Multi-ferrule connector for multicore fiber terminations

• US 9,366,829 B2
• Filed: 05/24/2013
• Issued: 06/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OFS Fitel LLC (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: OFS Fitel LLC (Furukawa Electric Company Limited)
• Inventors: Czosnowski, Wladyslaw, Sandels, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Stahl, Mike
• Application Number:
  US13/902,687
• Publication Number:
  US 20130259429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,117 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3851 Ferrules having keying or coding means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3871 Ferrule rotatable with respect to plug body, e.g. for setting rotational position adjusting fibre within the ferrule, G02B6/3843; Fixation of ferrules after rotation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3879 Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on

Abstract

A ganged connector housing is configured to receive a plurality of single-fiber connectors. Each connector is removably retainable at a respective location in the connector housing. Each single-fiber connector comprises a ferrule configured to receive and retain a single multicore fiber. The single-fiber connectors have a high-density packing footprint within the connector housing. Each single-fiber connector and its respective ferrule is configured to enable individual repositioning, tuning, alignment, repair or replacement of a respective multicore fiber terminated therein, independent of other optical fibers within the plurality of single fiber ferrules, and without requiring replacement of the entire set of multicore fibers.

Claims

1. A multifiber connector structure for terminating a set of multicore fibers, the multifiber connector structure comprising:

a ganged connector housing, comprising an aperture shaped to closely fit around a plurality of single-fiber connectors in a stacked array, each connector being removably retainable at a respective location in the connector housing,

wherein each single-fiber connector comprises a housing containing a ferrule for receiving and retaining a single multicore fiber,

wherein the single-fiber connectors have a high-density packing footprint within the connector housing, and

wherein each single-fiber connector and its respective ferrule is configured to enable individual repositioning, tuning, alignment, repair or replacement of a respective multicore fiber terminated therein, independent of other optical fibers within the plurality of single fiber ferrules, and without requiring replacement of the entire set of multicore fibers,

wherein the aperture is configured such that in a stacked array of single-fiber connectors, the connector surfaces in a first row abut corresponding connectors surfaces in a second row such that the first and second rows support each other, and

wherein the aperture is configured to have upper and lower latching slots to receive resilient latching arms at one side of each of the single-fiber connectors.

2. The connector of claim 1, wherein each individual ferrule can be selectively and adjustably positioned within a respective receptacle in the connector housing.

3. The connector of claim 2, wherein each single-fiber connector is configured to provide for rotational alignment of a multicore fiber installed into the ferrule therein.

4. A ganged adapter for providing connectivity between first and second ganged housings according to claim 1, wherein the ganged adapter comprises:

an adapter body with a first opening at a first face and a second opening at a second face,

wherein the first and second openings are configured to receive respective first and second ganged housings according to claim 1, into each of which is installed a respective stacked array of single-fiber connectors, each terminating a respective multicore fiber, and

wherein the adapter body is configured such that when the first and second ganged housings are loaded into the first and second openings of the ganged adapter, the cores of the multicore fibers contained in the first ganged housing are brought into aligned contact with corresponding cores contained in the second ganged housing, and

wherein the ganged adapter further comprises an array of mating sleeves between the first and second openings, wherein each mating sleeve is configured to receive a pair of connector ferrules, comprising a connector ferrule from the first ganged housing and a respective connector ferrule from the second ganged housing.