US 8,651,749 B2Granted

Fiber optic interface with translatable ferrule device

AssigneeCorning Incorporated

InventorsPaulo Clóvis Dainese Júnior, Michael de Jong, Jeffery Alan DeMeritt, Micah C. Isenhour, Dennis M. Knecht, James P. Luther

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Abstract

Optical fiber ferrules (10, 20) for making optical or optical and electrical connections are disclosed, along with receptacle and plug fiber optic interface devices (60, 70) using the ferrules, and cable assemblies (6, 7) using the fiber optic interface devices. The optical fiber ferrules support optical pathways (14) and have front ends (12F, 22F) with mating geometries that facilitate a relatively high number of mating/unmating cycles. The ferrule is translatable within the enclosure (62e, 72e). Resilient members (75) provide the ferrule with forward-bias and rear-bias positions when the fiber optic interface device is un-mated and mated, respectively.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A fiber optic interface device comprising:

a ferrule having front and rear ends connected by one or more optical pathways configured to respectively operably support one or more optical waveguides;
one or more optical waveguides respectively supported by the one or more optical pathways;
an enclosure having front and rear ends and an interior in which the ferrule is translatably supported therein, the interior having a storage region adjacent the ferrule that is configured to loosely store one or more excess portions of the one or more optical waveguides;
and
at least one resilient member operably configured relative to the ferrule to provide a forward-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is unmated and a rear-bias position of the ferrule when the fiber optic interface device is mated, wherein the ferrule front end resides within the enclosure interior at a distance D from the enclosure front end while in the rear-biased position, D is 0.5 mm≦D≦20 mm.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 13/050,753Filed 17 Mar 2011 · us provisional application
Priority: 19 Mar 2010
Published: US 2011/0229083 A122 Sep 2011
Granted: 18 Feb 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G02B 6/3869
Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs: mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs
G02B 6/3823
Of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres: containing surplus lengths, internal fibre loops
G02B 6/3817
Of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres: containing optical and electrical conductors
G02B 6/3821
Of a low-reflection-loss type: with axial spring biasing or loading means