Connector engagement sensing mechanism

• US 10,690,862 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2016
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Go!Foton Holdings, Inc.
• Inventors: Takeuchi, Kenichiro, Lu, Haiguang, Ng, Chi Kong Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Kianni, Kaveh C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lam, Hung Q
• Application Number:
  US15/200,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20170003459A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,453 Days
• Field of Search: 385 53, 385 57, 385 62, 385 70, 385 76, 385 78, 385 81, 385 88, 385 89, 385139
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/641 by indicating incorrect coupling; by indicating correct or full engagement
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/6683 with built-in sensor
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/703 operated by engagement or disengagement of coupling parts, e.g. dual-continuity coupling partH01R13/71 takes precedence

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.

Claims

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, 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.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a cable including a second sensor positioned along a length of the cable, wherein an electrical characteristic of the second sensor changes when the surface of the cable over which the second sensor lies deforms.

3. The connector assembly of claim 2, wherein an alert signal is generated by a remote electronic device when an electrical signal corresponding to a changed electrical characteristic of the second sensor is conducted to the remote electronic device and has at least a minimum value.

4. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a probe configured for contacting (i) the adapter when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) the housing when the sensor is mounted on the adapter such that the probe translates (i) against the adapter when the sensor is mounted on the housing or (ii) with the housing when the sensor is mounted on the adapter.

5. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a displacement sensor or a pressure sensor.

6. The connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the probe is configured for contacting the projection when the sensor is mounted on the adapter.

16. An optical assembly comprising:

the connector assembly of claim 1; and

a connector receivable by the adapter of the connector assembly, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the connector is received by the adapter.

17. The optical assembly of claim 16, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the connector has applied a sufficient force against the ferrule of the connector assembly.

18. The optical assembly of claim 17, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor is different when the connector has not applied the sufficient force against the ferrule of the connector assembly than when the sensor has applied the sufficient force against the ferrule of the connector assembly.

19. The optical assembly of claim 16, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the connector is received by the adapter to a predetermined depth.

20. The optical assembly of claim 17, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor is different when the connector is not received at the predetermined depth than when the sensor is received to the predetermined depth.

21. The optical assembly of claim 16, wherein the connector comprises:

a second housing receivable by the adapter and defining a second bore; and

a second ferrule translatable within the second bore of the second housing, the second ferrule contacting the ferrule of the connector assembly when the connector is received by the adapter to a predetermined depth,

wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the second ferrule has applied a sufficient force against the ferrule of the connector assembly.

7. 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 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.

8. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the sensor includes a probe configured for contacting (i) the projection when the sensor is mounted on the main body or (ii) the main body when the sensor is mounted on the projection such that the probe translates (a) with the projection when the sensor is mounted on the main body or (b) against the main body when the sensor is mounted on the projection.

9. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the projection is hingedly connected to the main body when the sensor is on the main body.

10. The connector assembly of claim 8, wherein the projection is integral with the main body.

11. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the projection is hingedly connected to the main body when the sensor is on the main body.

12. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the projection is integral with the main body.

13. The connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the sensor is a displacement sensor or a pressure sensor.

14. The connector assembly of claim 7, further comprising a cable including a second sensor positioned along a length of the cable, wherein an electrical characteristic of the second sensor changes when the surface of the cable over which the second sensor lies deforms.

15. The connector assembly of claim 14, wherein an alert signal is generated by a remote electronic device when an electrical signal corresponding to a changed electrical characteristic of the second sensor is conducted to the remote electronic device and has at least a minimum value.

22. An optical assembly comprising:

the connector assembly of claim 7; and

a connector receivable by the adapter of the connector assembly, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the connector is received by the adapter.

23. The optical assembly of claim 22, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the connector has applied a sufficient force against the ferrule of the connector assembly.

24. The optical assembly of claim 23, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor is different when the connector has not applied the sufficient force against the ferrule of the connector assembly than when the sensor has applied the sufficient force against the ferrule of the connector assembly.

25. The optical assembly of claim 22, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the connector is received by the adapter to a predetermined depth.

26. The optical assembly of claim 23, wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor is different when the connector is not received at the predetermined depth than when the sensor is received to the predetermined depth.

27. The optical assembly of claim 22, wherein the connector comprises:

a second housing receivable by the adapter and defining a second bore; and

a second ferrule translatable within the second bore of the second housing, the second ferrule contacting the ferrule of the connector assembly when the connector is received by the adapter to a predetermined depth,

wherein the electrical characteristic of the sensor changes to indicate that the second ferrule has applied a sufficient force against the ferrule of the connector assembly.