Fiber optic connector

• US 9,176,285 B2
• Filed: 05/03/2013
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Nhep, Ponharith, Nault, Patrick
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm Enayet
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOONEY, MICHAEL P
• Application Number:
  US13/887,053
• Publication Number:
  US 20130315541A1
• Time in Patent Office: 914 Days
• Field of Search: 385 74- 87, 264/1.24, 264/1.25
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14065 Positioning or centering articles in the mould
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2063/00 Use of EP, i.e. epoxy resins or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2011/0075 Light guides, optical cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3865 fabricated by using moulding techniques shaping techniques of plastic materials in general B29C; producing plastic optical fiber connectors B29D11/0075
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3869 Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/387 Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic connector and cable assembly. The fiber optic connector includes a connector body and ferrule assembly mounted in the connector body. A spring is positioned within the connector body for biasing the ferrule assembly in a forward direction. The spring has a first spring length when the ferrule assembly is in a forwardmost position. A rear housing of the connector body includes a front extension that fits inside a rear end of the spring, the front extension having a front extension length. The fiber optic connector defines a gap between the front extension and a ferrule hub of the ferrule assembly, the gap having a first dimension measured between the front extension and the ferrule hub when the ferrule assembly is in the forwardmost position, the front extension length being longer than the first dimension.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector comprising:

a connector body defining a longitudinal axis, the connector body including a front housing that connects to a rear housing, the front and rear housings having lengths that extend along the longitudinal axis;

a ferrule assembly mounted at least partially in the connector body, the ferrule assembly being movable relative to the connector body along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, the ferrule assembly including a ferrule having a rear end supported in a ferrule hub, the ferrule having a front face accessible at a front end of the connector body, the ferrule defining a fiber passage that extends through the ferrule along the central longitudinal axis from the rear end of the ferrule to the front face of the ferrule;

a spring positioned within the connector body for biasing the ferrule assembly in a forward direction toward a forwardmost position of the ferrule assembly, the spring having a first spring length when the ferrule assembly is in the forwardmost position;

the rear housing including a front extension that fits inside a rear end of the spring, the front extension having a front extension length; and

the fiber optic connector defining a gap between the front extension of the rear housing and the ferrule hub, the gap having a first dimension measured between the front extension of the rear housing and the ferrule hub when the ferrule assembly is in the forwardmost position, the first dimension being measured in an orientation along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, the front extension length being longer than the first dimension of the gap.

2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the first dimension of the gap is at most 25 percent of the first spring length.

3. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the front extension length is at least 25 percent of the first spring length.

4. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the ferrule hub includes a rear extension that fits inside a front end of the spring, the rear extension having a rear extension length that is at least 25 percent of the first spring length, and wherein the first dimension of the gap is measured between the front extension of the rear housing and the rear extension of the ferrule hub.

5. The fiber optic connector of claim 4, wherein the front extension length is longer than the rear extension length.

6. The fiber optic connector of claim 5, wherein the ferrule hub defines a ferrule hub passage that co-axially aligns with the fiber passage of the ferrule, wherein the ferrule hub passage includes a tapered portion within the rear extension that tapers inwardly as the tapered portion extends in a forward direction.

7. The fiber optic connector of claim 6, wherein the fiber passage of the ferrule has a tapered portion at the rear end of the ferrule, the tapered portion of the fiber passage tapering inwardly as the fiber passage extends in the forward direction.

8. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the rear housing includes first and second outer shoulders positioned at an intermediate location along the length of the rear housing, the first and second outer shoulders being separated by a spacing measured along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, wherein the second outer shoulder is rearward of the first outer shoulder, wherein the rear housing defines a plurality of flats at the first outer shoulder, and wherein the fiber optic connector includes a boot that snaps over the second outer shoulder and abuts against the first outer shoulder.

9. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, further comprising an end cap that fits in a rear end of the rear housing, the end cap defining an end cap passage that extends along the longitudinal axis of the connector body, the rear housing defining a rear housing passage that extends along the longitudinal axis of the connector body.

10. The fiber optic connector of claim 9, further comprising a crimp sleeve secured over the rear end of the rear housing, the crimp sleeve being configured to retain the end cap within the rear housing.

11. The fiber optic connector of claim 7, wherein a fiber optic cable is coupled to the fiber optic connector, the fiber optic cable including an optical fiber positioned within a jacket, wherein the optical fiber includes a bare glass portion secured within the fiber passage of the ferrule by epoxy, and wherein the jacket has a terminal end positioned within the hub of the ferrule assembly.

12. The fiber optic connector of claim 11, wherein the jacket has an outer diameter of about 1.2 millimeters.

13. The fiber optic connector of claim 11, wherein the fiber optic cable includes strength members that are secured to the rear housing by a crimp sleeve to provide strain relief.

14. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, further comprising a latch for securing the connector body in a fiber optic adapter, the latch being integrally formed with the front housing.

15. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the rear housing has retention tabs that snap-fit within corresponding openings defined by the front housing.

16. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic connector is an LC connector.

17. A method for injecting epoxy into the fiber passage of the ferrule of the fiber optic connector of claim 9 using an injection device including an injection needle and a plurality of spacers that project radially outwardly from the injection needle, wherein the injection needle is inserted into the connector body through the rear end of the rear housing and is moved within the connector body along the longitudinal axis of the connector body until a tip of the injection needle is positioned adjacent the rear end of the ferrule, and wherein contact between the spacers and a surface defining the rear housing passage maintains alignment of the injection needle with the longitudinal axis of the connector body during insertion and withdrawal of the injection needle.