Ferrule-less multi-fiber connectors
AssigneeCommScope Technologies LLC
InventorMichael James Ott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A connection system includes an optical connector assembly; and an optical plug. The connector assembly includes a stack of gel-groove assemblies and a spring assembly mounted within a housing. Each of the gel-groove assemblies includes a first gel block at a first axial end, a second gel block at a second axial end, and a fiber mating region between the first and second gel blocks. The optical plug including sub-modules over-molded over arrays (e.g., ribbons) of the optical fibers. Each sub-module defines notches for receiving latches of the spring assembly when the optical plug is coupled to the first axial end of the optical adapter. Bare optical fibers extend from the plug, pass through the first axial gel block, and enter the fiber mating region when the plug is coupled to the adapter.
Claims21
(canceled)
An optical plug connector arrangement configured to be inserted into an adapter having v-grooves, the optical plug connector arrangement having a longitudinal axis, the optical plug connector arrangement comprising:
- an optical cable including a plurality of optical fibers;
- a plurality of holders held together in a stack, each holder surrounding a respective subset of the optical fibers so that the optical fibers are disposed in parallel rows when the holders are arranged in the stack, each holder extending along a length between opposite first and second ends, the length extending along the longitudinal axis of the optical plug connector arrangement, the holders being disposed at intermediate locations along the optical fibers so that distal ends of the optical fibers extend outwardly beyond the second end of the respective holders;
- and
- a plug housing surrounding at least a portion of the stack of holders, the plug housing defining a plug end face through which the distal ends of the optical fibers extend a sufficient distance to extend along the v-grooves of the adapter.
A method of manufacturing an optical plug connector comprising:
- stripping a jacket from an optical cable;
- separating optical fibers of the optical cable into groups;
- disposing a respective holder around each group of the optical fibers so that distal ends of the optical fibers extend outwardly from the holders;
- processing the distal ends of the optical fibers extending outwardly from the holders including stripping the optical fibers resulting in bare optical fibers, cleaning the bare optical fibers, and cutting the optical fibers, thereby resulting in processed ends of the optical fibers;
- arranging the holders in a stack;
- and
- assembling a plug connector housing around the stack of holders so the processed ends of the optical fibers extend from the plug connector housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.