Fiber optic connector
First Claim
1. In a fiber optic connector for optically coupling a plurality of pairs of single fibers in end-to-end relationships, the combination comprising:
- first and second identical sub-assemblies releasably connected to each other and being movable between connected and disconnected positions;
releasable means for holding said sub-assemblies in said connected position;
first and second identical housings interfitted with each other and forming respective parts of said first and second sub-assemblies, said housings having first aligning means allowing movement of said sub-assemblies into said connected position only when said housings are in a predetermined orientation relative to each other;
first and second sets of identical holders respectively loosely mounted in said first and second housings in an abutting side-by-side relationship, said holders in each set being movable relative to each other, each holder having a plug and a receptacle, each holder being connected to two fibers with one fiber extending through such holder and terminating at the end of said plug and with the other fiber extending through said holder parallel to said one fiber and terminating at the end of said receptacle, and first and second sets of holders being interfitted with each other with said plugs of said first set mated with receptacles of said second set and said plugs of said second set mated with receptacles of said first set, said holders having second aligning means whereby the ends of said fibers in said first set are optically aligned with and coupled to the ends of said fibers in said second set, for the efficient transmission of light energy between aligned fibers;
said first aligning means being operative when said housings are in said predetermined orientation, to further coarsely align the ends of each pair of fibers;
and first and second biasing means in said first and second sub-assemblies biasing said first and second sets of holders in a first direction toward engagement with first portions of said first and second housings while allowing movement of said holders in a direction opposite to said first direction and laterally thereof during movement of said sub-assemblies into said connected position, said second aligning means being operative during such movement of said sub-assemblies to laterally shift individual ones of said holders so as to exactly axially align all pairs of said fibers.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A fiber optic connector couples multiple pairs of single fiber, fiber optic transmission lines. The connector includes identical sub-assemblies releasably coupled. Each sub-assembly has a plurality of holders to which the ends of the fibers are connected. Each holder has a plug and a receptacle fitted into corresponding elements on an aligned holder so as to position the ends of mating fibers in axial alignment for efficient transmission of light energy therebetween. The holders are mounted in a loose arrangement and an elastomeric pad or cushion suspends mated holders. Excessive coupling forces are transmitted through the housings directly and do not affect the holders and fibers carried thereby.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. In a fiber optic connector for optically coupling a plurality of pairs of single fibers in end-to-end relationships, the combination comprising:
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first and second identical sub-assemblies releasably connected to each other and being movable between connected and disconnected positions; releasable means for holding said sub-assemblies in said connected position; first and second identical housings interfitted with each other and forming respective parts of said first and second sub-assemblies, said housings having first aligning means allowing movement of said sub-assemblies into said connected position only when said housings are in a predetermined orientation relative to each other; first and second sets of identical holders respectively loosely mounted in said first and second housings in an abutting side-by-side relationship, said holders in each set being movable relative to each other, each holder having a plug and a receptacle, each holder being connected to two fibers with one fiber extending through such holder and terminating at the end of said plug and with the other fiber extending through said holder parallel to said one fiber and terminating at the end of said receptacle, and first and second sets of holders being interfitted with each other with said plugs of said first set mated with receptacles of said second set and said plugs of said second set mated with receptacles of said first set, said holders having second aligning means whereby the ends of said fibers in said first set are optically aligned with and coupled to the ends of said fibers in said second set, for the efficient transmission of light energy between aligned fibers; said first aligning means being operative when said housings are in said predetermined orientation, to further coarsely align the ends of each pair of fibers; and first and second biasing means in said first and second sub-assemblies biasing said first and second sets of holders in a first direction toward engagement with first portions of said first and second housings while allowing movement of said holders in a direction opposite to said first direction and laterally thereof during movement of said sub-assemblies into said connected position, said second aligning means being operative during such movement of said sub-assemblies to laterally shift individual ones of said holders so as to exactly axially align all pairs of said fibers. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. In a fiber optic connector for optically coupling a plurality of pairs of single fibers to form a plurality of parallel, fiber optic transmission lines, the combination comprising:
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first and second housings movable relative to each other between connected and disconnected positions, said housings having aligning means thereon allowing movement of said housings into said connected position only when said housings are in a predetermined orientation relative to each other, said housings having first and second central openings aligned in said connected position; releasable means for holding said housings in said connected position; a plurality of first holders loosely mounted side-by-side in said first opening, said holders corresponding in number to the number of pairs of said single fibers, a like plurality of second holders mounted side-by-side in said second opening and aligned with said first holders in said connected position and when said housings are in said predetermined orientation, each of said second holders being associated with one of said first holders;
said fibers being connected to said holders so that one fiber of each pair is connected to a first holder and the other fiber of such pair is connected to the associated second holder,said aligning means being operative to coarsely align the associated fibers of each pair when said housings are in said predetermined orientation; each first holder having a plug coaxial with said fiber connected thereto and provided with a concentric tapered first shoulder, each second holder having a receptacle provided with a circular edge engagable with said first shoulder in said first holder and operative upon movement of said housings into said connected position to laterally move said first and second holders so as to move the ends of the fibers connected to such holders, from positions of coarse axial alignment into positions of exact axial alignment, and biasing means in said first and second housings biasing said first and second holders towards each other in said connected position to maintain said first shoulder and said edge engaged, said biasing means further biasing said first and second holders into engagement with portions of said first and second housings, when in said disconnected position, said biasing means allowing said holders to move laterally and longitudinally relative to said housings upon movement thereof from said disconnected position into said connected position. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification