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US 11,079,557 B2Granted
Optical fiber connector with changeable polarity
AssigneeSenko Advanced Components, Inc.
InventorsJeffrey Gniadek, Kim Man Wong, Yim Wong, Jimmy Chang
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector may include a reversible keying arrangement for determining the orientation for plugging the connector into an adapter to thereby allow for a change in polarity of the connection to be made on site. The connector housing may be configured to engage with a removable key that may be engaged with the housing in at least two different locations to provide the plug-in orientation, or the housing may have slidably displaceable keys movable between multiple positions on the housing.
Claims6
A fiber optic connector comprising:
- a housing, the housing comprising front end for being inserted into a fiber optic adapter, and a rear end disposed opposite the front end, wherein the housing defines a rearward longitudinal direction from the front end to the rear end, the housing defining a forward longitudinal direction from the rear end to the front end;
- at least a first wall portion extending from the front end towards the rear end and a second wall portion opposite the first wall portion and extending from the front end towards the rear end, wherein each of the first wall portion and the second wall portion have an external surface disposed outwardly away from the ferrule;
- and
- a key configured to be releasably attached to the first wall portion at a forward position to define a first keyed configuration for insertion of the front end of the housing into the adapter in only a first orientation to define a first configuration with respect to the adapter
- wherein the key comprises a front end portion and an opposite rear end portion longitudinally spaced apart from the front end portion, the key comprising a front hook adjacent the front end portion and a rear hook adjacent the rear end portion, the front and rear hooks together forming a fastener configured to releasably couple to the first wall portion for inhibiting longitudinal movement of the key away from the forward position;
- and
- the first wall portion comprising a front recess and a rear recess spaced apart from the front recess in the rearward longitudinal direction, wherein the front recess defines a forward facing surface and the rear recess defines a rearward facing surface,
- wherein when the key is releasably attached to the first wall portion at the forward position, the front hook is received in the front recess, the rear hook is received in the rear recess, the forward facing surface engages the front hook, and the rearward facing surface engages the rear hook such that longitudinal movement of the key with respect to the housing is in inhibited.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.