Optical fiber connector with changeable gender
AssigneeSenko Advanced Components, Inc.
InventorsJimmy Jun Fu CHANG, Kazuyoshi TAKANO
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector is interchangeable between a male connector and a female connector by including a pin retainer having a releasable retention device configured to lock the pins in place within the retainer. The retention device may be opened, for example, with a release tool, to free the retention pins for removal of the pins. A method for switching a connector between a male connector configuration and a female connector configuration may be possible as a result of the releasable retention configuration.
Claims20
A multi-fiber fiber optic connector configured to be converted from a female connector configuration to a male connector configuration by releasing or connecting notched guide pins, each notched guide pin including a retention notch, the multi-fiber fiber optic connector comprising:
- a housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis;
- a ferrule disposed in the housing for terminating a plurality of optical fibers, the ferrule having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the ferrule comprising first and second guide pin passages extending longitudinally from the rear end portion through the front end portion, the first and second guide pin passages being spaced apart along a fiber alignment axis, the ferrule configured to hold a plurality of optical fibers in one or more rows parallel to the fiber alignment axis, the ferrule being configured to accept one of the notched guide pins in each of the first and second guide pin passages such that the retention notch is rearward of the rear end portion of the ferrule;
- and
- a pin keeper disposed in the housing rearward of the rear end portion of the ferrule, the pin keeper comprising a retention clip movable in relation to the ferrule between a retaining position and a release position, wherein when the retention clip is in the retaining position, the retention clip is configured to move into the retention notches of the notched guide pins received in the first and second guide pin passages for retaining the notched guide pins in the first and second guide pin passages, wherein when the retention clip is in the release position, the retention clip disengages from the retention notches of notched guide pins received in the first and second guide pin passages for releasing the guide pins from the first and second guide pin passages;
- and
- wherein the multi-fiber fiber optic connector is configured so that the retention clip is resiliently biased toward the retaining position.
A multi-fiber fiber optic connector configured to be converted from a female connector configuration to a male connector configuration by releasing or connecting notched guide pins, each notched guide pin including a retention notch, the multi-fiber fiber optic connector comprising:
- an housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis;
- a ferrule disposed in the housing for terminating a plurality of optical fibers, the ferrule having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the ferrule comprising first and second guide pin passages extending longitudinally from the rear end portion through the front end portion, the first and second guide pin passages being spaced apart along a fiber alignment axis, the ferrule configured to hold a plurality of optical fibers in one or more rows parallel to the fiber alignment axis, the ferrule being configured to accept one of the notched guide pins in each of the first and second guide pin passages such that the retention notch is rearward of the rear end portion of the ferrule;
- a pin keeper disposed in the housing rearward of the rear end portion of the ferrule, the pin keeper comprising a retention clip, the being pin keeper adjustable for moving the retention clip between a retaining position and a release position by moving the entire retention clip relative to the ferrule;
- wherein when the retention clip is in the retaining position, the retention clip is configured to move into the retention notches of the notched guide pins received in the first and second guide pin passages for retaining the notched guide pins in the first and second guide pin passages;
- and
- wherein when the retention clip is in the release position, the retention clip disengages from the retention notches of notched guide pins received in the first and second guide pin passages for releasing the guide pins from the first and second guide pin passages.
A multi-fiber fiber optic connector configured to be converted from a female connector configuration to a male connector configuration by releasing or connecting notched guide pins, each notched guide pin including a retention notch, the multi-fiber fiber optic connector comprising:
- a housing having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis;
- a ferrule disposed in the housing for terminating a plurality of optical fibers, the ferrule having a front end portion and a rear end portion spaced apart along a longitudinal axis, the ferrule comprising first and second guide pin passages extending longitudinally from the rear end portion through the front end portion, the first and second guide pin passages being spaced apart along a fiber alignment axis, the ferrule configured to hold a plurality of optical fibers in one or more rows parallel to the fiber alignment axis, the ferrule being configured to accept one of the notched guide pins in each of the first and second guide pin passages such that the retention notch is rearward of the rear end portion of the ferrule;
- a pin keeper disposed in the housing rearward of the rear end portion of the ferrule, the pin keeper comprising a front body portion, a rear body portion, and a retention clip being disposed between front body portion and the rear body portion, the front body portion configured to pass the notched guide pins received in the first and second guide pin passages to the retention clip, the rear body portion defining a space for receiving rear end portions of notched guide pins retained by the retention clip, the retention clip being formed from a separate piece of material than the front body portion and the rear body portion, the retention clip being movable in relation to the ferrule between a retaining position and a release position;
- wherein when the retention clip is in the retaining position, the retention clip is configured to move into the retention notches of the notched guide pins received in the first and second guide pin passages for retaining the notched guide pins in the first and second guide pin passages;
- and
- wherein when the retention clip is in the release position, the retention clip disengages from the retention notches of notched guide pins received in the first and second guide pin passages for releasing the guide pins from the first and second guide pin passages.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.