Reduced-Profile Data Transmission Element Connectors, Adapters, and Connection Assemblies Thereof

• US 20160195682A1
• Filed: 03/15/2016
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/09/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. (SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: SENKO Advanced Components, Inc. (SENKO Group Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Iizumi, Kenji, Takano, Kazuyoshi
• Granted Patent: US 9,798,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/387 Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• 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 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence

Abstract

Reduced-profile connection components are described. The reduced-profile connection components are configured to connect various data transmission elements, including cables, network devices, and computing devices. A non-limiting example of a connection component includes a fiber optic connection component, including connectors, adapters, and assemblies formed therefrom. In some embodiments, the connection components may include mechanical transfer (MT) and multi-fiber push-on/pull-off (MPO) connection components, such as MT ferrules and MPO adapters. The reduced-profile connection components configured according to some embodiments have a smaller profile and/or require less parts to achieve a connection compared to conventional connection components. In some embodiments, the reduced-profile connection components may be used with conventional connection components. For example a reduced-profile connector may use a conventional MT ferrule to establish a connection within a conventional MPO adapter.

Claims

1. A reduced-profile connection assembly, comprising:

a ferrule having a connection end;

a connector comprising;

an inner housing having the ferrule fixedly arranged therein at a first end and flanges extending from a second end opposite the first end, and

an ejector housing disposed around the inner housing and configured to slide along the inner housing between a locked position and an unlocked position; and

an adapter having a clip fixedly arranged therein, the clip having hooks configured to engage protrusions extending from an outer surface of the inner housing to prevent movement of the inner housing within the adapter, wherein the ejector housing interfaces with the clip in the locked position to prevent disengagement of the hooks from the protrusions.

2. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the ferrule is a fiber optic ferrule.

3. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the ferrule is a mechanical transfer ferrule.

4. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the adapter is configured as a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off adapter.

5. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the inner housing comprises at least one ferrule latch configured to engage the ferrule at an end opposite the connection end, thereby preventing movement of the ferrule within the inner housing in a direction toward the flanges.

6. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 5, wherein the ejector housing is configured to push the at least one ferrule latch into engagement with the ferrule.

7. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the flanges comprise a recess and a projection,

wherein a distal portion of the ejector housing is configured to be seated in the recess when in the locked position.

8. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 7, wherein a distal portion of the ejector housing is configured to be seated in the recess when in the unlocked position, thereby preventing movement of the ejector housing in a proximal direction along the inner housing.

9. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 7, wherein a proximal portion of the ejector housing is configured to engage the projection when in the locked position, thereby preventing movement of the ejector housing in a distal direction along the inner housing.

10. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector comprises 2 parts.

11. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector has a length of about 20 millimeters to about 30 millimeters.

12. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector has a length of about 26 millimeters.

13. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector extends outside of the adapter when in the locked position about 15 millimeters to about 30 millimeters.

14. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector extends outside of the adapter when in the locked position about 24 millimeters.

15. A reduced-profile connection assembly, comprising:

a ferrule;

a connector having the ferrule fixedly arranged therein and comprising at least one adapter latch having at least one adapter latch projection; and

an adapter having at least on recess, the at least one recess configured to engage the adapter latch projection when the connector is locked in the adapter to prevent movement of the connector within the adapter.

16. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the ferrule is a fiber optic ferrule.

17. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the ferrule is a mechanical transfer ferrule.

18. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the adapter is configured as a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off adapter.

19. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the at least one adapter latch comprises two adapter latches arranged on opposite side portions of the connector.

20. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 19, wherein the at least one recess comprises two recesses arranged on opposite side walls of the adapter corresponding with the at least one adapter latch projection of the two adapter latches.

21. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the connector comprises 1 part.

22. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the connector has a length of about 10 millimeters to about 20 millimeters.

23. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 15, wherein the connector has a length of about 13 millimeters.

24. A reduced-profile connection assembly, comprising:

a ferrule;

a connector having the ferrule fixedly arranged therein and comprising at least one adapter latch having at least one adapter latch projection; and

an adapter having a clip fixedly arranged therein, the clip having a recess configured to engage the adapter latch projection when the connector is locked in the adapter to prevent movement of the connector within the adapter.

25. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 24, wherein the ferrule is a fiber optic ferrule.

26. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 24, wherein the ferrule is a mechanical transfer ferrule.

27. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 24, wherein at least a portion of the adapter is configured as a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off adapter.

28. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 24, further comprising at least one spring arranged within the connector, the at least one spring configured to engage an end of the ferrule opposite the connection end to prevent movement of the ferrule within the connector in a direction away from the connection end.

29. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 24, further comprising at least one spacer arranged within the connector, the at least one spring configured to engage an end of the ferrule opposite the connection end to prevent movement of the ferrule within the connector in a direction away from the connection end.