Fiber connector and adapter
AssigneeADC Telecommunications, Inc.
InventorLiang-Ju Lu
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Fiberoptic connector and adapter assembly includes a fiberoptic connector received within an adapter. The connector has a cover on the connector housing. The cover pivots between open and closed positions to expose or cover, respectively, a optical fiber contained within the connector. Longitudinal guides of the connector are received cooperating with longitudinal guides of the adapter to direct the connector into the adapter in a prescribed alignment. A cam pin is carried on the adapter to engage a cam pin receiving slot ok the cover to urge the cover to the open position as the connector is inserted into the adapter.
Claims33
A fiberoptic connector and cable assembly for mating with an adapter having an adapter housing having two parallel longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining an exterior, an interior and an open end, said open end and an internal divider defining two parallel chambers, said exterior defining an SC adapter footprint, and a fiber coupling mechanism contained within said interior to couple with an aligned optical fiber, said connector and cable assembly comprising:
- an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis, wherein said outer connector housing is sized to be received within either of said two chambers with said longitudinal connector axis aligned with one of said longitudinal adapter axes;
- a spring-biased ferrule disposed within said outer connector housing;
- a cable connected to said outer connector housing, said cable including an optical fiber disposed within said connector housing, and passing through said ferrule, said optical fiber having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a leading end of said ferrule, said ferrule and said fiber disposed to be coupled with said fiber coupling mechanism when said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to a fully inserted position;
- a boot surrounding a back end of said outer connector housing and a portion of said cable adjacent to said back end of said outer connector housing.
A fiberoptic connector assembly for mating with an adapter having an adapter housing having two parallel longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining an exterior, an interior and an open end, said open end and an internal divider defining two parallel chambers, said exterior defining an SC adapter footprint, and a fiber coupling mechanism contained within each parallel chamber within said interior to couple with an aligned optical fiber, said connector assembly comprising:
- two outer connector housings each having a longitudinal connector axis, wherein said outer connector housing is sized to be received within either of said two chambers with said longitudinal connector axis aligned with one of said longitudinal adapter axes;
- an optical fiber disposed within each of said connector housings and having a terminal end exposed through an open in a leading end of said connector housing, said fiber disposed for said terminal end to be coupled with said fiber coupling mechanism when said connector housing is inserted into said adapter housing to a fully inserted position;
- a coupling clip for holding said outer connector housings at spaced-apart distance, wherein said optical fibers can be inserted into said adapter housing simultaneously.
A fiberoptic adapter for mating with four fiberoptic connectors, each connector having an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis, and an optical fiber disposed within said connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a leading end of said connector housing, said adapter comprising:
- a first adapter portion comprising two parallel first longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining a first exterior, a first interior and a first open end;
- said first open end sized to selectively receive said leading ends of two of said connector housings in a side-by-side manner with each one of said longitudinal connector axes aligned with one of said first longitudinal adapter axes;
- said first exterior at said first open end defining an SC adapter footprint;
- a second adapter portion comprising two parallel second longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining a second exterior, a second interior and a second open end;
- said second open end sized to selectively receive said leading ends of two of said connector housings in a side-by-side manner with each one of said longitudinal connector axes aligned with one of said second longitudinal adapter axes;
- first and second fiber coupling mechanisms;
- said first and second fiber coupling mechanisms each having a first end within said first interior;
- said first and second fiber coupling mechanisms each having a second end within said second interior;
- wherein said first and second ends of said fiber coupling mechanisms couple with each of said optical fibers when each of said connector housings are inserted into said adapter housing to a fully inserted position.
A fiberoptic connector and adapter assembly comprising:
- a. four fiberoptic connectors each having:
- 1. an outer connector housing having a longitudinal connector axis;
- 2. an optical fiber disposed within said connector housing and having a terminal end exposed through an opening in a leading end of said connector housing;
- 3. said connector housing including a retaining clip carried thereon for releasably connecting with an adapter;
- b. An adapter having:
- 1. a first adapter portion comprising two parallel first longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining a first exterior, a first interior and a first open end;
- said first open end sized to selectively receive said leading ends of two of said connector housings in a side-by-side manner with each one of said longitudinal connector axes aligned with one of said first longitudinal adapter axes;
- said first exterior at said first open end defining an SC adapter footprint;
- 2. a second adapter portion comprising two parallel second longitudinal adapter axes and having walls defining a second exterior, a second interior and a second open end;
- said second open end sized to selectively receive said leading ends of two of said connector housings in a side-by-side manner with each one of said longitudinal connector axes aligned with one of said second longitudinal adapter axes;
- and
- 3. first and second fiber coupling mechanisms;
- said first and second fiber coupling mechanisms each having a first end within said fist interior;
- said first and second fiber coupling mechanisms each having a second end within said second interior;
- wherein said first and second ends of said fiber coupling mechanisms couple with each of said optical fibers when each of said connector housings are inserted into said adapter housing to a fully inserted position.
An assembly according to claim 36, wherein said first and second connector receiving chambers each include one of said first ends of said first and second fiber coupling mechanisms.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.