# US 11,307,369 B2 · Ultra-small form factor optical connectors used as part of a reconfigurable outer housing

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- Number: US 11,307,369 B2
- Document ID: US11307369B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/370,057
- Filed: 2021-07-08
- Published: 2021-12-02
- Granted: 2022-04-19
- Earliest claimed: 2017-07-14
- Assignees: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
- Applicants: Senko Advanced Components, Inc.
- Inventors: Kazuyoshi Takano; Jimmy Jun-Fu Chang
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11307369B2

## CPC

- G02B 6/4292: {the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements}
- G02B 6/3825: {with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs}
- G02B 6/387: {Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together}
- G02B 6/3879: {Linking of individual connector plugs to an overconnector, e.g. using clamps, clips, common housings comprising several individual connector plugs}
- G02B 6/3893: {Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on}
- G02B 6/3873: {Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls}
- G02B 6/3878: {comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means}
- G02B 6/4228: {Passive alignment, i.e. without a detection of the degree of coupling or the position of the elements (G02B6/4234 takes precedence)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An optical connector holding one or more optical ferrule assembly is provided. The optical connector includes an outer body, an inner front body accommodating the one or more optical ferrule assembly, ferrule springs for urging the optical ferrules towards a mating receptacle, and a back body for supporting the ferrule springs. The outer body and the inner front body are configured such that four optical ferrule assembly are accommodated in a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver footprint or eight optical ferrule assembly are accommodated in a quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) transceiver footprint. A receptacle can hold one or more connector inner bodies forming a single boot for all the optical fibers of the inner bodies.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical fiber connector comprising:
first and second optical fiber ferrules;
a connector housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the connector housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the connector housing holding the first and second optical fiber ferrules such that the first and second optical fiber ferrules are exposed through the front end portion for making an optical connection and the first and second optical fiber ferrules are spaced apart from one another along the transverse axis,
a depressible latch above the top portion of the connector housing; and
an elongate arm connected to the connector housing above the top portion and configured to be pulled to actuate the depressible latch;
wherein the connector housing comprises a guide connecting the elongate arm to the optical fiber connector.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the guide defines a groove extending along the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 2, wherein the elongate arm is slidably received in the groove.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the elongate arm comprises a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 4, wherein the front end portion of the elongate arm defines an opening.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 5, wherein the depressible latch is received in the opening.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 6, wherein the depressible latch has a front end portion and rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and wherein the depressible latch extends upward along the transverse axis as the depressible latch extends along the longitudinal axis from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the depressible latch.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 7, wherein the rear end portion of the depressible latch is spaced apart above the top portion of the connector housing along the transverse axis.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 8, wherein the front end portion of the elongate arm includes an edge defining a front end of the opening.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 9, wherein the depressible latch has an upper surface, the edge opposing the upper surface.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, wherein the connector housing includes a front body and a back body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 11, further comprising a single cable boot extending rearward from the back body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a single cable boot extending rearward from the connector housing.

### Claim 14 (depends on 10)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 10, wherein the elongate arm is configured to be pulled rearward along the longitudinal axis with respect to the connector housing whereby the edge slides longitudinally along the upper surface to depress the depressible latch.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 14, wherein the guide defines a groove extending along the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 15, wherein the elongate arm is slidably received in the groove.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 15, wherein the connector housing includes a front body and a back body.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 17, wherein the front body includes a recess and the back body includes a protrusion received in the recess to connect the back body to the front body.

### Claim 19 (depends on 18)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 18, further comprising a single cable boot extending rearward from the connector housing.

### Claim 20

An optical fiber connector comprising:
first and second optical fiber ferrules;
a connector housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the connector housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the connector housing holding the first and second optical fiber ferrules such that the first and second optical fiber ferrules are exposed through the front end portion for making an optical connection and the first and second optical fiber ferrules are spaced apart from one another along the transverse axis,
a depressible latch above the top portion of the connector housing; and
an elongate arm connected to the connector housing above the top portion and configured to be pulled to actuate the depressible latch;
wherein the elongate arm comprises a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis;
wherein the front end portion of the elongate arm defines an opening;
wherein the depressible latch is received in the opening;
wherein the depressible latch has a front end portion and rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and wherein the depressible latch extends upward along the transverse axis as the depressible latch extends along the longitudinal axis from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the depressible latch;
wherein the rear end portion of the depressible latch is spaced apart above the top portion of the connector housing along the transverse axis;
wherein the front end portion of the elongate arm includes an edge defining a front end of the opening;
wherein the depressible latch has an upper surface, the edge opposing the upper surface;
wherein the elongate arm is configured to be pulled rearward along the longitudinal axis with respect to the connector housing whereby the edge slides longitudinally along the upper surface to depress the depressible latch.

### Claim 21

An optical fiber connector comprising:
first and second optical fiber ferrules;
a connector housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the connector housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the connector housing holding the first and second optical fiber ferrules such that the first and second optical fiber ferrules are exposed through the front end portion for making an optical connection and the first and second optical fiber ferrules are spaced apart from one another along the transverse axis,
a depressible latch above the top portion of the connector housing; and
an elongate arm connected to the connector housing above the top portion and configured to be pulled to actuate the depressible latch;
wherein the elongate arm comprises a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis;
the optical fiber connector further comprising a push/pull tab extending from the rear end portion of the elongate arm.

### Claim 22

An optical fiber connector comprising:
first and second optical fiber ferrules;
a connector housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the connector housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the connector housing holding the first and second optical fiber ferrules such that the first and second optical fiber ferrules are exposed through the front end portion for making an optical connection and the first and second optical fiber ferrules are spaced apart from one another along the transverse axis,
a depressible latch above the top portion of the connector housing; and
an elongate arm connected to the connector housing above the top portion and configured to be pulled to actuate the depressible latch;
wherein the connector housing includes a front body and a back body;
wherein the front body includes a recess and the back body includes a protrusion received in the recess to connect the back body to the front body.

### Claim 23

An optical fiber connector comprising:
a multi-fiber ferrule configured to terminate a plurality of optical fibers;
a connector housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the connector housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the connector housing being configured to hold the multi-fiber ferrule such that the multi-fiber ferrule is exposed through the front end portion for making an optical connection and the plurality of optical fibers are spaced apart from one another in a row extending parallel to the transverse axis,
a depressible latch above the top portion of the connector housing; and
an elongate arm connected to the connector housing above the top portion and configured to be pulled to actuate the depressible latch;
wherein the connector housing comprises a guide connecting the elongate arm to the optical fiber connector.

### Claim 24 (depends on 23)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 23, wherein the guide defines a groove extending along the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 25 (depends on 24)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 24, wherein the elongate arm is slidably received in the groove.

### Claim 26 (depends on 23)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 23, wherein the elongate arm comprises a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 27 (depends on 26)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 26, wherein the front end portion of the elongate arm defines an opening.

### Claim 28 (depends on 27)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 27, wherein the depressible latch is received in the opening.

### Claim 29 (depends on 28)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 28, wherein the depressible latch has a front end portion and rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and wherein the depressible latch extends upward along the transverse axis as the depressible latch extends along the longitudinal axis from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the depressible latch.

### Claim 30 (depends on 29)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 29, wherein the rear end portion of the depressible latch is spaced apart above the top portion of the connector housing along the transverse axis.

### Claim 31 (depends on 30)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 30, wherein the front end portion of the elongate arm includes an edge defining a front end of the opening.

### Claim 32 (depends on 31)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 31, wherein the depressible latch has an upper surface, the edge opposing the upper surface.

### Claim 33 (depends on 32)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 32, wherein the elongate arm is configured to be pulled rearward along the longitudinal axis with respect to the connector housing whereby the edge slides longitudinally along the upper surface to depress the depressible latch.

### Claim 34 (depends on 33)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 33, wherein the guide defines a groove extending along the longitudinal axis.

### Claim 35 (depends on 34)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 34, wherein the elongate arm is slidably received in the groove.

### Claim 36 (depends on 34)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 34, wherein the connector housing includes a front body and a back body.

### Claim 37 (depends on 36)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 36, wherein the front body includes a recess and the back body includes a protrusion received in the recess to connect the back body to the front body.

### Claim 38 (depends on 37)

The optical fiber connector as set forth in claim 37, further comprising a single cable boot extending rearward from the connector housing.

### Claim 39

An optical fiber connector comprising:
a multi-fiber ferrule configured to terminate a plurality of optical fibers;
a connector housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the connector housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the connector housing being configured to hold the multi-fiber ferrule such that the multi-fiber ferrule is exposed through the front end portion for making an optical connection and the plurality of optical fibers are spaced apart from one another in a row extending parallel to the transverse axis,
a depressible latch above the top portion of the connector housing; and
an elongate arm connected to the connector housing above the top portion and configured to be pulled to actuate the depressible latch;
wherein the elongate arm comprises a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis;
wherein the front end portion of the elongate arm defines an opening;
wherein the depressible latch is received in the opening;
wherein the depressible latch has a front end portion and rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis and wherein the depressible latch extends upward along the transverse axis as the depressible latch extends along the longitudinal axis from the front end portion to the rear end portion of the depressible latch;
wherein the rear end portion of the depressible latch is spaced apart above the top portion of the connector housing along the transverse axis;
wherein the front end portion of the elongate arm includes an edge defining a front end of the opening;
wherein the depressible latch has an upper surface, the edge opposing the upper surface:
wherein the elongate arm is configured to be pulled rearward along the longitudinal axis with respect to the connector housing whereby the edge slides longitudinally along the upper surface to depress the depressible latch.

### Claim 40

An optical fiber connector comprising:
a multi-fiber ferrule configured to terminate a plurality of optical fibers;
a connector housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the connector housing comprising a top portion and a bottom portion spaced apart along a transverse axis perpendicular to the longitudinal axis, the connector housing being configured to hold the multi-fiber ferrule such that the multi-fiber ferrule is exposed through the front end portion for making an optical connection and the plurality of optical fibers are spaced apart from one another in a row extending parallel to the transverse axis,
a depressible latch above the top portion of the connector housing; and
an elongate arm connected to the connector housing above the top portion and configured to be pulled to actuate the depressible latch;
wherein the elongate arm comprises a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along the longitudinal axis;
further comprising a push/pull tab extending from the rear end portion of the elongate arm.