Connector housing for fiber-optic module

• US 6,682,228 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2002
• Issued: 01/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Device Innovations, U.S.A., Inc. (Sumitomo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Emcore Corporation
• Inventors: Rathnam, Lakshman, Yuen, Albert T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sanghavi, Hemang
• Assistant Examiner(s): Knauss, Scott
• Application Number:
  US10/080,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20030156796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53-56, 385/58-60, 385/70-72, 385/89
• US Class Current: 385/55
• 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 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/389 characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence

Abstract

A connector housing for a connector to an optical device includes: a body with a bottom wall, a first side wall with a first lip, a second side wall with a second lip, where optical fibers may reside within the bottom, first side, and second side walls, where the first and second lips engage the optical fibers when residing within the bottom, first, and second side walls, where the first and second lips assist in preventing the optical fibers from being removed from the body; a spring coupled to the body and the optical fibers; and a sleeve coupled to the body, including a locking feature for locking the body to the optical device. The connector housing is compact in size, allowing larger numbers of fiber-optic modules to reside on a printed circuit board, increasing its density for optical devices. A connector with the connector housing is also more cost effective to manufacture.

Claims

1. A connector housing for a connector to an optical device, comprising:

a body, comprising;

a bottom wall,

a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising a first lip,

a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising a second lip,

wherein a plurality of optical fibers may reside within the bottom, first side, and second side walls,

wherein the first and second lips engage the plurality of optical fibers when the plurality of optical fibers reside within the bottom, first, and second side walls, wherein the first and second lips assist in preventing the plurality of optical fibers from being removed from the body;

a spring coupled to the body and the plurality of optical fibers; and

a sleeve coupled to the body, comprising a locking feature for locking the body to the optical device.

2. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises:

a first protrusion coupled to the first side wall and the bottom wall; and

a second protrusion coupled to the second side wall and the bottom wall, wherein the plurality of optical fibers may abut against the first and second protrusions.

3. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises:

a first slot on the first side wall, wherein a first finger of the optical device is capable of sliding along the first slot;

a second slot on the second side wall, wherein a second finger of the optical device is capable of sliding along the second slot;

a first indention on the first side wall, wherein the first finger is capable of residing within the first indention; and

a second indention on the second side wall, wherein the second finger of the optical device is capable of residing within the second indention.

4. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the first side wall comprises a first slanted surface proximate to the first lip, wherein the second side wall comprises a second slanted surface proximate to the second lip, wherein the first and second slanted surfaces facilitate a placement of the plurality of optical fibers within the bottom, first side, and second side walls.

5. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises:

a first notch in the first side wall; and

a second notch in the second side wall, wherein the spring resides within the first and second notches.

6. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises:

a first and a second ridge on the first side wall, wherein a tab of the sleeve resides between the first and second ridges when the sleeve is in an unlocked position; and

a third and a fourth ridge on the second side wall, wherein the tab of the sleeve resides between the third and fourth ridges when the sleeve is in the unlocked position.

7. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises:

a first tab coupled to the first side wall at an end distal to the first lip; and

a second tab coupled to the second side wall at an end distal to the second lip.

8. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the body further comprises:

a slab coupled to the bottom wall.

9. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the plurality of optical fibers resides within a fiber ribbon and a ferrule, wherein the ferrule comprises a flange.

10. The connector housing of claim 9, wherein the body further comprises:

an area, wherein the flange resides within the area.

11. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the body is composed of plastic.

12. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises a slit, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is capable of residing within the slit.

13. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the spring comprises at least one coil spring.

14. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the spring is composed of metal.

15. The connector housing of claim 1, wherein the sleeve further comprises:

a top wall;

a bottom wall;

a first side wall coupled to the top and bottom walls; and

a second side wall coupled to the top and bottom walls.

16. The connector housing of claim 15, wherein the locking feature comprises:

a first tab coupled to the top wall of the sleeve, wherein the first tab resides between a first and a second ridge on the first side wall of the body when the sleeve is in an unlocked position, wherein the first tab resides between a third and a fourth ridge on the second side wall of the body when the sleeve is in the unlocked position, wherein the first tab resides next to but not between the first, second, third, and fourth ridges when the sleeve is in a locked position.

17. The connector housing of claim 15, wherein the sleeve further comprises:

a second tab coupled to the top wall, wherein the second tab protrudes away from the sleeve.

18. The connector housing of claim 15, wherein the sleeve further comprises:

an indention in the bottom wall of the sleeve, wherein a slab of the body resides within the indention of the sleeve.

41. The converter of claim 1, wherein the ferrule comprises a plurality of optical fibers.

19. A connector housing for a connector to an optical device, the optical device including a first finger and a second finger, comprising:

a body, comprising;

a bottom wall,

a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising;

a first indention, wherein the first finger is capable of residing within the first indention, and

a first and a second ridge, and

a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising;

a second indention, wherein the second finger is capable of residing within the second indention, and

third and a fourth ridge;

a spring coupled to the body; and

a sleeve, comprising a locking feature for locking the first and second fingers to the body, wherein the locking feature comprises a first tab, wherein the first tab resides between the first and second ridges when the sleeve is in an unlocked position, wherein the first tab resides between the third and fourth ridge when the sleeve is in the unlocked position, wherein the first tap resides next to but not between the first, second, third, and fourth ridges when the sleeve is in a locked position.

20. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the body further comprises:

a first protrusion coupled to the first side wall and the bottom wall; and

a second protrusion coupled to the second side wall and the bottom wall, wherein the plurality of optical fibers may abut against the first and second protrusions.

21. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the body further comprises:

a first slot on the first side wall, wherein the first finger is capable of sliding along the first slot; and

a second slot on the second side wall, wherein the second finger is capable of sliding along the second slot.

22. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the first side wall further comprises a first lip and the second side wall further comprises a second lip, wherein the first and second lips are capable of engaging a plurality of optical fibers residing within the bottom, first, and second side walls, wherein the first and second lips assist in preventing the plurality of optical fibers from being removed from the body.

23. The connector housing of claim 22, wherein the first side wall further comprises a first slanted surface proximate to the first lip, wherein the second side wall comprises a second slanted surface proximate to the second lip, wherein the first and second slanted surfaces facilitate a placement of the plurality of optical fibers within the bottom, first side, and second side walls.

24. The connector housing of claim 22, wherein the plurality of optical fibers resides within a fiber ribbon and a ferrule, wherein the ferrule comprises a flange.

25. The connector housing of claim 24, wherein the body further comprises:

an area, wherein the flange resides within the area.

26. The connector housing of claim 22, wherein the body further comprises:

a first tab coupled to the first side wall at an end distal to the first lip; and

a second tab coupled to the second side wall at an end distal to the second lip.

27. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the body further comprises:

a first notch in the first side wall; and

a second notch in the second side wall, wherein the spring resides within the first and second notches.

28. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the body further comprises:

a slab coupled to the bottom wall.

29. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the body is composed of plastic.

30. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the spring comprises a slit, wherein the plurality of optical fibers is capable of residing within the slit.

31. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the spring comprises at least one coil spring.

32. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the spring is composed of metal.

33. The connector housing of claim 19, wherein the sleeve further comprises:

a top wall, wherein the tab is coupled to the top wall;

a bottom wall;

a first side wall coupled to the top and bottom walls; and

a second side wall coupled to the top and bottom walls.

34. The connector housing of claim 33, wherein the sleeve further comprises:

a second tab coupled to the top wall, wherein the second tab protrudes away from the sleeve.

35. The connector housing of claim 33, wherein the sleeve further comprises:

an indention in the bottom wall of the sleeve, wherein a slab of the body resides within the indention of the sleeve.

36. A connector to an optical device, comprising:

a ferrule with an optical fiber ribbon; and

a connector housing coupled to the ferrule, the connector housing comprising;

a body, comprising;

a bottom wall,

a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising a first lip,

a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising a second lip,

wherein the ferrule resides within the bottom, first side, and second side walls,

wherein the first and second lips engage the ferrule, wherein the first and second lips assist in preventing the ferrule from being removed from the body,

a spring coupled to the body and the ferrule, and

a sleeve coupled to the body, comprising a locking feature for locking the body to the optical device.

37. A system, comprising:

an optical device, comprising a first finger and a second finger;

a ferrule with an optical fiber ribbon; and

a connector housing coupled to the ferrule and the optical device, the connector housing comprising;

a body, comprising;

a bottom wall,

a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising;

a first lip,

a first indention, wherein the first finger resides within the first indention, and

a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising;

a second lip, wherein the ferrule resides within the bottom, first side, and second side walls, wherein the first and second lips engage the ferrule, wherein the first and second lips assist in preventing the ferrule from being removed from the body, and

a second indention, wherein the second finger of the optical device resides within the second indention,

a spring coupled to the body and the ferrule, and

a sleeve coupled to the body, comprising a locking feature for locking the first and second fingers within the first and second indentions.

38. An array of connectors, comprising:

a plurality of ferrules with a plurality of optical fiber ribbons; and

a plurality of connector housings coupled to the plurality of ferrules, wherein each connector housing comprises;

a body, comprising;

a bottom wall,

a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising a first lip,

a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising a second lip,

wherein one of the plurality of ferrules resides within the bottom, first side, and second side walls,

wherein the first and second lips engage the ferrule, wherein the first and second lips assist in preventing the one of the plurality of ferrules from being removed from the body,

a spring coupled to the body and the one of the plurality of ferrules, and

a sleeve coupled to the body, comprising a locking feature for locking the body to an optical device.

39. A method for providing a connector for an optical device, comprising the sequential steps of:

(a) providing a polished ferrule;

(b) placing a spring onto the polished ferrule;

(c) placing the polished ferrule and the spring within a body comprising a bottom wall, a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall, and a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall,

wherein the first side wall comprises a first lip, wherein the second side wall comprises a second lip, wherein the first and second lips engage the polished ferrule, wherein the first and, second lips assist in preventing the ferrule from being removed from the body; and

(d) placing the polished ferrule, the spring, and the body through a sleeve, wherein the sleeve comprises a locking feature to lock the body to the optical device.

40. A connector housing for a connector to an optical device, comprising:

a body, comprising;

a bottom wall,

a first side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising a first lip,

a second side wall coupled to the bottom wall, comprising a second lip,

wherein the bottom wall, first side wall, and second side wall are configured to receive a ferrule,

wherein the first and second lips are configured to engage the ferrule, wherein the first and second lips are configured to assist in preventing the ferrule from being removed from the body;

a spring coupled to the body and configured to be coupled to the ferrule; and

a sleeve coupled to the body, comprising a locking feature for locking the body to the optical device.