SUPER MINIATURE, SINGLE FIBER OPTICAL INTERCONNECT SYSTEM WITH PARALLEL SLIDER PUSH-PUSH TYPE INSERTION/WITHDRAWAL MECHANISM AND METHOD FOR USING SAME

• US 20080273837A1
• Filed: 05/04/2007
• Published: 11/06/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illum Technology, LLC
• Original Assignee: Illum Technology, LLC
• Inventors: Margolin, Mark, Bunin, Gregory
• Granted Patent: US 7,806,599 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/62
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3829 Bent or angled connectors G02B6/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

An optical fiber interconnect system wherein the adapter employs a push-push interconnect mechanism wherein the adapter employs a spring loaded slider that moves in a single plane in response to a first pushing force to engage the connector with the adapter and a second pushing force to disengage the connector from the adapter so that the connector can be withdrawn from the adapter.

The adapter includes an automatic shutter that is opened upon contact by the inserted connector housing with a cam on the lower portion of the shutter, but avoids contact with the ferrule polished end face. Angled latches are provided on the modular contact so as to enable disengagement and removal of the contact from the remainder of the connector assembly from the front thereof.

Claims

1. An optical fiber interconnect system comprising:

A connector for carrying an optical fiber along a longitudinal axis;

An adapter for operably connecting with the connector;

Said adapter comprising a coupling mechanism for receiving and coupling with the connector upon application of a first pushing force to the connector so as to removably receive the connector in operably connected fashion;

Said coupling mechanism including at least one slider operably connected to the adapter and moving in only a planar fashion in response to application of a pushing force to the connector; and

,

Said coupling mechanism uncoupling the connector from the adapter upon the application of only a second pushing force in the same direction and at the same location as the first pushing force, so as to cause said slider to move with respect to the adapter for withdrawal of the connector from the adapter.

2. A method of connecting and disconnecting an optical fiber connector and adapter comprising:

applying a first pushing force to the connector towards the adapter so that the adapter receives the connector;

moving a slider operably attached to the adapter in response to the first pushing force, until the connector is engaged with the adapter in an operable arrangement;

applying only a second pushing force to the connector in the same direction and at the same location as the first pushing force so as to move a slider in response thereto, until the connector is disengaged from the adapter for withdrawal of the connector from the adapter.

3. An optical fiber interconnect system comprising:

An adapter having an open end leading to an interior operably configured for engaged receipt of a connector for carrying a ferrule having a polished end face therein;

Said adapter having at least one shutter operably mounted in its interior and being movable so as to have open and closed positions; and

,

Said shutter configured to be moved from a closed position to an open position upon contact with said connector received by the adapter, while avoiding contact with said polished end face of the ferrule of the connector.

4. The fiber interconnect system of claim 3 wherein said shutter further includes a cam for contacting and being opened by said connector.

5. An optical fiber interconnect system comprising:

A connector assembly comprising a modular contact having at least one angled latch proximate a first end thereof;

A connector housing having an open end leading to an interior configured for engaged receipt of said modular contact therein;

At least one opening in the connector housing for receipt of said angled latch when the modular contact is inserted therein so as to provide releasable retention of the modular contact within the connector housing; and

,

Said connector housing being further configured to provide access to the angled latch from front end of the connector assembly for disengagement of the modular contact from said front end of the connector assembly.

6. An optical fiber interconnect system comprising:

A modular contact comprising a housing;

a ferrule carrying at least one fiber optic cable received by the housing; and

a rear body; and

,

Said rear body having means for securely retaining said fiber optic cable without the need for crimping thereof.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein said means for securely retaining the fiber optic cable comprise a series of grooves on the exterior of the rear housing.

8. An optical fiber interconnect system including a connector and an adapter and further comprising:

A modular contact comprising a plastic body operably contained within the connector;

A zero rotation assembly operably associated with the modular contact;

At least one rail associated with said connector for aligned insertion of said connector into said adapter;

Said body having a groove formed therein for receipt of said zero rotation mechanism; and

A rear body having at least one slot and a series of grooves for facilitated connection of said optical fiber cable without the need for crimping thereof.

9. A method for assembling a fiber optic cable interconnect system comprising:

Cutting the jacket of the fiber optic cable to form a slot therein;

Inserting at least one thread of material into said slot; and

,

Rotating a bushing onto the rear body of a modular contact so as to interpose the material therebetween and thereby retaining the bushing on the contact.

10. The system according to claim 9 where in said material is threads of Kevlar®

.

11. An optical fiber interconnect system comprising:

A connector for carrying at least one optical fiber;

An adapter having one end for receiving the connector and operably connecting it to another connector inserted at an opposite end;

A holder for operably mounting said adapter to a panel; and

,

A locking mechanism operably associated with the holder and interposed between the connector and the adapter for preventing accidental disconnection of the connector from the adapter.

12. The system of claim 11 comprising said holder being configured to hold one end of the adapter substantially flat against the panel.

13. The system of claim 11 comprising said locking mechanism having two discrete positions, a first position for preventing accidental disconnection of the connector from the adapter;

and, a second position for allowing disconnection of the connector from the adapter.

14. The system of claim 13 comprising said locking mechanism having only such two discrete positions and no intermediate position.

15. An optical fiber interconnect system comprising;

A connector carrying at least one optical fiber;

An adapter having one end for receiving the connector and operably connecting it to another connector inserted at an opposite end;

Said adapter including a push-push mechanism for receiving and retaining a connector at the first end thereof;

Said push-push mechanism having a neutral position that is off-center; and

,

A single spring member operably connected to said adapter to provide a biasing force to the push-push mechanism.

16. An optical fiber interconnect system comprising:

A connector having an engagement pin and carrying at least one optical fiber;

An adapter having one end for receiving the connector and operably connecting it to another connector inserted at an opposite end;

A single spring member having first and second ends operably mounted to the adapter;

A slider member slidably mounted on said adapter;

The first end of the spring member being received within the slider member so as to spring bias the slider member and provide a neutral position that is off-center;

The second end of the spring member being retained within the adapter;

Said engagement pin engaging and retaining the slider when the connector is inserted in the adapter; and

,

Wherein application of a single pushing force on said connector serves to connect said connector to said adapter and application of only a second pushing force to the connector in the same direction as the first pushing force serves to automatically disconnect the connector from the adapter.

17. A method for termination of an optical fiber interconnect system having a plug, and rear body, comprising the steps of:

Positioning the plug in an initial position located outside the opening in the rear body; and

,

Pushing the plug into a second position within the opening in the rear body to provide a substantially gapless passage for filling the interior of the plug with adhesive.