Hermaphroditic fibre optical connector system
First Claim
1. A connector system for mating first and second optical fiber connectors having optical fibers therein defining a mating axis, the connector system comprising:
- a first housing, the first housing including a first outer member capable of being secured to a printed wiring board, a first inner member engaged with the first outer member and capable of receiving the first optical fiber connector, and at least one spring mounted between the first outer member and the first inner member for biasing the first inner member from the first outer member; and
a second housing, the second housing including a second outer member capable of being secured to a printed wiring board, a second inner member engaged with the second outer member and capable of receiving the second optical fiber connector, and at least one spring mounted between the second outer member and the second inner member for biasing the second inner member from the second outer member;
wherein;
each housing further includes at least one mounting stud and at least one channel for receiving the mounting stud;
each channel being disposed within a mounting member, each mounting member being generally C-shaped with an opening running lengthwise up the side of the mounting member;
each mounting stud is longer than each channel to permit movement of each mounting stud within each channel in a direction perpendicular to the mating axis; and
the first housing directly mates with the second housing to provide a mating of the first and second optical fiber connectors along the mating axis.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The connector system provides two identical hermaphroditic housings, which accomplish a reliable connection of standard optical fiber connectors without the use of an adaptor. The connector system includes a first housing mounted to a first printed wiring board and a second housing mounted to a second printed wiring board. Each housing supports an optical fiber connector therein. Each housing includes an inner member and an outer member. Springs are provided between the inner and outer members to provide biasing of the housings in the mating direction of the optical connectors.
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Citations
9 Claims
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1. A connector system for mating first and second optical fiber connectors having optical fibers therein defining a mating axis, the connector system comprising:
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a first housing, the first housing including a first outer member capable of being secured to a printed wiring board, a first inner member engaged with the first outer member and capable of receiving the first optical fiber connector, and at least one spring mounted between the first outer member and the first inner member for biasing the first inner member from the first outer member; and a second housing, the second housing including a second outer member capable of being secured to a printed wiring board, a second inner member engaged with the second outer member and capable of receiving the second optical fiber connector, and at least one spring mounted between the second outer member and the second inner member for biasing the second inner member from the second outer member; wherein; each housing further includes at least one mounting stud and at least one channel for receiving the mounting stud; each channel being disposed within a mounting member, each mounting member being generally C-shaped with an opening running lengthwise up the side of the mounting member; each mounting stud is longer than each channel to permit movement of each mounting stud within each channel in a direction perpendicular to the mating axis; and the first housing directly mates with the second housing to provide a mating of the first and second optical fiber connectors along the mating axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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Specification