Multi-fiber connector for use with ribbon fiber optic cable
First Claim
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1. A multi-fiber optical connector comprising:
- a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end;
a multi-fiber ferrule having an end face accessible at the distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule having a ferrule transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension F1 oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension F2, the multi-fiber ferrule defining a row of fiber openings for supporting optical fibers, the row of fiber openings extending along the major dimension F1;
a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body, the spring having a spring transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension S1 parallel to major dimension F1 and a minor dimension S2 parallel to the minor dimension F2, the spring transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension S1;
a spring push for capturing the spring and the ferrule within the connector body, the spring push having a distal end and a proximal end, the spring push including latch arms at the distal end for securing the spring push within the proximal end of the connector body, the spring push defining a spring pocket between the latch arms for receiving a proximal end of the spring, the spring pocket having a pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension P1 parallel to the major dimension S1 and a minor dimension P2 parallel to the minor dimension S2, the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension P1 that receive the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push including a spring seat for supporting the proximal end of the spring, the spring seat including spring support shelves positioned adjacent the rounded ends of the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push defining a fiber passage having an end at the spring seat, the fiber passage having a first transverse cross-sectional profile adjacent the spring seat defining a major dimension parallel to the major dimension P1 and a minor dimension parallel to the minor dimension P2, the first transverse cross-sectional profile having central notch portions corresponding to the major dimension of the first transverse cross-sectional profile and inward projections positioned on opposite sides of the central notch portions, the spring support shelves having first shelf widths corresponding to the central notch portions and second shelf widths corresponding to the inward projections, the second shelf widths being larger than the first shelf widths; and
a connector boot that mounts at the proximal end of the spring push.
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Abstract
Aspects of the present disclosure relate to a multi-fiber fiber optic connector having a connector body, a multi-fiber ferrule supported at a distal end of the connector body, a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction and a spring push retaining the spring and the ferrule within the connector body. The spring push including oppositely positioned spring support shelves that provide spring seating and provide spring stability during side loading.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A multi-fiber optical connector comprising:
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a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end; a multi-fiber ferrule having an end face accessible at the distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule having a ferrule transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension F1 oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension F2, the multi-fiber ferrule defining a row of fiber openings for supporting optical fibers, the row of fiber openings extending along the major dimension F1; a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body, the spring having a spring transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension S1 parallel to major dimension F1 and a minor dimension S2 parallel to the minor dimension F2, the spring transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension S1; a spring push for capturing the spring and the ferrule within the connector body, the spring push having a distal end and a proximal end, the spring push including latch arms at the distal end for securing the spring push within the proximal end of the connector body, the spring push defining a spring pocket between the latch arms for receiving a proximal end of the spring, the spring pocket having a pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension P1 parallel to the major dimension S1 and a minor dimension P2 parallel to the minor dimension S2, the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension P1 that receive the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push including a spring seat for supporting the proximal end of the spring, the spring seat including spring support shelves positioned adjacent the rounded ends of the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push defining a fiber passage having an end at the spring seat, the fiber passage having a first transverse cross-sectional profile adjacent the spring seat defining a major dimension parallel to the major dimension P1 and a minor dimension parallel to the minor dimension P2, the first transverse cross-sectional profile having central notch portions corresponding to the major dimension of the first transverse cross-sectional profile and inward projections positioned on opposite sides of the central notch portions, the spring support shelves having first shelf widths corresponding to the central notch portions and second shelf widths corresponding to the inward projections, the second shelf widths being larger than the first shelf widths; and a connector boot that mounts at the proximal end of the spring push. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A multi-fiber optical connector and ribbon assembly comprising:
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a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end; a multi-fiber ferrule having an end face accessible at the distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule having a ferrule transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension F1 oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension F2, the multi-fiber ferrule defining a row of fiber openings for supporting optical fibers, the row of fiber openings extending along the major dimension F1; a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body, the spring having a spring transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension S1 parallel to major dimension F1 and a minor dimension S2 parallel to the minor dimension F2, the spring transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension S1; a spring push for capturing the spring and the ferrule within the connector body, the spring push having a distal end and a proximal end, the spring push including latch arms at the distal end for securing the spring push within the proximal end of the connector body, the spring push defining a spring pocket between the latch arms for receiving a proximal end of the spring, the spring pocket having a pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension P1 parallel to the major dimension S1 and a minor dimension P2 parallel to the minor dimension S2, the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension P1 that receive the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push including a spring seat for supporting the proximal end of the spring, the spring seat including oppositely positioned spring support shelves positioned to support the proximal end of the spring at the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile; a connector boot that mounts at the proximal end of the spring push; and an optical fiber ribbon having optical fibers supported by the multi-fiber ferrule, and wherein the optical fiber ribbon is de-ribbonized within the connector body and/or the spring push at a location proximal of the multi-fiber ferrule. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A multi-fiber optical connector and ribbon assembly comprising:
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a connector body having a distal end and a proximal end; a multi-fiber ferrule having an end face accessible at the distal end of the connector body, the multi-fiber ferrule having a ferrule transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension F1 oriented perpendicular relative to a minor dimension F2, the multi-fiber ferrule defining a row of fiber openings for supporting optical fibers, the row of fiber openings extending along the major dimension F1; a spring for biasing the multi-fiber ferrule in a distal direction relative to the connector body, the spring having a spring transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension S1 parallel to major dimension F1 and a minor dimension S2 parallel to the minor dimension F2, the spring transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension S1; a spring push for capturing the spring and the ferrule within the connector body, the spring push having a distal end and a proximal end, the spring push including latch arms at the distal end for securing the spring push within the proximal end of the connector body, the spring push defining a spring pocket between the latch arms for receiving a proximal end of the spring, the spring pocket having a pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having a major dimension P1 parallel to the major dimension S1 and a minor dimension P2 parallel to the minor dimension S2, the pocket transverse cross-sectional profile having rounded ends separated by the major dimension P1 that receive the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile, the spring push including a spring seat for supporting the proximal end of the spring, the spring seat including oppositely positioned spring support shelves positioned to support the proximal end of the spring at the rounded ends of the spring transverse cross-sectional profile; a connector boot that mounts at the proximal end of the spring push; and an optical fiber ribbon having optical fibers supported by the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the optical fiber ribbon has a ribbon transverse cross-sectional profile defining a major dimension R1, wherein the boot defines a fiber passage having a boot transverse cross-sectional profile defining a major dimension B1 parallel to the major dimension R1, and wherein the major dimension B1 is at least 25 percent larger than the major dimension R1.
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Specification