OPTICAL PLUG HAVING A REMOVABLE AND REPLACEABLE NOSEPIECE AND A COMPLIMENTARY RECEPTACLE

• US 20160077287A1
• Filed: 11/12/2015
• Published: 03/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Isenhour, Micah Colen, Luther, James Phillip, Watkins, Percil
• Granted Patent: US 10,185,094 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 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• 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 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• 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 6/3853 Lens inside the ferrule lensed connectors G02B6/32
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3866 Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors cleaning in general B08B
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3882 using rods, pins or balls to align a pair 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
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3886 Magnetic means to align ferrule ends
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/428 containing printed circuit boards [PCB]
• 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

Disclosed are optical plugs and optical connectors for making optical connections. The optical plugs and optical connectors disclosed have a nosepiece that is easily removed and replaced for allowing access to the optical interface for cleaning and the nosepiece may also protect the optical interface when installed. The nosepiece may be a single component or an assembly as desired. The devices disclosed may be hybrid devices providing both optical and electrical connectivity or they may solely have optical connectivity if desired.

Claims

1. An optical plug connector, comprising:

an optical portion having an optical interface; and

a nosepiece that fits about part of the optical portion, wherein the nosepiece is removable and replaceable from the optical portion for accessing the optical interface.

2. The optical plug connector of claim 1, the optical portion further including an inner body and a housing.

3. The optical plug connector of claim 2, wherein the inner body is formed with the housing.

4. The optical plug connector of claim 2, the optical interface being a portion of an optical body received in a passageway of the inner body.

5. The optical plug connector of claim 4, the optical body being able to move within the passageway of the inner body.

6. The optical plug connector of claim 2, the inner body having one or more slots or windows for receiving a retainer.

7. The optical plug connector of claim 1, the optical interface including one or more lenses.

8. The optical plug connector of claim 7, the one or more lenses being integrally formed in the optical interface or arranged as one or more discrete lenses.

9. The optical plug connector of claim 1, the optical plug connector further including one or more magnets.

10. The optical plug connector of claim 1, the optical portion further including one or more optical portion electrical contacts.

11. The optical plug connector of claim 10, the one or more optical portion electrical contacts being attached to the inner body.

12. The optical plug connector of claim 1, the nosepiece being an assembly.

13. The optical plug connector of claim 12, the nosepiece including one or more nosepiece electrical contacts for being electrically connected to the one or more optical portion electrical contacts when the nosepiece is attached to the optical portion of the optical plug connector.

14. The optical plug connector of claim 12, the nosepiece including a shell and one or more rails.

15. The optical plug connector of claim 1, the optical portion further including a cover.

16. The optical plug connector of claim 1 being a portion of a cable assembly.

17. An optical plug connector, comprising:

an optical portion having an inner body and an optical body having an optical interface, the inner body having a passageway for receiving the optical body; and

a nosepiece that fits about part of the optical portion, wherein the nosepiece is removable and replaceable from the optical portion for accessing the optical interface.

18. The optical plug connector of claim 17, the optical portion further including a housing.

19. The optical plug connector of claim 18, the inner body being formed with the housing.

20. The optical plug connector of claim 17, further including a force centering element having a pivot point.

21. The optical plug connector of claim 17, the optical body being able to move within the passageway of the inner body.

22. The optical plug connector of claim 17, the inner body having one or more slots or windows for receiving a retainer.

23. The optical plug connector of claim 17, the optical interface including one or more lenses.

24. The optical plug connector of claim 23, the one or more lenses being integrally formed in the optical interface or arranged as one or more discrete lenses.

25. The optical plug connector of claim 17, the optical plug connector further including one or more magnets.

26. The optical plug connector of claim 17, the optical portion further including one or more optical portion electrical contacts.

27. The optical plug connector of claim 26, the one or more optical portion electrical contacts being attached to the inner body.

28. The optical plug connector of claim 17, the nosepiece being an assembly.

29. The optical plug connector of claim 28, the nosepiece further including one or more nosepiece electrical contacts for being electrically connected to the one or more optical portion electrical contacts when the nosepiece is attached to the optical portion of the optical plug connector.

30. The optical plug connector of claim 28, the nosepiece including a shell and one or more rails.

31. The optical plug connector of claim 17, the optical portion further including a cover.

32. The optical plug connector of claim 17 being a portion of a cable assembly.

33. An optical receptacle, comprising:

a shell;

a lens body having an optical interface with one or more optical channels, wherein the lens body attaches to the shell.

34. The optical receptacle of claim 33, the lens body having one or more attachment flanges for securing the lens body to the shell.

35. The optical receptacle of claim 33, further including a receptacle circuit board assembly attached to the lens body.

36. The optical receptacle of claim 35, the receptacle circuit board assembly further including one or more active components.

37. The optical receptacle of claim 33, wherein the lens body has a portion with a U-shape.

38. The optical receptacle of claim 33, further including a cover.

39. The optical receptacle of claim 33, the lens body including one or more rails formed therein.

40. The optical receptacle of claim 39, the lens body including one or more electrical contacts on the one or more rails.

41. The optical receptacle of claim 33, the lens body having at least one alignment feature adjacent to the optical interface.

42. The optical receptacle of claim 33, the shell having an open side.

43. The optical receptacle of claim 33 being attached to a circuit board.

44. The optical receptacle of claim 33 being a portion of an electronic device.