Optical and opto-electronic interconnect alignment system

• US 6,984,073 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Issued: 01/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Cox, Larry R.
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH TAM T
• Application Number:
  US10/685,149
• Publication Number:
  US 20050078914A1
• Time in Patent Office: 819 Days
• Field of Search: 385/53, 385/54, 385/55, 385/88, 385/89, 385/90, 385/92
• 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 6/3849 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 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• 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 alignment system includes a base for mounting on a first substrate, and a housing movably engaged with the base. The housing secures an opto-electronic termination. The housing has longitudinal, lateral, transverse and angular ranges of motion with respect to the base. When the housing is in an unmated position, various combinations of the lateral, transverse and angular ranges of motion are less than the respective ranges of motion when the housing is in a mated position.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector alignment system comprising:

a base configured for mounting on a first substrate; and

a housing movably engaged with the base by at least one channel on the housing and at least one rail on the base, the housing configured to secure a terminating ferrule for an optical fiber, a longitudinal orientation of the optical fiber within the terminating ferrule defining a longitudinal axis, the housing movable along the longitudinal axis between a mated position and an unmated position;

wherein the housing has a longitudinal range of motion and a lateral range of motion, with respect to the base, in both the mated and unmated positions, wherein the lateral range of motion when the housing is in the unmated position is less than the lateral range of motion when the housing is in the mated position, and wherein the channel and rail are engaged in both the mated and unmated positions.

2. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, further comprising a spring element biasing the housing along the longitudinal axis toward the unmated position.

3. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, further comprising a mating connector disposed on a second substrate and configured to mate with the housing.

4. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, wherein the housing has an angular range of motion, and wherein the angular range of motion is reduced when the housing is in the unmated position.

5. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, wherein the housing is configured to secure a plurality of terminating ferrules.

6. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, wherein the housing has a transverse range of motion, and wherein the transverse range of motion is reduced when the housing is in the unmated position.

7. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, wherein the lateral range of motion is in the range of 0.030 to 0.050 inches when the housing is in the mated position.

8. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, wherein the lateral range of motion is less than 0.010 inches when the housing is the unmated position.

9. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, wherein the rail is shaped to restrict the lateral range of motion of the housing as the housing moves longitudinally toward the unmated position.

10. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 9, wherein the rail is shaped to restrict a transverse range of motion of the housing as the housing moves longitudinally toward the unmated position.

11. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a pair of channels configured to engaged a pair of mating rails on the base member.

12. The fiber optic connector alignment system of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a tapered notch configured to engaged a smaller mating protrusion on the base member, wherein a size difference between the tapered notch and the mating protrusion decreases as the housing moves toward the unmated position.

13. A device for aligning a fiber optic connector on a first substrate with a mating connector on a second substrate, the device comprising:

a base for securing to the first substrate having at least one rail;

a housing configured to hold a terminating ferrule and having at least one channel, wherein the housing is slidably engaged with the base by the at least one channel on the housing and the at least one rail on the base member to provide a longitudinal range of motion and a lateral range of motion with respect to the base in both mated and unmated positions; and

a spring element controlling movement of the housing along the longitudinal range of motion;

wherein the lateral range of motion varies as the housing is moved through the longitudinal range of motion, and wherein the at least one channel and the at least one rail are engaged in both the mated and unmated positions.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the spring element urges the housing to a forward position, and wherein the lateral range of motion decreases as the housing approaches the forward position.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the lateral range of motion gradually decreases as the housing approaches the forward position.

16. The device of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal range of motion comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the lateral range of motion varies in the second portion.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the housing has an angular range of motion with respect to the base in the first portion of the longitudinal range of motion.

18. The device of claim 13, wherein the housing is configured to hold a plurality of terminating ferrules.

19. The device of claim 13, wherein the base is removably secured to the first substrate.

20. The device of claim 13, wherein the first substrate is substantially parallel to the second substrate.

21. The device of claim 13, wherein the first substrate is substantially orthogonal to the second substrate.

22. A device for self-positioning a terminated conductor on a substrate, the device comprising:

a housing for holding the terminated conductor, the housing slidably disposed on the substrate by engagement of at least one channel on the housing and at least one protrusion on the substrate such that the housing has a longitudinal range of motion and a lateral range of motion with respect to the substrate in both mated and unmated positions;

biasing means urging the housing along the longitudinal range of motion toward a forward position;

wherein the engagement of the channel and protrusion direct the housing to a predetermined lateral position as the housing moves toward the forward position; and

wherein the channel and protrusion are engaged in both the mated and unmated positions of the housing.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the predetermined lateral position is substantially centered along the lateral range of motion.

24. The device of claim 22, wherein the lateral range of motion increases as the housing moves away from the forward position.

25. The device of claim 22, wherein the conductor comprises an optical conductor.

26. The device of claim 22, wherein the conductor comprises an electrical conductor.

27. The device of claim 22, further comprising a base member interposed between the housing and the substrate, wherein the base member is slidably engaged with the housing.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the base member is rigidly mounted on the substrate.

29. The device of claim 27, wherein the base member is movable relative to the substrate.

30. The device of claim 27, wherein the channel and protrusion are cooperatively shaped to direct the housing to the predetermined lateral position as the housing moves toward the forward position.

31. The device of claim 22, wherein the biasing means comprises a spring.

32. The device of claim 22, wherein the channel and protrusion are cooperatively shaped to direct the housing to the predetermined lateral position as the housing moves toward the forward position.