TUNED FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR AND METHOD

• US 20030147598A1
• Filed: 02/04/2002
• Published: 08/07/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: McPhee, Robert J., Drechnik, Ronald J.
• Granted Patent: US 6,629,782 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/78
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3843 with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, e.g. measuring position or eccentricity testing the alignment of axes, including eccentricity, G01B11/27
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3871 Ferrule rotatable with respect to plug body, e.g. for setting rotational position adjusting fibre within the ferrule, G02B6/3843; Fixation of ferrules after rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

A tunable fiber optic connector and method for assembling a tunable connector. The connector may include a ferrule mounted to an optical fiber and a hub. A front housing of the connector includes a bore for receiving a rear housing, an anti-rotation seat configured to engage the hub, and a cavity coupled to the anti-rotation seat. A length of an elongated cylindrical rear portion of the hub is sized so that the anti-rotation portion of the hub can be pushed completely into the cavity and rotated to tune the connector when the rear housing is partially inserted into the front housing, and an end of the elongated cylindrical rear portion of the hub abuts the rear housing so that the anti-rotation portion of the hub cannot be completely pushed back into the cavity and rotated when the rear housing is completely engaged with the front housing.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector comprising:

an optical fiber;

a ferrule mounted to the optical fiber;

a hub retainably engaging the ferrule, wherein the hub includes an elongated rear portion coupled to an anti-rotation portion;

a rear housing having an external surface and a bore for receiving the optical fiber;

a front housing having an internal surface for receiving and engaging the external surface of the rear housing, having an anti-rotation seat configured to engage the anti-rotation portion of the hub, and defining a cavity coupled to the anti-rotation seat; and

a spring captured between the anti-rotation portion of the hub and the rear housing to bias the anti-rotation portion of the hub into the anti-rotation seat of the front housing;

wherein a length of the elongated rear portion of the hub is sized so that;

(1) the anti-rotation portion of the hub can be pushed completely into the cavity and rotated to tune the connector when the rear housing is partially inserted into the front housing; and

(2) an end of the elongated rear portion of the hub abuts the rear housing so that the anti-rotation portion of the hub cannot be completely pushed back into the cavity and rotated when the rear housing is completely engaged with the front housing.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the connector is sized to terminate a 0.900-millimeter fiber without reinforcing strength members.

3. A fiber optic connector comprising:

a ferrule and hub assembly including an inner bore defining a connector axis and sized for receipt of an optical fiber, a front end defining an end face, an opposite rear end, and an anti-rotation portion disposed between the front and rear ends;

a front housing having an anti-rotation seat engageable with the anti-rotation portion of the ferrule and hub assembly in a plurality of positions about the connector axis;

a rear housing mountable to the front housing in a first, partially assembled position and a second, fully assembled position, the partially assembled and fully assembled positions defining different relative positions along the connector axis;

the front and rear housings defining a chamber for receipt of the ferrule and hub assembly; and

a spring within the chamber for biasing the ferrule and hub assembly away from the rear housing;

wherein the ferrule and hub assembly is moveable within the chamber along the connector axis against the spring bias when the front and rear housings are in the partially assembled position so that the anti-rotation seat is disengaged from the anti-rotation portion, wherein the ferrule and hub assembly can be rotated about the connector axis relative to the front and rear housings; and

wherein the ferrule and hub assembly, when the front and rear housings are in the fully assembled position, engages the rear housing when moved within the chamber along the connector axis, thereby preventing the anti-rotation seat from disengaging from the anti-rotation portion.

4. The connector of claim 3, wherein the connector is sized to terminate a 0.900-millimeter fiber without reinforcing strength members.

5. A fiber optic connector comprising:

an optical fiber;

a ferrule mounted to the optical fiber;

a hub retainably engaging the ferrule, wherein the hub includes an elongated rear portion coupled to an anti-rotation portion;

a rear housing having an engagement surface and a bore for receiving the optical fiber;

a front housing having an engagement surface for receiving and engaging the engagement surface of the rear housing and having an anti-rotation seat configured to engage the anti-rotation portion of the hub; and

a spring captured between the anti-rotation portion of the hub and the rear housing to bias the anti-rotation portion of the hub into the anti-rotation seat of the front housing;

wherein the front and rear housings together define a cavity having a longitudinal length extending along a connector axis so that;

(1) when the rear housing is partially inserted into the front housing, the longitudinal length of the cavity is of sufficient length to allow the anti-rotation portion of the hub to be pushed completely into the cavity and rotated to tune the connector; and

(2) when the rear housing is fully inserted into the front housing, the longitudinal length of the cavity is not of sufficient length to allow the anti-rotation portion of the hub to be pushed completely into the cavity and rotated to tune the connector.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the connector is sized to terminate a 0.900-millimeter fiber without reinforcing strength members.

7. A method for tuning a fiber optic connector comprising steps of:

providing a fiber held by a ferrule with a hub retainably engaging the ferrule, the hub including an anti-rotation portion;

providing a front housing including a bore with an engagement surface, an anti-rotation seat, and defining a cavity;

providing a rear housing including a bore with an engagement surface;

inserting the bore of the rear housing partially into the bore of the front housing;

pushing the hub into the cavity so that the anti-rotation portion clears the anti-rotation seat of the front housing;

rotating the ferrule and the hub to tune the connector;

releasing the hub so that the anti-rotation portion re-engages the anti-rotation seat of the front housing; and

pushing the rear housing further into the front housing until the rear and front housing are fully engaged.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising a step of pushing the hub into the cavity until a rear portion of the hub abuts the rear housing, wherein the anti-rotation portion of the hub remains at least partially engaged in the anti-rotation seat of the front housing.

9. A method for tuning a fiber optic connector, the method comprising steps of:

providing a fiber held by a ferrule with a hub retainably engaging the ferrule, the hub extending for a length and including a rear end, the connector including front and rear housings engageable with one another, wherein a length of the hub is such that the rear end abuts the rear housing of the connector when the rear housing is fully engaged with the front housing and the ferrule and hub are pushed back towards the rear housing;

engaging the rear housing partially with the front housing;

pushing the ferrule back towards the rear housing;

rotating the ferrule and hub to tune the connector; and

engaging the rear housing fully with the front housing, thereby preventing further rotation of the ferrule and the hub.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of pushing the ferrule and hub back towards the rear housing until the hub reaches a position wherein the rear end of the hub abuts the rear housing and wherein the hub and ferrule are prevented from rotation in this position.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising a step of pulling the ferrule and hub towards the rear housing until the hub reaches a position wherein the rear end of the hub abuts the rear housing and wherein the hub and ferrule are prevented from rotation in this position.

12. A method for tuning a fiber optic connector, the method comprising steps of:

providing a fiber held by a ferrule with a hub retainably engaging the ferrule, the hub extending for a length and including a rear end, the connector including front and rear housings engageable with one another, wherein a length of the hub is such that the rear end abuts the rear housing of the connector when the rear housing is fully engaged with the front housing and the ferrule and hub are pushed back towards the rear housing;

inserting the rear housing partially into the front housing;

measuring alignment of the fiber in the ferrule; and

pushing the rear housing further into the front housing until the rear housing completely engages the front housing and thereby prevents further rotation of the ferrule and the hub.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of pushing the ferrule and hub back towards the rear housing until the hub reaches a position wherein the rear end of the hub abuts the rear housing and wherein the hub and ferrule are prevented from rotation in this position.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising a step of pulling the ferrule and hub towards the rear housing until the hub reaches a position wherein the rear end of the hub abuts the rear housing and wherein the hub and ferrule are prevented from rotation in this position.