Fiber optic connector and method

• US 7,371,082 B2
• Filed: 09/22/2006
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Nelson, Keith Q., Zimmel, Steven C.
• Primary Examiner(s): DINH, PHUONG K
• Application Number:
  US11/534,513
• Publication Number:
  US 20070110371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 599 Days
• Field of Search: 385/78, 385/76, 385/83, 385/53, 385/79, 385/139, 385/92
• US Class Current: 439/78
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3843 with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, e.g. measuring position or eccentricity testing the alignment of axes, including eccentricity, G01B11/27
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3871 Ferrule rotatable with respect to plug body, e.g. for setting rotational position adjusting fibre within the ferrule, G02B6/3843; Fixation of ferrules after rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

A fiber optic connector including a ferrule surrounding an optical fiber and a hub engaging the ferrule. The hub includes a front portion having first and second opposing surfaces and first and second tapered regions extending from the first and second opposing surfaces to a front face. A housing includes an anti-rotation seat configured to engage the first and second opposing surfaces, the anti-rotation seat including parallel first and second contact lines positioned at a front of the anti-rotation seat. A spring within a chamber of the housing biases the ferrule through a bore in the front of the housing. The first tapered region of the hub engages the first contact line and the second tapered region engages the second contact line when the hub and ferrule are in a first rotational position so that the optical fiber is maintained at a known orientation with respect to the connector.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector comprising:

a ferrule sized to receive an optical fiber;

a hub coupled to the ferrule, the hub including a main body extending along a longitudinal axis of the connector, and an engagement portion defining a plurality of tapered engagement surfaces that extend from the main body, the tapered engagement surfaces each extending at an angle with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connector;

a housing defining a cavity sized to receive at least a portion of the hub, and the housing including a front portion defining a plurality of contact lines; and

a spring sized to fit within the cavity of the housing to push the hub toward the front portion of the housing;

wherein the hub moves in the cavity along the longitudinal axis of the connector; and

wherein the tapered engagement surfaces of the engagement portion of the hub contact the contact lines of the front portion of the housing when the hub is moved by the spring toward the front portion of the housing so that an end of the optical fiber is maintained at a known orientation with respect to the longitudinal axis of the connector.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein the engagement portion of the hub defines eight tapered engagement surfaces.