Optical fiber connector having compliant alignment features
Assignee3M Innovative Properties Company
InventorsNicholas A. Lee, Harry A. Loder, Larry R. Cox
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A connector assembly for securing and optically aligning one or more optical fiber arrays, each optical fiber array having a plurality of optical fibers having an outer surface. The connector assembly includes a base having fiber receiving features configured to receive and align the plurality of optical fibers; and a retaining element that covers at least a portion of the alignment features and secures the plurality of optical fibers against the alignment features. The retaining element has a first contact surface that contacts the plurality of optical fibers, where the contact surface is able to conform to the outer surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers.
Claims25
A ferrule for securing and optically aligning a plurality of optical fibers, each optical fiber having an outer surface, the ferrule comprising:
- a) a ferrule base having alignment features configured to receive and align the plurality of optical fibers;
- b) a retaining element that covers at least a portion of the alignment features and secures the plurality of optical fibers against the alignment features, the retaining element having a contact surface that contacts the plurality of optical fibers, where the contact surface is able to conform to the outer surfaces of the plurality of optical fibers;
- and
- c) a cover element having alignment features, wherein the ferrule is designed to receive at least a first and a second parallel array of optical fibers, the first array being retained between the ferrule base and the retaining element and the second array being retained between the retaining element and the cover element.
A connector assembly for securing a plurality of optical fibers, the connector assembly comprising:
- a) a base having a V-groove array that receives the plurality of optical fibers;
- b) a cover that mates onto the base over at least a portion of the V-groove array and applies a retaining force upon the plurality of optical fibers;
- and
- c) a cover that mates to the base, wherein the retaining element is disposed between the cover and the base, the cover comprising fiber receiving features and the retaining element including a second contact surface on an opposite face, wherein the connector assembly receives a first array of optical fibers between the base and the retaining element and a second array of optical fibers between the retaining element and the cover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.