Modular Optical Connector Apparatus and Method
First Claim
1. An optical connection system comprising:
- a first connector housing comprising a first feature for releasably latching a first optical connector therein, a mounting mechanism for mounting the first connector housing to a surface, and a second feature for releasable latching the first connector housing to another housing;
a second connector housing comprising a third feature for releasably latching a second optical connector therein, and a fourth feature for releasable latching the second connector housing to the first connector housing via engagement of the second feature and the fourth feature; and
an outer housing including a mounting mechanism for mounting the outer housing to a surface, and further including a cavity bearing a fifth feature for receiving therein in a first longitudinal direction the first connector housing and receiving therein in an opposing longitudinal direction the second connector housing such that the first and second connector housings can releasably latch to each other such that optical connectors mounted in the first and second connector housings, respectively, would be in optical engagement with each other with the latched first and second connector housings able to move in the longitudinal direction within the outer housing.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention pertains to a modular optical connection system that permits simple swapping of optical connectors of different form factor types. Furthermore, it allows a single optical connector design of a given form factor to be used to make optical connectors in various different board-to-board configurations, such as orthogonal, coplanar, and backplane. In accordance with the invention, an outer housing is mounted on a board which housing allows two inner housings to mate with each other through the outer housing. A single outer housing can be used with different inner housings adapted to accept various different connector form factors therein and permits the two mating inner housings to float longitudinally within the outer housing. It also allows the two mating inner housings to engage and disengage via simple push engagement and pull disengagement. The external dimensions and features of all of the different connector housings are essentially identical to each other so that they all can mate with each other and with the outer housing, but have different internal dimensions and features depending on the particular connector form factor style for which they are designed.
17 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An optical connection system comprising:
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a first connector housing comprising a first feature for releasably latching a first optical connector therein, a mounting mechanism for mounting the first connector housing to a surface, and a second feature for releasable latching the first connector housing to another housing; a second connector housing comprising a third feature for releasably latching a second optical connector therein, and a fourth feature for releasable latching the second connector housing to the first connector housing via engagement of the second feature and the fourth feature; and an outer housing including a mounting mechanism for mounting the outer housing to a surface, and further including a cavity bearing a fifth feature for receiving therein in a first longitudinal direction the first connector housing and receiving therein in an opposing longitudinal direction the second connector housing such that the first and second connector housings can releasably latch to each other such that optical connectors mounted in the first and second connector housings, respectively, would be in optical engagement with each other with the latched first and second connector housings able to move in the longitudinal direction within the outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. An optical connection system comprising:
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a plurality of first connector housings, each comprising a first feature for releasable latching the first housing to another housing, and a second feature for releasably latching a first optical connector therein, the first features of each of the first plurality of connector housings being the same for each of the first plurality of connector housings and the second features being different for each of the first plurality of connector housings, each different second feature adapted to releasably latch a different style of optical connector within the first connector housing; a plurality of second connector housings, each comprising a third feature for releasable latching the second connector housing to any of the plurality of first connector housings via engagement with the first feature of a one of the first plurality of connector housings, and a fourth feature for releasably latching a second optical connector therein, the third features of each of the second plurality of connector housings being the same for each of the second plurality of connector housings and the fourth features being different for each of the second plurality of connector housings, each different fourth feature adapted to releasably latch a different style of optical connector within the second connector housing; and an outer housing including a mounting mechanism for mounting the outer housing to a surface, and further including a longitudinal cavity bearing a fifth feature for receiving therein in a first longitudinal direction any one of the plurality of first connector housings and receiving therein in an opposing longitudinal direction any one of the plurality of second connector housings such that the first and second connector housings can releasably latch to each other such that optical connectors mounted in the first and second connector housings, respectively, would be in optical engagement with each other with the latched first and second connector housings able to move in the longitudinal direction within the outer housing. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification