Fiber optic star and transmission assembly

• US 5,402,512 A
• Filed: 06/14/1994
• Issued: 03/28/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Steele, Robert E., Miller, Gregory D., Jennings, Kurt L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bovernick, Rodney B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Application Number:
  US08/260,292
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 385/46, 385/39, 385/59, 385/63, 385/65, 385/83, 385/84, 385/89, 385/92, 385/114
• US Class Current: 385/46
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/2804 forming multipart couplers without wavelength selective elements, e.g. "T" couplers, star couplers
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3839 for a plurality of light guides
• 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 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression

Abstract

A fiber optic star and transmission assembly for transmitting optical signals from a plurality of input optic fibers to a plurality of output optic fibers. The assembly comprising a female connector body retaining and positioning a plurality of input and output optic fibers, a convergence connector body having a pair of central cavities with a semi-circular grooves, and wedge means having semi-circular recesses which is inserted in to the cavities to define passageways. The optic fibers are inserted through the passageways which guide the jacketed and stripped ends of the optic fibers into a linear slot at the forward end of the convergence connector. The female connector is slidably connected to the convergence connector. A ribbon retainer housing and a hollow cover means complete the star assembly.

Claims

1. A fiber optic star and transmission assembly for transmitting optical signals from a plurality of input optic fibers to a plurality of output optic fibers comprising:

a female connector body having a plurality of openings therethrough for retaining and positioning a plurality of input and output optic fibers therein and with the fibers having jacketed and stripped end portions projecting forwardly of the connector body,

a convergence connector body having a pair of central cavities at its rearward portion and vertically extending linear slots at its forward end, the cavities each including semi-circular grooves at different spaced locations in communication therewith and which are in communication with the linear slots, wedge means shaped complementary with the cavities in said convergence connector body and having semi-circular recesses adjacent the semi-circular grooves in the body when the wedge means is inserted into the cavity to define passageways, said optic fibers being insertable through said passageways defined by the grooves and semi-circular recesses in the wedge means, said passageways guiding the jacketed and stripped ends of the optic fibers into the linear slot at the forward end of the convergence connector so that the optic fiber end faces are linearly arrayed, said female connector being slidably connectable to said convergence connector and abuttingly engaging the convergence connector to retain the wedge means in place when connected thereto, a ribbon retainer housing for housing a fiber optic ribbon whose ends are linear and are aligned with the stripped ends of the input and output optic fibers, means slidably connecting the ribbon retainer housing to the convergence housing so that the ends of the ribbon and the linearly arrayed input and output optic fibers are in abutting engagement, a hollow cover means for receiving the ribbon housing, convergence connector housing and the female connector, said cover means and the female connector having cooperating means for latching the cover to the female connector to maintain all of these parts connected together.

2. A fiber optic star and transmission assembly, as defined in claim 1, and including a fiber optic terminal position assurance member operatively connected with the female connector body to ensure that all of the optic fibers are properly connected to and retained within the female connector body.

3. In a fiber optic star and transmission assembly, as defined in claim 2, and wherein the female connector body and the terminal position assurance member have cooperable means for latching the terminal position assurance member in place on the connector body and wherein the terminal position assurance member includes a plurality of spaced tines which partially overlie the openings in the female connector body.