Ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly

• US 7,568,844 B2
• Filed: 08/15/2006
• Issued: 08/04/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Liu, Xin, Luther, James P., Theuerkorn, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): KIANNI, KAVEH C
• Application Number:
  US11/504,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20080044137A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,085 Days
• Field of Search: 385/60, 385/65, 385/52
• US Class Current: 385/60
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3889 using encapsulation for protection, e.g. adhesive, molding or casting resin

Abstract

A ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly includes a substantially hollow plug housing; and a glue body disposed within the substantially hollow plug housing; wherein the glue body includes a first portion that is configured to engage and retain an optical cable comprising an optical fiber and one or more strength members; wherein the glue body includes a second portion that is configured to engage and retain a connector sub-assembly comprising an optical ferrule; wherein the second portion of the glue body includes a pair of opposed snap hooks that are configured to engage a corresponding pair of opposed recesses of the connector sub-assembly; and wherein the optical fiber and the optical ferrule are optically coupled.

Claims

1. A ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

a substantially hollow plug housing; and

a retention body disposed within the substantially hollow plug housing;

wherein the retention body defines one or more edge channels that are configured to receive one or more strength members of an optical cable having at least one optical fiber;

wherein the retention body comprises a second portion that is configured to engage and retain a connector subassembly by snap-fitting thereto, the connector subassembly comprising at least one optical ferrule; and

wherein the at least one optical fiber is at least partially disposed in the at least one optical ferrule.

2. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention body defines a central bore that is configured to receive the at least one optical fiber at the first portion and the connector sub-assembly at the second portion.

3. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the central bore is configured to receive a shaft of the connector sub assembly at the second portion.

4. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 3, the retention body further comprising a crimp member disposed within the second portion of the central bore, wherein the crimp member is configured to retain the shaft of the connector subassembly.

5. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the retention body comprises a pair of opposed snap hooks that are configured to engage a corresponding pair of opposed recesses of the connector subassembly.

6. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the connector subassembly rotates up to about 5 degrees in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction with respect to the retention body.

7. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more edge channels of the retention body are at least partially filled with an adhesive that retains the one or more strength members.

8. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the adhesive comprises an adhesive selected from the group consisting of an epoxy, a visible light curable epoxy, an ultraviolet light curable glue, and a heat curable glue.

9. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the retention body is optically transparent for curing an adhesive.

10. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more edge channels of the retention body comprise one or more wedge members disposed therein that retain the one or more strength members.

11. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein an interior surface of the substantially hollow plug housing comprises one or more protrusions and an exterior surface of the retention body comprises one or more corresponding recesses, the one or more protrusions and the one or more corresponding recesses securing the retention body within the substantially hollow plug housing in a preferred orientation.

12. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention body is a single component.

13. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the substantially hollow plug housing includes a plurality of fingers.

14. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, further including an o-ring for attachment to the substantially hollow plug housing.

15. The ruggedized fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the retention body is optically transparent for curing an adhesive, and an interior surface of the substantially hollow plug housing comprises one or more protrusions and an exterior surface of the retention body comprises one or more corresponding recesses, the one or more protrusions and the one or more corresponding recesses securing the retention body within the substantially hollow plug housing in a preferred orientation, and wherein the connector subassembly rotates up to about 5 degrees in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction with respect to the retention body.