Optical fiber connector buildout system
First Claim
1. An optical fiber connector system, which comprises:
- two plug assemblies each of which includes a plug which terminates an optical fiber and at least one of which includes a key;
a buildout block which is adapted to be mounted in an opening in a panel, said buildout block including a tubular portion having a longitudinally extending keyway formed in a wall thereof and extending from a flanged end which includes track and latching means, said buildout block including first and second cavities which communicate with each other through an opening in an internally disposed wall with said first cavity opening to the flanged end of said buildout block and said second cavity opening to an opposite end of said buildout block;
a buildout which includes first and second coaxially aligned tubular portions which extend in opposite directions from a flanged portion which includes means adapted to cooperate with said track and latching means of said buildout block to secure said buildout to said buildout block upon suitable relative motion which is caused to occur between said buildout and said buildout block, said first tubular portion adapted to be received in said first cavity of said buildout block and said second tubular portion including means for causing one of said plugs which is inserted into said second tubular portion to become secured therewithin; and
a sleeve which is disposed in said first tubular portion of said buildout and which is adapted to receive in one end an end portion of one of said plugs which becomes disposed in said tubular portion of said buildout block and in an opposite end thereof the other one of said plugs which becomes disposed in said second tubular portion of said buildout to cause an optical connection to be made between the optical fibers terminated by said plugs, said sleeve including a longitudinally extending slot in a wall thereof and said key of said at least one plug assembly being received in said keyway of said tubular portion of said buildout block when said plug of said at least one plug assembly is received in said tubular portion of said buildout block.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector system (20) for interconnection of optical fiber ferrule connectors in optical wiring panels includes an array of buildout blocks (70,70) which are mounted in a panel (60). Each buildout block includes a tubular portion (76) having a keyway and provisions for receiving a buildout (100,150) which upon suitable alignment and rotation relative to the buildout block is caused to be secured to the buildout block. The buildout (100) which is adapted to receive an ST® connector includes a first tubular portion (103) in which is disposed a sleeve (107) for receiving a plug (40) of a plug assembly (22) of the connector system in one end thereof which has been inserted into the tubular portion of the buildout block with a key (43) thereof received in the keyway (78) of the tubular portion of the buildout block. Also, the sleeve is capable of having an attenuator element (140) mounted therein. In another end of the buildout, a plug (40,182) of another plug assembly is secured to a second tubular portion (102) of the buildout to allow an optical connection between fibers terminated by the plugs to be made. The plug which is secured to the second tubular portion of the buildout (150) may be that of an FC connector. Advantageously, the buildouts which represent a substantial portion of the connection need not be installed until service is required. Further, the system is such that a choice of ferrule connectors is permitted with the same buildout block. Buildouts which have attenuator elements mounted therein and those which do not are interchangeable with each other without the need for special tools.
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Citations
34 Claims
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1. An optical fiber connector system, which comprises:
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two plug assemblies each of which includes a plug which terminates an optical fiber and at least one of which includes a key; a buildout block which is adapted to be mounted in an opening in a panel, said buildout block including a tubular portion having a longitudinally extending keyway formed in a wall thereof and extending from a flanged end which includes track and latching means, said buildout block including first and second cavities which communicate with each other through an opening in an internally disposed wall with said first cavity opening to the flanged end of said buildout block and said second cavity opening to an opposite end of said buildout block; a buildout which includes first and second coaxially aligned tubular portions which extend in opposite directions from a flanged portion which includes means adapted to cooperate with said track and latching means of said buildout block to secure said buildout to said buildout block upon suitable relative motion which is caused to occur between said buildout and said buildout block, said first tubular portion adapted to be received in said first cavity of said buildout block and said second tubular portion including means for causing one of said plugs which is inserted into said second tubular portion to become secured therewithin; and a sleeve which is disposed in said first tubular portion of said buildout and which is adapted to receive in one end an end portion of one of said plugs which becomes disposed in said tubular portion of said buildout block and in an opposite end thereof the other one of said plugs which becomes disposed in said second tubular portion of said buildout to cause an optical connection to be made between the optical fibers terminated by said plugs, said sleeve including a longitudinally extending slot in a wall thereof and said key of said at least one plug assembly being received in said keyway of said tubular portion of said buildout block when said plug of said at least one plug assembly is received in said tubular portion of said buildout block. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A buildout system for connecting optical fibers terminated by plugs of first and second optical fiber plug assemblies, said buildout system including:
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a buildout block which is adapted to be mounted in an opening in a panel and adapted to have a plug assembly connected thereto, said buildout block including a tubular portion having a longitudinally extending keyway formed in a wall thereof and extending from a flanged end which includes track and latching means, said buildout block including first and second cavities which communicate with each other through an opening in an internally disposed wall with said first cavity opening to the flanged end of said buildout block and said second cavity opening to an opposite end of said buildout block; a buildout which includes first and second coaxially aligned tubular portions which extend in opposite directions from a flanged portion which includes securing means adapted to cooperate with said track and latching means of said buildout block to secure said buildout to said buildout block upon suitable relative rotary motion which is caused to occur between said buildout and said buildout block, said first tubular portion adapted to be received in said first cavity of said buildout block and said second tubular portion including securing means for causing a plug assembly which is assembled thereto to be secured against unintentional rotary motion; and a sleeve which is disposed in said first tubular portion of said buildout and which is adapted to receive in one end thereof an end portion of a plug of a plug assembly which becomes disposed in said tubular portion of said buildout block and in an opposite end thereof another plug which becomes disposed in said second tubular portion of said buildout to cause an optical connection to be made between optical fibers terminated by the plugs, said sleeve including a longitudinally extending slot in a wall thereof and said longitudinal keyway of said buildout block and said securing means of said buildout cooperating with portions of said plug assemblies assembled thereto to prevent unintended rotary motion of said plug assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. An optical fiber connection, which includes:
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first and second plug assemblies each of which includes a plug having a passageway therethrough, a connector body in which said plug is mounted and a cap in which said connector body is mounted, each said plug of each said assembly terminating an optical fiber which is received in said passageway of said plug and at least one of said plug assemblies including a key; a buildout block which is mounted in an opening in a panel, said buildout block including a tubular portion having a longitudinally extending keyway formed in a wall thereof and extending from a flanged end which includes track and latching means, said buildout block including first and second cavities which communicate with each other through an opening in an internally disposed wall with said first cavity opening to the flanged end of said buildout block and said second cavity opening to an opposite end of said buildout block; a buildout which includes first and second coaxially aligned tubular portions which extend in opposite directions from a flanged portion which includes means cooperating with said track and latching means of said buildout block to secure said buildout to said buildout block, said first tubular portion being received in said first cavity of said buildout block and said second tubular portion including means for causing one of said plugs which is disposed in said second tubular portion to secured therewithin; and a sleeve which is disposed in said first tubular portion of said buildout and in one end of which is received an end portion of one of said plugs which is disposed in said tubular portion of said buildout block and in an opposite end thereof is received the plug of the other one of said plug assemblies which is disposed in said second tubular portion of said buildout to cause an optical connection to be made between the optical fibers terminated by the plugs, said sleeve including a longitudinally extending slot in a wall thereof and said key of said at least one plug assembly being received in said keyway of said tubular portion of said buildout block. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification