Fiber optic interface with translatable ferrule device
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A fiber optic interface device comprising:
- a ferrule having front and rear ends connected by one or more optical pathways configured to respectively operably support one or more optical waveguides;
one or more optical waveguides respectively supported by the one or more optical pathways;
an enclosure having front and rear ends and an interior in which the ferrule is translatably supported therein, the interior having a storage region adjacent the ferrule that is configured to loosely store one or more excess portions of the one or more optical waveguides; and
at least one resilient member operably configured relative to the ferrule to provide a forward-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is unmated and a rear-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is mated, wherein the ferrule front end resides within the enclosure interior at a distance D from the enclosure front end while in the rear-biased position, D is 0.5 mm≦
D≦
20 mm.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Optical fiber ferrules (10, 20) for making optical or optical and electrical connections are disclosed, along with receptacle and plug fiber optic interface devices (60, 70) using the ferrules, and cable assemblies (6, 7) using the fiber optic interface devices. The optical fiber ferrules support optical pathways (14) and have front ends (12F, 22F) with mating geometries that facilitate a relatively high number of mating/unmating cycles. The ferrule is translatable within the enclosure (62e, 72e). Resilient members (75) provide the ferrule with forward-bias and rear-bias positions when the fiber optic interface device is un-mated and mated, respectively.
170 Citations
29 Claims
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1. A fiber optic interface device comprising:
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a ferrule having front and rear ends connected by one or more optical pathways configured to respectively operably support one or more optical waveguides; one or more optical waveguides respectively supported by the one or more optical pathways; an enclosure having front and rear ends and an interior in which the ferrule is translatably supported therein, the interior having a storage region adjacent the ferrule that is configured to loosely store one or more excess portions of the one or more optical waveguides; and at least one resilient member operably configured relative to the ferrule to provide a forward-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is unmated and a rear-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is mated, wherein the ferrule front end resides within the enclosure interior at a distance D from the enclosure front end while in the rear-biased position, D is 0.5 mm≦
D≦
20 mm. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A fiber optic interface device comprising:
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an enclosure having an axis, front and rear ends and an interior; a ferrule configured to operably support a plurality of optical fibers, the ferrule being supported within the housing interior and being axially translatable therein; a plurality of optical waveguides operably supported by the ferrule; and at least one resilient member operably arranged within the enclosure interior and configured to provide a forward-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is unmated and a rear-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is mated, wherein the ferrule front end resides within the enclosure interior at a distance D from the enclosure front end when in the rear-biased position, and where D is 0.5 mm≦
D≦
20 mm. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A fiber optic interface device comprising:
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an enclosure having an axis, front and rear ends and an interior; a ferrule configured to operably support a plurality of optical fibers, the ferrule being supported within the housing interior and being axially translatable therein; a plurality of optical waveguides operably supported by the ferrule; and at least one resilient member operably arranged within the enclosure interior and configured to provide a forward-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is unmated and a rear-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is mated, wherein the ferrule front end resides within the enclosure interior at a distance D from the enclosure front end when in the rear-biased position, and where D is 4 mm≦
D≦
8 mm. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification