Expanded beam optical fibre connector

Abstract

The present invention relates to an optical connector for use in a fiber optic communications system, and particularly an expanded beam optical connector (20) for connecting optical fibers. The connector (20) comprises a housing (6), a port (48) within the housing for receiving an end (35) of an optical fiber (38), a cylindrical ferrule (32) within the housing (6) having opposite first and second ends (33, 35), and an optical fiber stub held axially (14) within the ferrule (32) and extending between said ferrule ends (33, 35). The connector (20) also has a lens (8) for projecting and/or receiving an expanded beam (40) optically coupled with the optical fiber stub at the first ferrule end (33). A sleeve (34) surrounds the ferrule (32) and extends towards the port (48) axially away from the second ferrule end (35) to present an open end to the sleeve for receiving a termination ferrule (36) of an optical fiber (38) inserted into the port. The connector (20) has a connector portion (2, 4, 5) for connecting the optical fiber connector (20) to another expanded beam optical fiber connector so that said expanded beam (40) traverses between the connectors. A channel (28) extends through the housing (6) from the port (48) towards the lens (8), the ferrule (32) being secured by means of a ring (80) within the channel (28), the ring having an outer surface (78) that makes an interference fit with an inner surface (25) of the channel and an inner surface (76) that makes an interference fit with an outer surface (74) of the ferrule towards the first ferrule end. (33).

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.