Hardened Fiber Optic Connector Compatible with Hardened and Non-Hardened Fiber Optic Adapters

• US 20090148102A1
• Filed: 09/03/2008
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Reagan, Randy, Lu, Yu, Standish, Craig M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,288 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3816 for use under water, high pressure connectors provisionally see G02B6/4428
• 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 6/3826 characterised by form or shape
• 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 6/3877 Split sleeves
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3887 Anchoring optical cables to connector housings, e.g. strain relief features
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3894 Screw-lock type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4433 Double reinforcement laying in straight line with optical transmission element

Abstract

A fiber optic connector is disclosed for use with both a hardened fiber optic adapter and a non-hardened fiber optic adapter. The connector includes a connector housing having an end defining a plug portion. The plug portion includes first and second sets of retaining features for retaining the connector. The first and second retaining feature sets retain the connector within the hardened and unhardened adapters respectively. A threaded member can be included on the connector to threadingly engage and connect the connector to the hardened adapter. A sliding lock can be included on the connector to lock the connector to the non-hardened adapter when slid into a locking position. The sliding lock can be mounted to the threaded member. The sliding lock can include protrusions that engage and lock the non-hardened adapter when in the locking position thereby locking the non-hardened adapter to the connector. The sliding lock can include a positioning latch to maintain it in the locking position. The positioning latch can maintain the locking position by engaging the first set of retaining features on the plug portion.

Claims

1. A ruggedized fiber optic connector that is compatible with a non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and a ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and the ruggedized fiber optic adapter each including at least one retention latch, the ruggedized fiber optic connector comprising:

a ferrule aligned along a central longitudinal axis;

a connector housing including a plug portion having an interface end sized to fit within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the ferrule being positioned at the interface end of the plug portion, the plug portion having a first catch structure for engaging the retention latch of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter and a second catch structure for engaging the retention latch of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter; and

a ruggedized retention member mounted on the connector housing, the ruggedized retention member engaging the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter.

2. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the ruggedized fiber optic adapter includes threads, and wherein the ruggedized retention member includes a threaded member rotatably mounted about the connector housing that engages the threads of the ruggedized fiber optic connector to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter.

3. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter includes a pair of the retention latches, and wherein the first catch structure includes first and second catches that engage the pair of the retention latches.

4. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 3, wherein the plug portion has a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the plug portion also has a third side and an opposite fourth side, the third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides, the central longitudinal axis being positioned between the first and second sides and the central longitudinal axis also being positioned between the third and fourth sides, the first catch of the first catch structure being provided at the first side, the second catch of the first catch structure being provided at the second side, and the second catch structure being provided at the third side.

5. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 4, wherein the plug portion has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape.

6. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 4, wherein the first and second catches of the first catch structure are formed by recesses provided at the first and second side of the plug portion of the connector housing.

7. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 6, wherein the recesses are defined at least in part by recessed latch engagement surfaces that engage the retention latches of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the recessed latch engagement surfaces being angled relative to the central longitudinal axis such that the recessed latch engagement surfaces extend radially outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis as the recessed latch engagement surfaces extend in a direction of insertion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector.

8. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 7, wherein the second catch structure includes a projection provided at the third side of the plug portion of the connector housing.

9. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 8, wherein the projection includes a protruding latch engagement surface that engages the retention latch of the ruggedized fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the protruding latch engagement surface being angled relative to the central longitudinal axis such that the protruding latch engagement surface extends radially outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis as the protruding latch engagement surface extends in the direction of insertion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector.

10. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 9, wherein the fourth side of the connector housing defines a connector alignment slot for rotationally aligning the plug portion within the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the connector alignment slot extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis and including a tapered portion that widens as the connector alignment slot extends in the direction of insertion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector.

11. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the second catch structure is rotationally offset about ninety degrees about the central longitudinal axis relative to the first catch structure.

12. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the plug portion has a first side and an opposite second side, wherein the plug portion also has a third side and an opposite fourth side, the third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides, the central longitudinal axis being positioned between the first and second sides and the central longitudinal axis also being positioned between the third and fourth sides, the first catch structure being provided at the first side and the second catch structure being provided at the third side.

13. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the ruggedized retention member includes a threaded member adapted to threadingly engage the ruggedized fiber optic adapter, wherein the ruggedized fiber optic connector further includes a locking member that can be threadingly connected to the threaded member, and wherein after the plug portion has been inserted into the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter, the locking member can be moved along the central longitudinal axis and into the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter to increase a retention force provided by the retention latch of the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter.

14. A ruggedized fiber optic connector comprising:

a ferrule aligned along a central longitudinal axis;

a connector housing having a distal end and an opposite proximal end, the distal end forming a plug portion at which the ferrule is located, the plug portion having a first side and an opposite second side, the plug portion also having a third side and an opposite fourth side, the third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides, the central longitudinal axis being positioned between the first and second sides and the central longitudinal axis also being positioned between the third and fourth sides, the connector housing including a first latch catch positioned at the first side, a second latch catch positioned at the second side, and a third latch catch positioned at the third side; and

a threaded member positioned around the connector housing, the threaded member being rotatable relative to the connector housing about the central longitudinal axis.

15. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 14, wherein the first latch catch is formed by a first recess provided at the first side, wherein the second latch catch is formed by a second recess provided at the second side, and wherein the third latch catch is formed by a projection provided at the third side.

16. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 14, wherein the plug portion has a generally rectangular cross-sectional shape.

17. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 15, wherein the first recess is defined at least in part by a first latch engagement surface, wherein the second recess is defined at least in part by a second latch engagement surface, wherein the projection includes a third latch engagement surface, wherein the first, second, and third latch engagement surfaces are angled relative to the central longitudinal axis such that the first, second, and third latch engagement surfaces extend radially outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis as the first, second, and third latch engagement surfaces extend in a direction of insertion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector.

18. The ruggedized fiber optic connector of claim 14, wherein the fourth side of the connector housing defines a connector alignment slot for rotationally aligning the plug portion within a fiber optic adapter, the connector alignment slot extending in a direction parallel to the central longitudinal axis and including a tapered portion that widens as the connector alignment slot extends in the direction of insertion of the ruggedized fiber optic connector.

19. An optical fiber connection system comprising:

a fiber optic adapter including a pair of flexible retention latches;

a fiber optic connector including a connector housing having a plug portion sized to fit within the fiber optic adapter, the plug portion including oppositely positioned latch catches that engage the flexible retention latches when the plug portion is inserted into the fiber optic adapter to retain the plug portion within the fiber optic adapter, the fiber optic connector including a ferrule positioned at the plug portion of the fiber optic connector, the ferrule defining a central longitudinal axis;

a locking member mounted on the connector housing, the locking member moveable relative to the connector housing between a first position and a second position, wherein when the locking member is in the first position locking portions of the locking member fit inside the fiber optic adapter to prevent the flexible retention latches from flexing to a release position, and wherein when the locking member is in the second position the locking portions of the locking member do not prevent the flexible retention latches from flexing to the release position.

20. The optical fiber connection system of claim 19, wherein the fiber optic connector includes a threaded member positioned around the connector housing and being rotatable relative to the connector housing about the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the locking member is secured to the threaded member by a threaded connection.

21. The optical fiber connection system of claim 19, wherein the locking portions of the locking member are wedge shaped.

22. The optical fiber connection system of claim 19, wherein the oppositely positioned latch catches include latch engagement surfaces that engage the flexible retention latches to retain the fiber optic connector within the fiber optic adapter, the latch engagement surfaces being angled relative to the central longitudinal axis such that the latch engagement surfaces extend radially outwardly relative to the central longitudinal axis as the latch engagement surfaces extend in a direction of insertion of the fiber optic connector.

23. The optical fiber connection system of claim 20, wherein the connector housing includes a plurality of projections spaced apart in an orientation extending along the central longitudinal axis, wherein the locking member includes a positioning latch that engages the projections to retain the locking member in the first and second positions, and wherein the threaded member and the locking member are slid together as a unit along the central longitudinal axis to move the locking member between the first and second positions.

24. A fiber optic connector comprising:

a ferrule aligned along a central longitudinal axis;

a connector housing having a distal end and an opposite proximal end, the distal end forming a plug portion at which the ferrule is located, the plug portion having a first side and an opposite second side, the plug portion also having a third side and an opposite fourth side, the third and fourth sides extending between the first and second sides, the central longitudinal axis being positioned between the first and second sides and the central longitudinal axis also being positioned between the third and fourth sides, the connector housing including a first latch catch positioned at the first side and a second latch catch positioned at the second side;

a threaded member positioned around the connector housing, the threaded member being rotatable relative to the connector housing about the central longitudinal axis; and

a locking member for locking the plug portion within a fiber optic adapter, the locking member including a main body threadingly connected to the threaded member, the locking member also including two opposing locking portions that project distally outwardly from the main body of the locking member, wherein the locking member and the threaded member are slid together as a unit along the central longitudinal axis to move the locking member between a locking position and a non-locking position.

25. The fiber optic connector of claim 24, wherein the connector housing includes a plurality of projections spaced apart in an orientation extending along the central longitudinal axis, and wherein the locking member includes a positioning latch that engages the projections to retain the locking member in the locking and non-locking positions.

26. A fiber optic connectorization product line comprising:

a ruggedized fiber optic adapter;

a non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter; and

a first fiber optic connector that is compatible with both the ruggedized fiber optic adapter and the non-ruggedized fiber optic adapter.