US 6,318,903 B1 · Optical fiber connector for backplane

Abstract

A plug type connector is adapted to be latched to a backplane wall in a fixed position and has a tapered front, nose or connector end for insertion into an adapter which plugs into the backplane wall. The adapter may be misaligned in any or all of the X, Y, Z axes. The tapered nose cams the X or Y misaligned adapter into axial alignment as the adapter and its mount are being inserted. A shortened front or connector end of the connector causes the ferrule of the connector to project beyond the optical plane of the connection so that it reaches a ferrule in a Z aligned adapter to complete the connection. A coil spring within the housing of the connector is tuned to allow counter movement of the ferrule where the ferrule in the adapter is too long, thereby shifting the position of the optical plane. The connector has a ferrule-barrel assembly within a housing and an insert member which has an enlarged diameter portion which is contained by openings in the housing to prevent rotation of the ferrule-barrel assembly.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A connector for terminating an optical fiber comprising:

an elongated housing member having an axial bore extending therethrough, said housing member having a connector end and a cable receiving end;
a ferrule-barrel assembly within said bore, said ferrule-barrel assembly comprising a tubular member having an enlarged flange at one end thereof from which axially projects a ferrule adapted to contain a fiber therein, said flange having a polygonally shaped portion and a tapered portion leading from said polygonally shaped portion to said ferrule;
said bore having a tapered recessed portion thereon forming a seat for said tapered portion of said flange;
a spring member within said housing member surrounding said ferrule-barrel assembly and in contact with said flange to force said tapered portion into seating engagement with said recess in said bore;
and
said housing member having a sloped nose portion at said connector end through which said ferrule passes beyond the end of said nose portion a distance β sufficient to connect with a misaligned adapter for receiving said plug connector.

3 more elements

A connector terminated optical fiber cable, said cable comprising:

an optical fiber surrounded by a protective layer;
said protective layer having stranded strength members therein;
a connector termination comprising an elongated housing having a connector end and a cable receiving end and a central bore extending axially therethrough in a Z direction;
a ferrule-barrel assembly within said bore comprising a tubular member surrounding said optical fiber and having an enlarged flange at one end thereof;
a ferrule projecting from said flange, said ferrule containing said optical fiber;
said flange having a polygonally shaped portion and a tapered portion extending from said polygonally shaped portion to said ferrule;
said bore having a tapered recess portion therein forming a seat for said tapered portion of said flange;
a spring member within said housing and surrounding said ferrule-barrel assembly over a portion of its length, said spring member forcing said tapered portion of said flange into seating engagement with said tapered recess portion;
said housing having, at its connector end, a sloped nose portion through which said ferrule containing said optical fiber extends a distance β beyond the end of said sloped nose portion.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Optical fiber connector for backplane

Life of this patent

Optical fiber connector for backplane

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims12