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US 11,768,334 B2Granted
Lensed optical fiber connector with dust insensitive alignment features
AssigneeCorning Research & Development Corporation
InventorsWilliam James Miller, James Scott Sutherland
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to lensed optical fiber connector ferrule end faces having molded contact surfaces. The contact surfaces reduce ferrule end face contact area and thereby reduce the influence of trapped dust and debris on lens angular misalignment.
Claims11
A lensed connector comprising:
- a first lensed connector ferrule comprising a first ferrule end face;
- wherein the first lensed connector ferrule has a first contact surface comprising a portion of a first surface area of the first ferrule end face, the first contact surface comprising between 1% and 50% of the first surface area;
- wherein the first contact surface comprises a contact ring, wherein the contact ring includes a plurality of raised surfaces, wherein the plurality of raised surfaces are elevated relative to the first contact surface, the plurality of raised surfaces are spaced apart such that a plurality of trenches are between the plurality of ridges.
A lensed connector assembly comprising:
- a first lensed connector ferrule comprising a first ferrule end face;
- wherein the first lensed connector ferrule has a first contact surface comprising a portion of a first surface area of the first ferrule end face, the first contact surface comprising between 1% and 50% of the first surface area;
- a second lensed connector ferrule comprising a second ferrule end face, the second lensed connector coupled to the first lensed connector, wherein the second ferrule end face has the same configuration as the first ferrule end face but is oriented 180 degrees relative to the first ferrule end face when coupled to the first ferrule end face;
- wherein the second lensed connector ferrule has a second contact surface comprising a portion of a second surface area of the second ferrule end face, the second contact surface comprising between 1% and 50% of the second surface area;
- wherein the first lensed connector ferrule is coupled to the second lensed connector ferrule to define a contact area where the first contact surface contacts the second contact surface, the contact area comprises between less than 1% and 10% of a total surface area, and the total surface area is the sum of the first surface area and the second surface area;
- wherein the first contact surface comprises a plurality of raised surfaces that are elevated relative to the first contact surface and angled relative to a plane defined by a central axis of the first lensed connector ferrule, wherein the plurality of raised surfaces are parallel to each other.
3 more elements
A lensed connector comprising:
- a first lensed connector ferrule comprising a first ferrule end face;
- wherein the first lensed connector ferrule has a first contact surface comprising a portion of a first surface area of the first ferrule end face, the first contact surface comprising between 1% and 50% of the first surface area;
- wherein the first contact surface comprises a plurality of ridges that are elevated relative to the first contact surface and angled relative to a plane defined by a central axis of the first lensed connector ferrule, wherein the plurality of ridges are parallel to each other.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.