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US 12,736,755 B2Granted
Ultra-small form factor fiber optic connector and adapter with stubbing prevention features
AssigneeUS Conec Ltd.
InventorsScott Mendenhall, Darrell R. Childers, Jason Higley
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modified housing and adapter prevent unwanted contact during the mating of fiber-optic connectors by using positive features and negative features in the housing, while the modified adapter presents negative features and positive features in mating of the two structures.
Claims18
An optical assembly with stubbing prevention features for fiber-optic connectors, the optical assembly comprising:
- a first fiber optic connector having at least one ferrule at least partially disposed inside the first fiber optic connector;
- a second fiber optic connector having at least one ferrule partially disposed inside the second fiber optic connector opposite the first fiber optic connector, one of the first fiber optic connector and second fiber optic connector having guide pins;
- and
- an adapter having at least two ports on each of a first side and a second side of the adapter to mate at least one pair of fiber optic connectors, a first port of the at least two ports on the first side receiving the first fiber optic connector and a first port of the at least two ports on the second side receiving the second fiber optic connector for mating, and a second port of the at least two ports being side-by-side with the first port, respectively, on each of the first side and the second side,
- wherein each of the first fiber optic connector and the second fiber optic connector has a top wall and a bottom wall separated by opposing side walls, at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall having a first flat surface extending upward from one of the side walls and a second flat surface extending upward from the other of the side walls, the first flat surface and the second flat surface being parallel to and offset from one another,
- wherein at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall has a third flat surface and a fourth flat surface, the third flat surface and the fourth flat surface being parallel to and offset from one another and disposed between the first flat surface and the second flat surface and on a same top wall or bottom wall as the first flat surface and the second flat surface, and
- wherein at least one of the flat surfaces engages a corresponding surface in the adapter to prevent unwanted engagement of end faces or guide pins of the at least one ferrule of the first fiber optic connector and the second fiber optic connector disposed within the adapter.
4 more elements
A fiber optic connector comprising:
- a top wall;
- a bottom wall;
- opposing side walls that separate the top wall from the bottom wall,
- wherein at least one of the top wall and the bottom wall having a first flat surface extending upward from one of the side walls and a second flat surface extending upward from the other of the side walls, the first flat surface and the second flat surface being parallel to and offset from one another, and wherein at least one of the top wall and bottom wall has a third flat surface and a fourth flat surface, the third flat surface and the fourth flat surface being parallel to and offset from one another and disposed between the first flat surface and the second flat surface and on a same top wall or same bottom wall as the first flat surface and the second flat surface, wherein at least one of the flat surfaces engages a corresponding surface in an adapter to prevent unwanted engagement of end faces or guide pins of an at least one ferrule of the fiber optic connector disposed within the adapter.
1 more element
An optical assembly with stubbing prevention features for fiber-optic connectors, the optical assembly comprising:
- an adapter having at least one port to mate at least one pair of fiber optic connectors, the adapter having one of a projection and a receiver to prevent stubbing;
- a first fiber optic connector of the at least one pair of fiber optic connectors having at least one ferrule at least partially disposed inside the first fiber optic connector;
- and
- a second fiber optic connector of the at least one pair of fiber optic connectors having at least one ferrule partially disposed inside the adapter opposite the first fiber optic connector,
- wherein each of the first fiber optic connector and the second fiber optic connector has the other of the projection and the receiver located rearward of a latch receptacle thereof to prevent stubbing to prevent unwanted engagement of the end faces or guide pins of the at least one ferrule of the first fiber optic connector and the second fiber optic connector disposed within the adapter.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.