# US 2014/0193120 A1 · Ferrule assembly with integral latch

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- Number: US 2014/0193120 A1
- Document ID: US20140193120A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/123,544
- Filed: 2012-06-14
- Published: 2014-07-10
- Earliest claimed: 2011-06-14
- Assignees: Molex Incorporated
- Inventors: Malcolm H. Hodge; Wenzong Chen; Dean Richardson; Scot A. Ennst; Thomas D. Chiltz; Thomas R. Marrapose
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140193120A1

## CPC

- G02B 6/3893: {Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on}
- G02B 6/32: having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)}
- G02B 6/3885: {Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448)}
- G02B 6/403: {of the ferrule type, connecting a pair of ferrules}
- G02B 6/3652: {the additional structures being prepositioning mounting areas, allowing only movement in one dimension, e.g. grooves, trenches or vias in the microbench surface, i.e. self aligning supporting carriers}
- G02B 6/3672: {with fibres arranged in a regular matrix array}
- G02B 6/3696: {by moulding, e.g. injection moulding, casting, embossing, stamping, stenciling, printing, or with metallic mould insert manufacturing using LIGA or MIGA techniques (shaping the mould surface by machining B29C33/38; moulding techniques B29C39/00, B29C43/00, B29C45/00, B29C48/00, B29C59/00; stamping, printing or embossing techniques B81C1/00444; surface micromachining using LIGA B81C2201/032)}
- G02B: OPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS

## Abstract

An optical fiber assembly includes a ferrule body with a plurality of optical fibers positioned therein. The assembly may include a beam expanding element adjacent the front face of the ferrule body with a lens array aligned with the optical fibers. A resilient latch is integrally formed with the beam expanding element or the ferrule body.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An optical fiber assembly comprising:
a plurality of generally parallel optical fibers, each optical fiber having an end face;
a ferrule body having the plurality of optical fibers positioned therein, the ferrule body having a front face, the end face of each optical fiber being positioned generally adjacent the front face of the ferrule body;
a beam expanding element generally adjacent the front face of the ferrule body, the beam expanding element having a lens array aligned with the optical fibers of ferrule body; and
a resilient latch for interconnecting the optical fiber assembly to a mating component, the resilient latch being integrally formed with the beam expanding element.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 1, further including a pair of rearwardly extending, cantilevered resilient latch arms.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 2, wherein each latch arm has a latching projection for engaging a latching shoulder of the mating component.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 1, further including a generally elongated member integrally formed with and extending between the beam expanding element and the resilient latch.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 4, wherein the generally elongated member extends along a sidewall of ferrule body generally from the front face of the ferrule body towards a rear face of the ferrule body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 5, wherein the generally elongated member is fixed to the sidewall of the ferrule body.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 5, wherein the generally elongated member is generally non-deflectable.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 1, wherein the mating component is an adapter configured to mate with another ferrule assembly.

### Claim 9

An optical fiber assembly comprising:
a plurality of generally parallel optical fibers, each optical fiber having an end face;
a ferrule body directly engaging the optical fibers positioned therein, the ferrule body having a front face, the end face of each optical fiber being positioned generally adjacent the front face of the ferrule body;
a beam expanding element generally adjacent the front face of the ferrule body, the beam expanding element having a lens array aligned with the optical fibers of ferrule body, the lens array being spaced from the optical fibers by a predetermined distance; and
a resilient latch for interconnecting the optical fiber assembly to a mating component, the resilient latch being integrally formed with one of the ferrule body and the beam expanding element.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 9, further including a pair of rearwardly extending, cantilevered resilient latch arms.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 10, wherein each latch arm has a latching projection for engaging a latching shoulder of the mating component.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 9, wherein the mating component is an adapter configured to mate with another ferrule assembly.

### Claim 13

An optical fiber assembly comprising:
a plurality of generally parallel optical fibers, each optical fiber having an end face;
a ferrule body directly engaging optical fibers positioned therein, the ferrule body having a front face, the end face of each optical fiber being positioned generally adjacent the front face of the ferrule body; and
a resilient latch for interconnecting the optical fiber assembly to a mating component, the resilient latch being integrally formed with the ferrule body.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 13, where in the resilient latch has a pair of rearwardly extending, cantilevered resilient latch arms.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 14, wherein each latch arm has a latching projection for engaging a latching shoulder of the mating component.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The optical fiber assembly of claim 15, wherein the latch arm has a secondary projection for engaging the mating component and biasing the ferrule body towards a mating optical fiber assembly.