Connector for optical fiber
First Claim
1. A connector for terminating an optical fiber comprising:
- a fiber-holding structure having an end face in which an associated fiber is to terminate the holding structure including an axial passageway which terminates in the end face and which is adapted to receive an end portion of the associated fiber;
a housing having internal surfaces that define a cavity and surround the fiber-holding structure, the housing including a first opening for receiving an optical fiber and a second opening for enabling the end face of the holding structure to protrude therethrough, said openings extending into the cavity and being positioned at opposite ends of the housing; and
a manually operated latch for securing the housing to an associated receptacle to preclude unintended decoupling therebetween, the latch being positioned on a single side surface of the housing and movable in a direction which is perpendicular to the axial passageway, said latch comprising a cantilever beam having its fixed end positioned toward the second opening of the housing.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connector for optical fibers includes a cylindrical glass ferrule installed in a plastic base member to form a fiber-holding structure. This structure includes a small passageway along its central axis for holding an optical fiber, and is mounted within a dielectric housing that includes an opening at one end thereof from which the glass ferrule protrudes. A cylindrical spring surrounds the base member and interacts with an interior surface of the housing to urge the glass ferrule outward from the opening in the housing. The housing further includes a spring latch which is located on a single side surface thereof, which is manually operable and used to lock the connector to an associated receptacle.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A connector for terminating an optical fiber comprising:
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a fiber-holding structure having an end face in which an associated fiber is to terminate the holding structure including an axial passageway which terminates in the end face and which is adapted to receive an end portion of the associated fiber; a housing having internal surfaces that define a cavity and surround the fiber-holding structure, the housing including a first opening for receiving an optical fiber and a second opening for enabling the end face of the holding structure to protrude therethrough, said openings extending into the cavity and being positioned at opposite ends of the housing; and a manually operated latch for securing the housing to an associated receptacle to preclude unintended decoupling therebetween, the latch being positioned on a single side surface of the housing and movable in a direction which is perpendicular to the axial passageway, said latch comprising a cantilever beam having its fixed end positioned toward the second opening of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In combination, an optical cable and a connector, the optical cable comprising a glass fiber enclosed within a plastic buffer material;
- and the connector comprising (i) a fiber-holding structure having an axial passageway which receives the optical fiber and which terminates in a planar end face that is perpendicular to the passageway, (ii) a housing having internal surfaces that define a cavity and surround the fiber-holding structure, the housing including a first opening at its back end which receives the optical cable and a second opening at its front end that enables the end face of the fiber-holding structure to protrude therethrough, said openings extending into the cavity and being positioned at opposite ends of the housing, and (iii) a manually operated latch for securing the housing to an associated receptacle to preclude unintended decoupling therebetween, said latch being positioned on a single side surface of the housing and movable in a direction which is perpendicular to the axial passageway, said latch comprising a cantilever beam having its fixed end positioned toward the front end of the housing.
- View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A connector for terminating an optical fiber including a fiber-holding structure which terminates in an end face and is adapted to receive an end portion of the optical fiber.
CHARACTERIZED BY: -
a housing having a plurality of internal surfaces that define a cavity and surround the fiber-holding structure, the housing including a first opening for receiving an optical fiber and a second opening for enabling the end face of the fiber-holding structure to protrude therethrough, said openings extending into the cavity and being positioned at opposite ends of an axial passageway through the housing; and a manually deformable latch for securing the housing to an associated receptacle in order to preclude unintended decoupling therebetween, the latch being positioned on a single side surface of the housing and movable in a direction which is perpendicular to the axial passageway, said latch comprising a cantilever beam having its fixed end positioned toward the second opening of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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20. An optical fiber connector for effecting optical end-to-end coupling between two optical fibers, each of which terminates in a ferrule having a precision cylindrical outside surface, one end of the ferrule being held within an opening of a base member, said base member being generally cylindrical and having a flange which is disposed around the circumference of the base member and interacts with one end of an annular spring which is also disposed around the base member, said ferrule and base member and spring being mounted within a dielectric housing that is
CHARACTERIZED BY: -
a plurality of internal surfaces that surround the ferrule and base member and spring, the housing including a first opening for receiving an optical fiber and a second opening for enabling an end portion of the ferrule to protrude therethrough, said openings extending into the cavity and being positioned at opposite ends of the housing; and a spring latch for securing the housing to an associated receptacle in order to preclude unintended decoupling therebetween, the latch being positioned on a single side surface of the housing and being manually movable in a direction which is perpendicular to a longitudinal central axis of the cylindrical ferrule, said latch comprising a cantilever beam having its fixed end positioned toward the second opening of the housing. - View Dependent Claims (21)
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Specification