Fiber connector and adapter

• US 5,984,531 A
• Filed: 12/08/1998
• Issued: 11/16/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Lu, Liang-Ju
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian
• Application Number:
  US09/207,838
• Time in Patent Office: 343 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/55, 385/59, 385/60, 385/64, 385/65, 385/70, 385/75, 385/76, 385/77, 385/78, 385/82, 385/83, 385/139
• US Class Current: 385/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/245 Removing protective coverings of light guides before coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/381 of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3874 using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49117 Conductor or circuit manufacturing

Abstract

Fiberoptic connector and adapter assembly includes a fiberoptic connector received within an adapter. The connector has a cover on the connector housing. The cover pivots between open and closed positions to expose or cover, respectively, a optical fiber contained within the connector. Longitudinal guides of the connector are received cooperating with longitudinal guides of the adapter to direct the connector into the adapter in a prescribed alignment. A cam pin is carried on the adapter to engage a cam pin receiving slot on the cover to urge the cover to the open position as the connector is inserted into the adapter.

Claims

1. A fiberoptic connector and adapter assembly comprising:

a. a fiberoptic connector having;

1. an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis;

2.

3. adapter housing to a fully inserted position. 2. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein:

said adapter housing has a substantially rectangular cross-section perpendicular to said adapter longitudinal axis, said cross-section including a major transverse axis and a minor transverse axis;

said adapter housing including an internal divider extending parallel to said minor transverse axis and dividing said interior into first and second connector receiving chambers each sized to receive individual ones of said connector housings and each having respective ones of said fiber coupling mechanism.

5. An assembly according to claim 3 wherein said open end of said adapter housing is a first open end, and wherein said adapter housing includes a second open end opposite to said first open end, said second open end defining two chambers each coextending with said longitudinal adapter axes, and further comprising four of said fiberoptic connectors each coupled to said adapter housing, one of said connectors received in each of said chambers.

2. an optical fiber disposed within said connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a leading end of said connector housing;

b. an adapter having;

1. an adapter housing having two parallel longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining an exterior, an interior and an open end extending parallel to said longitudinal adapter axes, said open end defining two chambers each coextending with said longitudinal adapter axes and each sized to selectively receive said leading end with said longitudinal connector axis aligned with one of said longitudinal adapter axes, said exterior defining an SC adapter footprint;

2. a fiber coupling mechanism contained within said interior to couple with said optical fiber when said connector housing is inserted into said

4. A. An assembly according to claim 2 wherein:

said outer connector housing has a major transverse axis and a minor transverse axis, each transverse axis of said outer connector housing perpendicular to said longitudinal connector axis, said major transverse axis of said outer connector housing extending in the same direction as the minor transverse axis of said adapter housing, and said minor transverse axis of said outer connector housing extending in the same direction as the major transverse axis of said adapter housing.

6. A fiberoptic connector and adapter assembly comprising:

a. a fiberoptic connector having;

1. an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis, said connector housing including a longitudinal slot aligned with said longitudinal connector axis;

2. an optical fiber disposed within said connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a leading end of said connector housing;

b. an adapter having;

7. an adapter housing having a longitudinal adapter axis and having walls defining an interior and an open end sized to receive said leading end with said longitudinal connector axis aligned with said longitudinal adapter axis;

2. a fiber coupling mechanism contained within said interior to couple with said optical fiber when said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to a fully inserted position;

3. an inwardly projecting longitudinal rail disposed to cooperate with said longitudinal slot to direct said connector opening into axial alignment with said fiber coupling mechanism as said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to said fully inserted position.

11. An adapter according to claim 7, further comprising two inwardly projecting rails, positioned to engage longitudinal slots in said outer connector housing to direct said connector opening into axial alignment with said fiber coupling mechanism as said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to said fully inserted position.

12. An adapter according to claim 7 wherein said connector includes a cover carried on said connector housing and pivotally connected thereto to pivot between a cover open and a cover closed position, said cover in said cover closed position covering said opening, said cover in said cover open position exposing said opening, said cover including a cam pin receiving slot, wherein:

said adapter includes a cam pin disposed within said interior to be received within said cam pin receiving slot and urge said cover from said cover closed position to said cover open position as said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to said filly inserted position.

8. A fiberoptic connector and adapter assembly comprising:

a. a fiberoptic connector having;

1. an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis;

2. an optical fiber disposed within said connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a leading end of said connector housing;

3. a cover carried on said connector housing and pivotally connected thereto to pivot between a cover open and a cover closed position, said cover in said cover closed position covering said opening, said cover in said cover open position exposing said opening, said cover including a cam pin receiving slot;

b. an adapter having;

9. an adapter housing having a longitudinal adapter axis and having walls defining an interior and an open end sized to receive said leading end with said longitudinal connector axis aligned with said longitudinal adapter axis;

2. a fiber coupling mechanism contained within said interior to couple with said optical fiber when said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to a fully inserted position;

3. a cam pin disposed within said interior to be received within said cam pin receiving slot and urge said cover from said cover closed position to said cover open position as said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to said fully inserted position.

10. A fiberoptic adapter for mating with a fiberoptic connector having an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis, and an optical fiber disposed within said connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a leading end of said connector housing, said adapter comprising:

an adapter housing having two parallel longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining an exterior, an interior and an open end extending parallel to said longitudinal adapter axes, said open end and an internal divider defining two chambers each coextending with said longitudinal adapter axes and each sized to selectively receive said leading end with said longitudinal connector axis aligned with one of said longitudinal adapter axes, said exterior defining an SC adapter footprint;

a fiber coupling mechanism contained within said interior to couple with said optical fiber when said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to a fully inserted position.

14. A connector according to claim 10, further comprising two longitudinal slots in said outer connector housing, positioned to engage two inwardly projecting rails on said adapter to direct said connector opening into axial alignment with said fiber coupling mechanism as said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to said fully inserted position.

15. A connector according to claim 10 wherein said adapter includes a cam pin disposed within said interior, wherein:

said connector includes a cover carried on said connector housing and pivotally connected thereto to pivot between a cover open and a cover closed position, said cover in said cover closed position covering said opening, said cover in said cover open position exposing said opening, said cover including a cam pin receiving slot disposed to receive said cam pin for said cam pin to urge said cover from said cover closed position to said cover open position as said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to said fully inserted position.

13. A fiberoptic connector for mating with an adapter having an adapter housing having two parallel longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining an exterior, an interior and an open end, said open end and an internal divider defining two parallel chambers, said exterior defining an SC adapter footprint, and a fiber coupling mechanism contained within said interior to couple with an aligned optical fiber, said connector comprising:

an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis, wherein said outer connector housing is sized to be received within either of said two chambers with said longitudinal connector axis aligned with one of said longitudinal adapter axes;

an optical fiber disposed within said connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a leading end of said connector housing, said fiber disposed for said terminal end to be coupled with said fiber coupling mechanism when said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to a fully inserted position.