Articulated force application for multi-fiber ferrules

• US 20080205823A1
• Filed: 02/27/2007
• Published: 08/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Theuerkorn, Thomas, Luther, James Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 7,540,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/59
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448

Abstract

The present invention provides a multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly providing articulated force application, including: a ferrule holder including an x-pivot component and a y-pivot component, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly; a multi-fiber ferrule comprising a plurality of optical connection points coupled to the ferrule holder; and a biasing member coupled to the ferrule holder and the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring a force through the ferrule holder and to the multi-fiber ferrule, and wherein the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the biasing member, the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder, and the multi-fiber ferrule is coupled to the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder.

Claims

1. A multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly providing articulated force application, comprising:

a ferrule holder comprising an x-pivot component including a first through passage and a y-pivot component including a second through passage in communication and generally aligned with the first through passage, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly;

a multi-fiber ferrule comprising a plurality of optical connection points coupled to the ferrule holder; and

a biasing member coupled to the ferrule holder and the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring a force through the ferrule holder and to the multi-fiber ferrule.

2. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the x-axis and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly are substantially separated in the z direction.

3. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the biasing member.

4. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder.

5. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 4, wherein the multi-fiber ferrule is coupled to the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder.

6. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing member comprises one of a coil spring and a wave spring.

7. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a shoulder structure integrally formed with the multi-fiber ferrule and disposed substantially between the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly.

8. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder act cooperatively to minimize the torque force experienced by the face of the multi-fiber ferrule.

21. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring the force through the x-pivot component and the y-pivot component.

9. A multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly providing articulated force application, comprising:

a ferrule holder comprising an x-pivot component including a first through passage and a y-pivot component including a second through passage in communication and generally aligned with the first through passage, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly;

a multi-fiber ferrule comprising a plurality of optical connection points coupled to the ferrule holder; and

a biasing member coupled to the ferrule holder and the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring a force through the ferrule holder and to the multi-fiber ferrule, and wherein the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the biasing member, the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder, and the multi-fiber ferrule is coupled to the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder.

10. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the x-axis and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly are substantially separated in the z direction.

11. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9, further comprising a shoulder structure integrally formed with the multi-fiber ferrule and disposed substantially between the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly.

12. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder act cooperatively to minimize the torque force experienced by the face of the multi-fiber ferrule.

22. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring the force through the x-pivot component and the y-pivot component.

13. A multi-fiber fiber optic connection method providing articulated force application, comprising:

providing a ferrule holder comprising an x-pivot component including a first through passage and a y-pivot component including a second through passage in communication and generally aligned with the first through passage, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly;

providing a multi-fiber ferrule comprising a plurality of optical connection points coupled to the ferrule holder; and

providing a biasing member coupled to the ferrule holder and the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring a force through the x-pivot component and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder and to the multi-fiber ferrule.

14. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13, wherein the x-axis and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly are substantially separated in the z direction.

15. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13, wherein the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the biasing member.

16. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 15, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder.

17. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 16, wherein the multi-fiber ferrule is coupled to the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder.

18. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13, wherein the biasing member comprises one of a coil spring and a wave spring.

19. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13, further comprising providing a shoulder structure integrally formed with the multi-fiber ferrule and disposed substantially between the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly.

20. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder act cooperatively to minimize the torque force experienced by the face of the multi-fiber ferrule.