FIBER OPTIC INTERFACE DEVICES FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICES

• US 20150309267A1
• Filed: 05/19/2014
• Published: 10/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/19/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Incorporated
• Inventors: Isenhour, Micah Colen, Knecht, Dennis Michael, Luther, James Phillip
• Granted Patent: US 9,477,046 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/32 having lens focusing means positioned between opposed fibre ends with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3817 containing optical and electrical conductors cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/424 Mounting of the optical light guide
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4246 Bidirectionally operating package structures
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4293 hybrid electrical and optical connections for transmitting electrical and optical signals

Abstract

Fiber optic interface devices (20, 320) for electronic devices (300) are disclosed. A plug-type fiber optic interface (20) has an axially moveable multi-fiber ferrule (100) that supports optical fibers (52) or a combination of optical fibers and gradient-index lenses (600). A resilient member (150) serves to provide the ferrule with forward-bias and rear-bias positions relative to a recessed front end (22) of a housing (21). A fiber optic interface assembly (570) that includes mated plug and receptacle fiber optic interface devices (20, 320) is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fiber optic interface device for connecting at least one optical fiber of an optical fiber cable, comprising:

a housing having a central axis, a front end, and an interior having a ferrule guide member attached to the housing and disposed therein;

a ferrule having a central axis, front and rear ends, and configured to support the at least one optical fiber having an optical fiber end substantially at the ferrule front end, the ferrule being moveably supported by the ferrule guide member with the ferrule axis being aligned with the housing central axis; and

a resilient member disposed within the housing interior and operatively arranged therein to forward-bias the ferrule toward the housing front end.

2. The fiber optic interface device according to claim 1, further comprising the ferrule guide member comprising an interior wall with the housing interior, and an aperture in the interior wall configured to loosely contain the ferrule to move along the ferrule central axis.

3. The fiber optic interface device according to claim 1, further comprising first and second guide pins that extend from the ferrule front end on respective sides of and residing in a common plane with the ferrule central axis.

4. The fiber optic interface device according to claim 1, further comprising first and second electrical contacts disposed on opposing sides of the plug housing, with the first and second electrical contacts having respective first and second rear portions that extend into the housing interior.

5. The fiber optic interface device according to claim 1, further comprising the housing including a recess at the housing front end configured to allow access to clean the ferrule front end.

6. The fiber optic interface device according to claim 5, further comprising the housing recess defining first and second prongs on opposite sides of the recess that serve as alignment features for connecting the fiber optic interface device to a receptacle.

7. The fiber optic interface device according to claim 1, further comprising the resilient member comprising a spring.

8. The fiber optic interface device according to claim 7, wherein the spring has an interior, and wherein the at least one optical fiber travels from the fiber optic cable through the housing rear and through the spring interior to the ferrule.

9. The fiber optic interface device according to claim 1, further comprising the at least one optical fiber having an optical fiber end, wherein the ferrule includes an angled portion adjacent the ferrule front surface, the angled portion configured to facilitate laser processing of the at least one optical fiber supported in the ferrule bores to form the optical fiber end.

10. An optical fiber cable assembly, comprising:

the optical fiber according to claim 1; and

the optical fiber cable operably connected to the interface device housing rear end, with the at least one optical fiber passing through the housing rear end and supported in the ferrule.

11. An optical fiber cable assembly, comprising:

the optical fiber according to claim 4; and

the optical fiber cable operably connected to the interface device housing rear end, the optical fiber cable additionally carrying first and second electrical wires, with the at least one optical fiber passing through the housing rear end and supported in the ferrule, and the first and second electrical wires passing through the housing rear end and electrically connected to the respective first and second rear portions of the electrical contacts.

12. A fiber optic interface assembly, comprising

the fiber optic interface device according to claim 1;

and

a receptacle matingly engaged with the fiber optic interface device, the receptacle acting to place the fiber optic interface device in a rear-biased position wherein the ferrule axially moves a distance D in the range from 7 mm to 9 mm.