Optical fiber coupler and an optical fiber coupler incorporated within a transceiver module

An opto-electronic assembly comprising:

• an enclosure;
• an opto-electronic component contained within said enclosure;
• an opening in an external wall of said enclosure:
• a first optical fiber extending into said opto-electronic component from said opening;
• said first optical fiber terminated with a first ferrule;
• said enclosure further comprising a positioning and retaining structure, said structure containing a coupler assembly, said coupler assembly comprising:
• a first coupler member comprising a hollow cylinder, said first coupler member forming a plurality of openings through a side wall thereof;
• said first coupler member comprising a plurality of deflectable retainer latches extending from one end thereof;
• a second coupler member comprising a hollow cylinder, said second coupler member further comprising a radially extending flange extending from and circumscribing a portion of an external surface of said second coupler member;
• said second coupler member further comprising a plurality of latch fingers disposed equally spaced around and extending parallel with side walls of said second coupler member and from an end face of said second coupler member;
• said latch fingers retained in and engageable with said openings;
• a sleeve disposed within and retained within said first and said second coupler members;
• said flange engageable with a mating groove in the positioning and retaining structure whereby axial force may be exerted thereon inserting a second optical fiber into said second coupler member and sleeve and thereby optically couple the first and second optical fibers without displacing said first and second coupler members and causing damage to either of said first and second optical fibers.

An optical fiber coupler assembly for disposing a first optical fiber having a first end face and a second optical fiber having a second end face with said end faces juxtaposed and axially aligned, comprising:

• a first coupler member comprising a hollow cylinder, said coupler member forming a plurality of openings through a side wall of said member;
• said first coupler member comprising a plurality of deflectable retainer latches extending from one end thereof;
• a second coupler member comprising a tubular cylinder, said second coupler member further comprising a radially extending flange extending from and circumscribing a portion of an external surface of said second coupler member;
• said second coupler member further comprising a plurality of latch fingers disposed equally spaced around and extending parallel with side walls of said second coupler member and from an end face of said second coupler member;
• said latch fingers retained in and engageable with said openings;
• a first ferrule terminating the first optical fiber, said first ferrule engaged and retained within said first coupler member by said plurality of deflectable retainer latches extending from said one end of said first coupler member;
• a sleeve disposed within and retained within said first and said second coupler members;
• said flange engageable with a mating groove in a retainer structure whereby axial force may be exerted thereon inserting said second optical fiber into said second coupler member and sleeve and thereby optically couple the first and second optical fibers without displacing said first and second coupler members and causing damage to either of said first and second optical fibers.