Bayonet Lock MPO Connector

• US 20170003458A1
• Filed: 10/05/2015
• Published: 01/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2015
• 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: Gniadek, Jeffrey
• Granted Patent: US 9,726,831 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 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• 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 6/3891 Bayonet type
• 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

Optical fiber connectors for MT/MPO type ferrule assemblies are disclosed, having an overall connector length less than about 32 mm, for example, an overall length of about 18.5 mm for non-reinforced optical fiber cables, and an overall length of about 23.5 mm for reinforced optical fiber cables. In one embodiment, a connector comprises a ferrule assembly, and a housing coupled to the ferrule assembly and configured to couple to an adapter corresponding to the ferrule assembly. The connector further includes a lock coupled to the housing and configured to rotate so as to lock and unlock the housing from said adapter. An interface member coupled to the housing may include a stop configured to limit rotation of the lock. The interface member may include a reinforcement portion for reinforcing optical fiber cables.

Claims

1. A connector comprising:

a ferrule assembly;

a housing coupled to the ferrule assembly and configured to couple to an adapter corresponding to the ferrule assembly;

a lock coupled to the housing and configured to rotate so as to lock and unlock the housing from said adapter; and

an interface member coupled to the housing and having a stop configured to limit rotation of the lock.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the ferrule assembly is one of an MT/MPO ferrule assembly and an MPO ferrule assembly.

3. The connector of claim 1, wherein the lock is a ring configured to rotate about the housing.

4. The connector of claim 1, wherein the lock is a bayonet lock.

5. The connector of claim 1, the housing being the only housing of said connector.

6. The connector of claim 5, wherein the housing includes a rear portion and the bayonet lock is disposed about the rear portion.

7. The connector of claim 1, wherein the lock includes at least one flexing tab configured to snap into a respective groove of the housing so as to couple the lock to the housing.

8. The connector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion being configured to receive the ferrule assembly.

9. The connector of claim 8, wherein the lock is coupled to the rear portion of the housing.

10. The connector of claim 1, further comprising a ferrule spring disposed within the housing.

11. The connector of claim 10, wherein the ferrule assembly includes a raised flange and the housing includes a corresponding ferrule flange stop, the ferrule assembly being secured to the housing between the ferrule spring and the ferrule flange stop.

12. The connector of claim 11, wherein the housing further comprises a plurality of inclined surfaces configured to facilitate coupling of the ferrule assembly to the housing.

13. The connector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes at least one recess configured to receive a respective catch of said adapter.

14. The connector of claim 13, wherein the lock includes at least one tab configured to cover the respective catch of said adapter disposed in the at least one recess of the housing when the lock is in a locked position.

15. The connector of claim 14, wherein the at least one tab is configured to uncover the respective catch of said adapter disposed in the at least one recess of the housing when the lock is in an unlocked position, to allow decoupling the housing from the adapter.

16. The connector of claim 1, having a length less than about 32 mm.

17. The connector of claim 16, wherein the length is less than or equal to about 18.5 mm.

18. The connector of claim 1, wherein the interface member includes a reinforcement portion configured to reinforce an optical fiber cable received by the interface member.

19. The connector of claim 18, having a length less than or equal to about 23.5 mm.