US 11,454,766 B2 · Ultra-small form factor optical connector having dual alignment keys

Abstract

An optical connector holding two or more LC-type optical ferrules is provided. The optical connector includes an outer body, an inner front body accommodating the two or more LC-type optical ferrules, 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 LC-type optical ferrules are accommodated in a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver footprint or eight LC-type optical ferrules are accommodated in a quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) transceiver footprint. A mating receptacle (transceiver or adapter) includes internal alignment slots configured to accept a corresponding alignment key on connector outer housing to ensure alignment and orientation for maximum signal transfer between opposing ferrule end faces.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An optical connector comprising:

a housing having a longitudinal axis, a height, and a connector width, the housing comprising first and second side walls spaced apart along the connector width and first and second end walls spaced apart along the height, the housing having a terminal longitudinal end and an opposite longitudinal end spaced apart along the longitudinal axis, the terminal longitudinal end being configured to be inserted into an optical receptacle to make an optical connection;
at least two optical ferrules received in the housing between the first and second end walls and the first and second side walls, respectively, at spaced apart locations along the height;
a first external alignment key formed on the first end wall;
a second external alignment key formed on the second end wall;
and
wherein the first external alignment key is spaced apart longitudinally from the terminal longitudinal end toward the opposite longitudinal end.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application

17/072,277Filed 16 Oct 2020 · continuation

Priority

17 Nov 2017

Published

US 2021/0048583 A118 Feb 2021

Granted

27 Sep 2022

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

G02B 6/3831
Characterised by form or shape: comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection
G02B 6/3825
Of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres: with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle,…
G02B 6/3893
Characterised by the method of fastening connecting plugs and sockets, e.g. screw- or nut-lock, snap-in, bayonet type: push-pull type, e.g.…
G02B
Optical elements, systems or apparatus

Family

Application62/588,276Us provisional application · filed 17 Nov 2017

Application16/035,691Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 15 Jul 2018

Application16/194,325Parent of this continuation · filed 17 Nov 2018

US 10,281,668 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 7 May 2019

US 2021/0048583 A1Pre-grant publication · published 18 Feb 2021

US 10,838,152 B2Parent of this continuation

Application16/194,325Parent of this continuation-in-part

US 2019/0018201 A1Published application

US 2019/0154924 A1Published application

US 11,454,766 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

Ultra-small form factor optical connector having dual alignment keys

Life of this patent

Ultra-small form factor optical connector having dual alignment keys

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14