Optical fiber plug

• US 6,848,838 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 02/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Doss, Donald G., Hardcastle, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Duverne, Jean F.
• Application Number:
  US10/247,143
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057676A1
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 385/81, 385/72, 385/73, 385/55, 385/56, 385/65, 385/70, 385/75, 385/58, 385/62, 385/64, 385/77, 385/78, 385/82, 385/139, 385/83, 385 97- 99, 385/87
• US Class Current: 385/81
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/25 Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3801 Permanent connections, i.e. wherein fibres are kept aligned by mechanical means splices by bonding G02B6/255; fusion splices G02B6/2551
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3846 with fibre stubs
• 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 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B

Abstract

An optical fiber connector plug for an optical fiber connection comprises a connecting portion including a rear entry at a first end and a first fiber stub exit opening to a first fiber stub channel. The first fiber stub exit is parallel to a second fiber stub exit opening to a second fiber stub channel. The first and second fiber stub exits are formed opposite the first end. The rear entry divides at a junction into a first fiber groove and a second, diverging fiber groove. The connecting portion includes crimp elements each having an open-ended bore. Each crimp element contains an optical fiber stub. A molded top attached to the connecting portion includes a substantially rectangular opening. The opening contains a compression element that moves to form splices by capturing a stripped optical fiber and an optical fiber stub in each of the crimp elements. A bend relief boot encloses the connecting portion at one end, while a shroud releasably engages it at the other end.

Claims

1. An optical fiber connector plug for mating with an optical fiber receptacle to form an optical fiber connection, said optical fiber connector plug comprising:

a connecting portion comprising;

a containment body including a rear entry formed therein at a first end thereof and a first fiber stub exit opening to a first fiber stub channel, said first fiber stub exit being parallel to a second fiber stub exit opening to a second fiber stub channel, said first and second fiber stub exits being formed at a second end opposite said first end of said containment body, said rear entry dividing at a junction into a first fiber groove and a second fiber groove diverging from said first fiber groove;

a first crimp element having an open-ended bore coaxial with said first fiber groove;

a second crimp element having an open-ended bore coaxial with said second fiber groove;

a first fiber stub inserted along said first fiber stub channel to enter said first crimp element;

a second fiber stub inserted along said second fiber stub channel to enter said second crimp element;

a molded top attached to said containment body said molded top including a substantially rectangular opening located between a first end portion and an opposing second end portion; and

a compression element positioned in said substantially rectangular opening for movement between a first position and a second position to apply force to each of said first crimp element and said second crimp element, said compression element occupying said first position for width adjustment of each said bore, of said first crimp element and said second crimp element, to receive a stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of at least one optical fiber, said compression element occupying said second position for splicing said first fiber stub with the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the optical fiber in said first crimp element and splicing said second fiber stub with the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the optical fiber in said second crimp element;

a biasing element having a first resilient finger parallel with a second resilient finger, said resilient fingers restricting movement of said first fiber stub and said second fiber stub after mating of said connector plug with said optical fiber receptacle;

a bend relief boot having an opening therethrough to enclose said first end of said containment body and said first end portion of said molded top; and

a shroud releasably engaged over said second end of said containment body and said opposing second end portion of said molded top.

2. An optical fiber connector plug for mating with an optical fiber receptacle to form an optical fiber connection, said optical fiber connector plug comprising:

a connecting portion comprising;

a containment body including a structured floor having a rear entry formed therein at a first end thereof and a first fiber stub exit opening to a first fiber stub channel, said first fiber stub exit being parallel to a second fiber stub exit opening to a second fiber stub channel, said first and second fiber stub exits being formed at a second end opposite said first end of said structured floor, said rear entry dividing at a junction into a first fiber groove and a second fiber groove diverging from said first fiber groove, said structured floor further including an open-ended tray, a first elongate depression and a second elongate depression, said first elongate depression located between said first fiber groove and said first fiber stub channel in coaxial alignment therewith, said second elongate depression located between said second fiber groove and said second fiber stub channel in coaxial alignment therewith, said open-ended tray communicating with and perpendicular to said first fiber stub channel and said second fiber stub channel;

a first crimp element having a front end and a rear end and further including an open-ended bore coaxial with said first fiber groove, said first crimp element having restricted movement in said first elongate depression;

a second crimp element having a front end and a rear end and further including an open-ended bore coaxial with said second fiber groove, said second crimp element having restricted movement in said second elongate depression;

a first fiber stub inserted along said first fiber stub channel to enter said front end of said first crimp element when said compression element is in said first position, said first fiber stub adhesively bonded to an end of said open-ended channel;

a second fiber stub inserted along said second fiber stub channel to enter said front end of said second crimp element when said compression element is in said first position, said second fiber stub adhesively bonded to an opposing end of said open-ended channel;

a molded top attached to said containment body said molded top including a substantially rectangular opening located between a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, said first end portion including an injection orifice, said second end portion having a rectangular trough formed therein to surround an injection port formed through a shroud catch; and

a compression element positioned in said substantially rectangular opening to apply force to each of said first crimp element and said second crimp element, said compression element occupying a first position to narrow each said bore of said first crimp element and said second crimp element for receiving a stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of at least one optical fiber, said compression element thereafter occupying a second position to grip the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the at least one optical fiber, received in each said bore, at each said rear end of each of said first crimp element and said second crimp element;

a biasing element seated in said rectangular trough, said biasing element having a first resilient finger parallel with a second resilient finger, said resilient fingers restricting movement of said first fiber stub and said second fiber stub after mating of said optical fiber connector plug with said optical fiber receptacle;

a bend relief boot having an opening therethrough to enclose said first end of said containment body and said first end portion of said molded top; and

a shroud releasably engaged over said second end of said containment body and said opposing second end portion of said molded top.

3. An optical fiber connector plug for mating with an optical fiber receptacle to form an optical fiber connection, said optical fiber connector plug comprising:

a connecting portion comprising;

a containment body including a rear entry formed therein at a first end thereof and a first fiber stub exit opening to a first fiber stub channel, said first fiber stub exit being parallel to a second fiber stub exit opening to a second fiber stub channel, said first and second fiber stub exits being formed at a second end opposite said first end of said containment body, said rear entry dividing at a junction into a first fiber groove and a second fiber groove diverging from said first fiber groove;

a first crimp element having an open-ended bore coaxial with said first fiber groove;

a second crimp element having an open-ended bore coaxial with said second fiber groove;

a first fiber stub inserted along said first fiber stub channel to enter said first crimp element;

a second fiber stub inserted along said second fiber stub channel to enter said second crimp element;

a molded top attached to said containment body said molded top including an opening located between a first end portion and an opposing second end portion; and

a compression element positioned in said opening for movement between a first position and a second position to apply force to each of said first crimp element and said second crimp element, said compression element occupying said first position for width adjustment of each said bore, of said first crimp element and said second crimp element, to receive a stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of at least one optical fiber, said compression element occupying said second position for splicing said first fiber stub with the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the optical fiber in said first crimp element and splicing said second fiber stub with the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the optical fiber in said second crimp element;

a biasing element having a first resilient finger parallel with a second resilient finger, said resilient fingers restricting movement of said first fiber stub and said second fiber stub after mating of said connector plug with said optical fiber receptacle;

a bend relief boot having an opening therethrough to enclose said first end of said containment body and said first end portion of said molded top; and

a shroud releasably engaged over said second end of said containment body and said opposing second end portion of said molded top.

4. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 3, wherein said containment body further comprises a structured floor including an open-ended tray, a first elongate depression and a second elongate depression, said first elongate depression located between said first fiber groove and said first stub channel in coaxial alignment therewith, said second elongate depression located between said second fiber groove and said second fiber stub channel in coaxial alignment therewith, said open-ended tray communicating with said first fiber stub channel and said second fiber stub channel.

5. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 4, wherein said first crimp element and said second crimp element each have a front end and a rear end, said first crimp element having restricted movement in said first elongate depression and said second crimp element having restricted movement in said second elongate depression.

6. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 5, wherein said first stub enters said front end of said first crimp element when said compression element is in said first position, said first fiber stub having an adhesive bond to an end of said open ended channel.

7. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 6, wherein said second stub enters said front end of said second crimp element when said compression element is in said first position, said second fiber stub having an adhesive bond to an opposing end of said open ended channel.

8. The optical fiber connector of claim 3, wherein said molded top includes a substantially rectangular opening and said first end portion includes an injection orifice.