REVERSIBLE POLARITY MPO FIBER OPTIC CONNECTOR

• US 20150378113A1
• Filed: 06/30/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: US Conec Limited (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Nexans Incorporated (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Good, Paul Michael, Ayres, William E. III, Heffner, Greg
• Granted Patent: US 9,829,645 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3831 comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3882 using rods, pins or balls to align a pair of ferrule ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3883 using rods, pins or balls to align a plurality of pairs of ferrule ends
• 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

A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector is provided having a housing having a first end for receiving a multi-fiber fiber optic cable and a second end having openings for the fibers from the cable. First and second keys for setting the polarity of the fibers within the connector located on opposing sides of the connector. The connector has either one of guide pins or guide pin receiving holes for guiding the connection with a second connector. The keys are movable between a first active position and a second retracted position, such that when one of the keys is in the first active position, the fibers are presented within the connector in a first polarity and when the second key is in the first active position, the fibers are presented within the connector in a second polarity reversed from the first polarity.

Claims

1. A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector, said connector comprising:

a housing having a first end for receiving a multi-fiber fiber optic cable and a second end having openings for said fibers from said cable;

first and second keys for setting the polarity of said fibers within said connector, with said first and second keys located on opposing sides of said connector; and

either one of guide pins or guide pin receiving holes for guiding the connection with a second connector,

wherein said keys are movable between a first active position and a second retracted position, such that when one of said keys is in said first active position, said fibers are presented within said connector in a first polarity and when said second key is in said first active position, said fibers are presented within said connector in a second polarity reversed from said first polarity.

2. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second keys are movable between a first forward position and a second backward position by sliding.

3. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 2, wherein when said first and second keys are in said second backward position they are slid with said housing.

4. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second keys are accessible through said housing such that said keys can be moved between said first and second position without opening said housing.

5. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first and second keys include a spring biasing mechanism.

6. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector has guide pins and said guide pins are configured to be movable from a first forward male position to a second female retracted position.

7. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 6, wherein said guide pins are movable from said first forward male position to said second female retracted position via a tab that extends through said housing so that said guide pins are moved without opening said housing.