Optical fiber plug including fiber positioning holder

• US 6,870,996 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• 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): ST CYR, DANIEL
• Application Number:
  US10/247,141
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057675A1
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 338/134, 338/135, 338/62, 338/95
• US Class Current: 385/134
• 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

Abstract

An optical fiber connector plug 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 of the connecting portion. An optical fiber connector plug also includes a holder that fits into the rear entry of the connecting portion for permanent retention of at least one stripped, cleaved and polished optical fiber. First and second crimp elements, in the connecting portion, each have an open-ended bore coaxial with the fiber stub channels. Each crimp element contains an optical fiber stub. A molded top attached to the connecting portion includes an opening containing a compression element that forms splices by capturing a stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of an optical fiber and an optical fiber stub in each crimp element. 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;

a holder for permanent retention of a stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of at least one optical fiber, said holder having a size for insertion into said rear entry of said containment body;

a first crimp element having an open-ended bore coaxial with said first fiber stub channel, said open-ended bore having a front end opening to said first fiber stub channel, said open-ended bore further having a rear end to receive the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the at least one optical fiber;

a second crimp element having an open-ended bore coaxial with said second fiber stub channel, said open-ended bore of said second crimp element having a front end opening to said second fiber stub channel, said open-ended bore of said second crimp element further having a rear end to receive the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the at least one optical fiber;

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 the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the 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 at least one optical fiber in said first crimp element and splicing said second fiber stub with the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of the at least one 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 for releasable engagement 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 having a first end opposite a second end, said first end including a rear entry, said second end having a first fiber stub exit parallel to a second fiber stub exit;

a first optical fiber stub positioned in said first fiber stub exit;

a second optical fiber stub positioned in said second fiber stub exit;

a holder for permanent retention of stripped, cleaved and polished end portions of a pair of optical fibers, said holder sized for insertion into said rear entry of said containment body to position said end portions of said pair of optical fibers to form a connection to connect one of said end portions to said first optical fiber stub and said other end portion of said pair of optical fibers to said second optical fiber stub;

.

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 of said molded top; and

a compression element movable in said opening between a first position and a second position such that in said first position each of said end portions of said pair of optical fibers contacts one of said first optical fiber stub and said second optical fiber stub, said compression element moving to said second position for gripping of said first optical fiber stub, said second optical fiber stub and said end portions of said pair of optical fibers to provide said connection therebetween.

3. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 2, wherein said containment body further includes a first fiber stub channel opening to said first fiber stub exit and a second fiber stub channel opening to said second fiber stub exit.

4. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 3, further including a first crimp element and a second crimp element, said first crimp element having an open-ended bore coaxial with said first fiber stub channel, said open-ended bore having a front end opening to said first fiber stub channel, said open-ended bore further having a rear end to receive the stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of one of said pair of optical fibers, said second crimp element having an open-ended bore coaxial with said second fiber stub channel, said open-ended bore of said second crimp element having a front end opening to said second fiber stub channel, said open-ended bore of said second crimp element further having a rear end to receive the other stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of said pair of optical fibers.

5. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 4, having said first fiber plug inserted along said first fiber stub channel to enter said first crimp element and said second fiber plug inserted along said second fiber stub channel to enter said second crimp element.

6. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 5, wherein said compression element, in said second position, causes said first crimp element to grip said first fiber plug and said end portion of said one of said pair of optical fibers and said second crimp element to grip said second fiber plug and said other stripped, cleaved and polished end portion of said pair of optical fibers to provide said connection.

7. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 2, wherein said opening is a substantially rectangular opening.

8. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 2, further comprising a biasing element having a first resilient finger substantially parallel to a second resilient finger, said first and second 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.

9. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 2, further comprising 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.

10. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 2, further comprising a shroud for releasable engagement over said second end of said containment body and said opposing second end portion of said molded top.

11. 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 having a first end opposite a second end, said first end including a rear entry, said second end having a fiber stub exit portion;

an optical fiber stub positioned in said fiber stub exit portion;

a holder for permanent retention of an end portion of an optical fiber, said holder sized for insertion into said rear entry of said containment body to position said end portion of said optical fiber to form a connection to connect said end portion to said optical fiber stub; and

a movable compression element receivable in said containment body, wherein in a first position, said compression element contacts said optical fiber stub, and wherein in a second position, said in a second position compression element forces gripping of said optical fiber stub and said end portion of said optical fiber to provide said connection therebetween.

12. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 11, wherein the end portion is at least one of stripped, cleaved, and polished.

13. The optical fiber connector plug of claim 12, wherein the end portion is angled.