US 12,311,499 B2 · Fixture and method for polishing fiber optic connector

Abstract

A method of polishing an optical fiber connector comprises providing a unitary connector housing defining an interior containing a first ferrule and a second ferrule, each ferrule having an angle-polished end face and being located in an original rotational position, the unitary connector housing comprising a perimeter wall extending 360° about the interior, first and second ferrule springs biasing the first and second ferrules forward in the interior of the unitary housing, the unitary connector housing having a contiguous two-ferrule opening through a front end of the unitary connector housing, each of the first and second ferrules extending through the contiguous two-ferrule opening such that the first and second ferrules protrude forwardly from the front end of the unitary connector housing; and using a tool to rotate the first ferrule in the housing about a longitudinal axis while the second ferrule remains in the original rotational position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A duplex optical fiber connector comprising:

a first ferrule having a first angle-polished end face;
a second ferrule having a second angle-polished end face;
and
a unitary connector housing assembly defining an interior containing the first ferrule and the second ferrule, the unitary connector housing assembly comprising a perimeter wall extending 360° about the interior, the unitary connector housing assembly having a contiguous two-ferrule opening through a front end of the unitary connector housing, each of the first ferrule and the second ferrule extending through the contiguous two-ferrule opening such that the first and second ferrules protrude forwardly from the front end of the unitary connector housing assembly;
wherein the first angle-polished end face extends in a first plane and the second angle-polished end face extends in a second plane, the first plane being non-parallel with the second plane;
wherein, excluding the first ferrule and the second ferrule, the front end of the unitary connector housing assembly defines a front-most point of the duplex optical fiber connector.

3 more elements

A duplex optical fiber connector comprising:

a first ferrule having a first angle-polished end face;
a second ferrule having a second angle-polished end face;
and
a unitary connector housing assembly defining an interior containing the first ferrule and the second ferrule, the unitary connector housing assembly comprising a perimeter wall extending 360° about the interior, the unitary connector housing assembly having a contiguous two-ferrule opening through a front end of the unitary connector housing, each of the first ferrule and the second ferrule extending through the contiguous two-ferrule opening such that the first and second ferrules protrude forwardly from the front end of the unitary connector housing assembly;
wherein the first angle-polished end face extends in a first plane and the second angle-polished end face extends in a second plane, the first plane being non-parallel with the second plane;
wherein at least one of the first ferrule and the second ferrule defines a front-most point of the duplex optical fiber connector and wherein the front-most point is spaced apart forwardly of an entirety of the unitary connector housing assembly.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fixture and method for polishing fiber optic connector

Life of this patent

Fixture and method for polishing fiber optic connector

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20