DUPLEX FIBER OPTIC COMPONENTS SUITABLE FOR POLARITY REVERSAL

• US 20170293090A1
• Filed: 04/06/2017
• Published: 10/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Hopper, Scott Richard, Gustafson, Evan
• Granted Patent: US 10,139,572 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/387 Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together
• 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 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• 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

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide techniques for a fiber optic connector assembly configured for polarity reversal in accordance with some embodiments. An assembly may include a housing to receive a fiber optic cable, at least one back post connected with the housing, a ferrule including at least an optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, insertable into the back post, and a connector component comprising a front housing. The front housing may hold at least a portion of the ferrule and detachably couple with the back post. The back post may include a retaining element to provide rotatable coupling of the front housing relative to the ferrule, the back post and the housing. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

a housing to receive a fiber optic cable;

at least one back post connected with the housing;

a ferrule including at least an optical fiber of the fiber optic cable, wherein the ferrule is insertable into the back post; and

a connector component comprising a front housing, wherein the front housing is to hold at least a portion of the ferrule and to detachably couple with the back post,

wherein the back post includes a retaining element to provide rotatable coupling of the front housing relative to the ferrule, the back post and the housing.

2. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes a first end to receive the fiber optic cable, and a second end, wherein the back post extends from the second end of the housing.

3. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises a lug disposed on the back post, wherein the front housing includes a window matable with the lug, to enable detached coupling between the back post and the front housing.

4. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 3, wherein the front housing further includes at least one slit provided at least partially along one side of the front housing, to enable flexing of the front housing in response to application of a rotational force to the front housing.

5. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, further comprising a spring to be provided around the ferrule, wherein the spring is loadable in response to application of a pressing force to the front housing in a direction of the back post, wherein in a loaded state, an end of the spring is to abut a corresponding end of the back post.

6. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the retaining element comprises an annular ring disposed around a portion of the back post, wherein the front housing is to receive the portion of the back post in response to application of a pressing force to the front housing in a direction of the back post.

7. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 6, wherein an inner profile of the front housing forms a groove matable with the annular ring of the front housing, in response to application of the pressing force to the front housing in the direction of the back post, wherein the annular ring is to interact with the groove of the front housing to enable a rotation of the front housing, in response to application of a rotational force to the front housing.

8. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 7, wherein the back post includes an extension component, to retain the ferrule, and to prevent the ferrule from rotation in response to application of a rotational force to the front housing.

9. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 2, wherein the at least one back post is a first back post, wherein the ferrule is a first ferrule, wherein the front housing is a first front housing, wherein the retaining element is a first retaining element, wherein the assembly further includes:

a second back post couplable with the housing;

a second ferrule including at least another fiber of the fiber optic cable, wherein the second ferrule is insertable into the second back post to provide optic connection for the other fiber; and

a second connector component comprising a second front housing, to provide optic connection between the other fiber of the fiber optic cable and another optical apparatus, wherein the second front housing is to hold at least a portion of the second ferrule and to detachably couple with the second back post,

wherein the second back post includes a second retaining element to provide coupling with, and rotation of, the second front housing about the second back post.

10. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing includes a first end to receive the fiber optic cable, and a second end, wherein the second back post extends from the second end of the housing.

11. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 10, wherein the housing comprises a unibody housing.

12. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9, wherein the housing comprises a duplex clip, wherein the duplex clip includes first and second retaining components, to affixably retain the first and second back posts respectively.

13. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the first and second retaining components comprise first and second hooks, and third and fourth hooks respectively.

14. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 12, wherein the fiber optic cable includes first and second portions insertable into the first and second back posts respectively.

15. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the back post is structurally integrated as part of the housing thereby comprising a single structure composed of a housing having back post extensions extending from a surface thereof.

16. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 15, wherein the back post extension of the housing comprises a keying element configured to at least partially interface with, and retain, a corresponding key disposed on the ferrule.

17. The fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the back post is reversibly couplable with the housing.