Blind mating strain relieved optical fiber connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016223757-A1
Application number	US-201514613998-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2015
Publication date	Aug 4, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Aspects of the present invention include an optical fiber connector for connecting optical fibers. The optical fiber connector includes a ferrule coupled to one or more optical fiber ribbons. The optical fiber connector includes a connector housing coupled with a radius controlled ribbon bending housing. The connector housing surrounds the ferrule on at least four sides, and the one or more optical fiber ribbons coupled to the ferrule are within the connector housing. The optical fiber connector includes a strain relief clamp coupled with the radius controlled ribbon bending housing.

First claim

1 .- 12 . (canceled)

13 . An optical fiber connector comprising:
a ferrule coupled to one or more optical fiber ribbons; a connector housing coupled with a radius controlled ribbon bending housing, wherein the connector housing surrounds the ferrule on at least four sides, and the one or more optical fiber ribbons coupled to the ferrule are within the connector housing, and wherein the radius controlled ribbon bending housing includes at least one of one or more guide rails and one or more routing shelves; and a strain relief clamp coupled with the radius controlled ribbon bending housing.

14 . The optical fiber connector of claim 13 , wherein the radius controlled ribbon bending housing provides a smooth 90 degree bend for the one or more optical fiber ribbons.

15 . The optical fiber connector of claim 13 , wherein the ferrule can couple with up to 64 fibers.

16 . The optical fiber connector of claim 13 , further comprising a spring within the connector housing, wherein the spring surrounds the one or more optical fiber ribbons, and wherein the ferrule is in contact with the spring such that the ferrule can retract within the connector housing.

17 . The optical fiber connector of claim 13 , wherein the one or more guide rails and the one or more routing shelves are positioned such that one or more optical fiber ribbons from an adjacent optical fiber connector are aligned.

18 . The optical fiber connector of claim 13 , wherein the radius controlled ribbon bending housing includes at least one snap, and wherein the strain relief clamp includes at least one snap catch.

19 . The optical fiber connector of claim 18 , wherein the strain relief clamp couples with the radius controlled ribbon bending housing when the at least one snap of the radius controlled ribbon bending housing engages with the at least one snap catch of the strain relief clamp.

20 . The optical fiber connector of claim 13 , wherein the connector housing includes at least one opening, and wherein the radius controlled ribbon bending housing includes at least one molded catch, and wherein the connector housing and the radius controlled ribbon bending housing couple when the at least one opening of the connector housing engages with the at least one molded catch of the radius controlled ribbon bending housing.

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Benner Alan F
• Brandon Mark A
• Ellsworth Michael J
• Mckeever Eric J
• Nguyen Thong N
• Seminaro Edward J

Classifications

• G02B6/3829 Primary

  Bent or angled connectors (G02B6/3827 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3888

  Protection from over-extension or over-compression · CPC title

• G02B6/38875

  Protection from bending or twisting · CPC title

• G02B6/4292

  the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements · CPC title

• G02B6/3885

  Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type (optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448) · CPC title