein, during translation of the ferrule a minimum distance, (i) the sensor is pressed by a force from the adapter when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the projection is pressed by a force against the sensor when the sensor is mounted on the adapter, andwherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the ferrule to a predetermined position as a function of the force acting on the sensor.
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Abstract
A connector assembly includes an adapter, a housing, a ferrule, and a sensor. The housing is received by the adapter and has a bore. The ferrule is translatable within the bore of the housing. The sensor is mounted on the housing or on the adapter. The sensor is configured for detecting translation of the ferrule. An electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the ferrule to a predetermined position.
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Citations
27 Claims
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1. A connector assembly comprising:
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an adapter; a housing received by the adapter and comprising a main body defining a bore and a projection extending from the main body; a ferrule translatable within the bore of the housing; and a sensor mounted on the housing or on the adapter, the sensor being configured for detecting translation of the ferrule, wherein (i) the sensor is mounted on the projection when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the sensor is configured for contacting the projection when the sensor is mounted on the adapter, wherein, during translation of the ferrule a minimum distance, (i) the sensor is pressed by a force from the adapter when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the projection is pressed by a force against the sensor when the sensor is mounted on the adapter, and wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the ferrule to a predetermined position as a function of the force acting on the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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7. A connector assembly comprising:
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an adapter; a housing received by the adapter and comprising a main body defining a bore and a projection extending from the main body; a ferrule translatable within the bore of the housing; and a sensor mounted between the main body and the projection and on the main body or the projection, the sensor being configured for detecting translation of the ferrule, wherein (i) the sensor is configured for contacting the main body when the sensor is mounted on the projection or (ii) the sensor is configured for contacting the projection when the sensor is mounted on the main body, wherein, during translation of the ferrule a minimum distance, (i) the sensor is pressed by a force against the main body when the sensor is mounted on the projection or (ii) the projection is pressed by a force against the sensor when the sensor is mounted on the main body, and wherein an electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate translation of the ferrule to a predetermined position as a function of the force acting on the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification