Indexable optical fiber connectors and optical fiber connector arrays
First Claim
1. An optical fiber connector comprising:
- a connector body comprising an optical coupling face;
a connector housing surrounding the connector body, the connector housing comprising a first interconnecting surface comprising a first arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface comprising a second arraying feature, wherein;
the first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face;
the first and second arraying features are configured to mate with corresponding arraying features of adjacent optical fiber connectors by a non-locking engagement relationship; and
the first arraying feature and the second arraying feature are configured as an indentation arraying feature or a protrusion arraying feature.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Indexable optical fiber connectors, optical connector arrays, and optical connector systems are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an optical fiber connector includes a connector body comprising an optical coupling face and a connector housing that surrounds the connector body. The connector housing includes a first interconnecting surface having an indentation arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface having a protrusion arraying feature. The first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face. The indentation arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion arraying feature of a first adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship. Similarly, the protrusion arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding indentation arraying feature of a second adjacent optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. An optical fiber connector comprising:
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a connector body comprising an optical coupling face; a connector housing surrounding the connector body, the connector housing comprising a first interconnecting surface comprising a first arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface comprising a second arraying feature, wherein; the first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face; the first and second arraying features are configured to mate with corresponding arraying features of adjacent optical fiber connectors by a non-locking engagement relationship; and the first arraying feature and the second arraying feature are configured as an indentation arraying feature or a protrusion arraying feature. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. An optical fiber connector comprising:
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a connector body comprising an optical coupling face; a connector housing surrounding the connector body, the connector housing comprising a first interconnecting surface comprising an indentation arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface comprising a protrusion arraying feature, wherein; the first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face; the indentation arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion arraying feature of a first adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship; and the protrusion arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding indentation arraying feature of a second adjacent optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An optical fiber connector array comprising:
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a plurality of optical fiber connectors, each individual optical fiber connector of the plurality of optical fiber connectors comprising; a connector body comprising an optical coupling face; a connector housing surrounding the connector body, the connector housing comprising a first interconnecting surface comprising an indentation arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface comprising a protrusion arraying feature, wherein; the first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face; the indentation arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion arraying feature of a first adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship; and the protrusion arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding indentation arraying feature of a second adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship; and a removable retention mechanism surrounding the plurality of optical fiber connectors, wherein the removable retention mechanism retains the plurality of optical fiber connectors in the optical fiber connector array such that that the indentation arraying feature of individual ones of the plurality of optical fiber connectors are mated to the protrusion arraying feature of individual ones of the plurality of optical fiber connectors. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An optical fiber connector system comprising:
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a plurality of optical fiber connectors, each individual optical fiber connector of the plurality of optical fiber connectors comprising; a connector body comprising an optical coupling face; a connector housing surrounding the connector body, the connector housing comprising a first interconnecting surface comprising an indentation arraying feature, and a second interconnecting surface comprising a protrusion arraying feature, wherein; the first interconnecting surface and the second interconnecting surface are orthogonal to the optical coupling face; the indentation arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding protrusion arraying feature of a first adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship; the protrusion arraying feature is configured to mate with a corresponding indentation arraying feature of a second adjacent interconnecting optical fiber connector by a non-locking engagement relationship; and a fiber optic cable extending from a rear surface of the connector housing; a removable retention mechanism surrounding the plurality of optical fiber connectors, wherein the removable retention mechanism retains the plurality of optical fiber connectors in an optical fiber connector array such that that the indentation arraying feature of individual ones of the plurality of optical fiber connectors are mated to the protrusion arraying feature of individual ones of the plurality of optical fiber connectors; and a holder tray comprising; a support feature having a width and a length such that the holder tray accommodates the plurality of optical fiber connectors; and a securing surface extending from the support feature, the securing surface comprising a plurality of openings sized to accept a plurality of fiber optic cables associated with the plurality of optical fiber connectors, wherein the securing surface maintains the plurality of optical fiber connectors within the holder tray. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification