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US 12,566,299 B2Granted
Detachable connectors for high fiber count applications
AssigneeCorning Research & Development Corporation
InventorTimothy Winston Anderson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a matched pair detachable connector for high fiber count applications where the configuration of the connector maintains optical fiber alignment and ferrule alignment during assembly of the connector.
Claims21
An optical fiber connector assembly comprising:
- a plurality of optical fibers;
- a connector including:
- a ferrule having an inner channel in which the plurality of optical fibers are secured, the inner channel extending to an outer surface of the ferrule, the ferrule having at least one keyway on the outer surface of the ferrule and along at least a portion of a length of the ferrule, wherein the keyway extends away from the inner channel;
- a key received in the at least one keyway, wherein the key engages with an inner wall of the at least one keyway to limit rotational movement of the connector assembly;
- and
- a sleeve that covers the inner channel of the ferrule and does not cover the keyway of the ferrule.
3 more elements
An optical fiber connector assembly comprising:
- a plurality of optical fibers;
- a connector including:
- a ferrule having an inner channel in which the plurality of optical fibers are secured, the ferrule having at least one keyway on an outer surface of the ferrule and along at least a portion of a length of the ferrule, the ferrule also having a groove;
- a key received in the at least one keyway, wherein the key engages with an inner wall of the at least one keyway to limit rotational movement of the connector assembly;
- and
- a sleeve applied onto the ferrule, wherein the sleeve covers at least the inner channel of the ferrule and spans the groove of the ferrule;
- and
- an adapter comprising:
- a cap including configured to house the sleeve;
- and
- a base coupled to the cap, the base configured to retain the key to be inserted into the keyway of the ferrule;
- a first cam that houses a first spring and a second cam housing a second spring, wherein the first spring and the second spring are operably coupled to the ferrule such that the first spring and the second spring apply biasing forces onto the ferrule in opposite directions.
9 more elements
A method of assembling a connector assembly comprising:
- inserting a plurality of optical fibers into an inner channel of a ferrule, the ferrule having an inner channel in which the plurality of optical fibers are secured, the inner channel extending to an outer surface of the ferrule, the ferrule having a keyway on the outer surface of the ferrule and along at least a portion of a length of the ferrule, wherein the keyway extends away from the inner channel;
- inserting an adhesive into the inner channel;
- dicing the ferrule along a dicing plane at a dicing groove to form a first connector half and a second connector half, wherein the dicing plane has an angle θ relative to a longitudinal axis of the ferrule;
- preparing an adapter comprising a base coupled to a cap, wherein a key is coupled to the base and a sleeve is coupled to the cap;
- inserting the first connector half into the base of the adapter and into the sleeve and the key of the adapter;
- inserting the second connector half into the cap of the adapter and into the sleeve and the key of the adapter;
- wherein the sleeve covers the inner channel and the key is inserted into the keyway of the first and second connector halves, wherein the sleeve does not cover the keyway of the ferrule;
- and
- wherein the sleeve and the key span the dicing groove of the ferrule.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.