Self-cleaning fiber optic connection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016306123-A1
Application number	US-201415031405-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Oct 22, 2014
Priority date	Oct 22, 2013
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A self-cleaning optical fiber connector system for ensuring dust or contaminants are cleared from an optical connection interface is disclosed. In one aspect, the optical fiber connector system includes a connector joining first and second connectors. The adapter has a main body defining a central opening within which the connectors are received. The connectors each include a fiber optic cable secured by a ferrule. In one aspect, the ferrule defines an airflow passageway that narrows between a second opening and a first opening proximate an end face of the cable optical core and cladding. The connectors are constructed such that, as each connector is being inserted into the connector, an air flow is generated through the ferrule airflow passageway, and optionally through an exhaust airflow passageway in the connector. The generated airflow clears debris from the exposed end faces. Electrostatic precipitation may also be used to aid in clearing dust and debris, alone or in combination with air flow effects.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An optical fiber connector system comprising:
a. an adapter having a main body defining a central opening; and b. a first connector including:
i. a fiber optic cable having a core and a cladding, the fiber optic cable having a first exposed end face;
ii. a connector main body adapted to be removably received in the adapter main body central opening;
iii. a ferrule having a main body secured to the fiber optic cable and being at least partially disposed within the connector main body, the ferrule defining an airflow passageway;
c. the adapter and first connector being constructed such that, as the first connector is being inserted into the adapter main body, an air flow is generated from a recess within the connector main body and through the ferrule airflow passageway.

2 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 1 , wherein the adapter main body includes a receptacle body having a central opening, the receptacle body and adapter main body defining an exhaust air passageway extending from the central opening to an outer surface of the connector main body.

3 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 2 , wherein the adapter and the first connector are constructed such that, as the first connector is being inserted into the adapter main body, an air flow is generated from the connector main body recess, through the ferrule airflow passageway, and through the exhaust air passageway.

4 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 2 , wherein the ferrule is constructed to be received into the receptacle body central opening.

5 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 4 , wherein the connector main body defines the recess at a first end through which the ferrule extends and wherein the receptacle body is received at least partially into the connector main body recess.

6 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule airflow passageway includes a plurality of airflow passageways.

7 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 6 , wherein each of the plurality of airflow passageways extends from a first opening proximate the first exposed end face to a second opening in the ferrule main body.

8 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 7 , wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

9 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 8 , wherein each of the airflow passageways narrows in a direction from the second opening towards the first opening.

10 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 2 , wherein the receptacle body further includes a sleeve member disposed within the central opening.

11 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 10 , wherein the sleeve member includes one or more apertures forming a portion of the exhaust air passageway.

12 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 10 , wherein the sleeve member is configured as a collection surface electrode.

13 . A optical fiber connector system comprising:
a. an adapter having a main body defining a central opening; and b. a first connector including:
i. a first fiber optic cable having a first core and a first cladding, the first fiber optic cable having a first exposed end face;
ii. a first connector main body adapted to be removably received in the adapter main body central opening;
iii. a first ferrule having a main body secured to the first fiber optic cable and being at least partially disposed within the connector main body, the ferrule defining a first airflow passageway;
c. a second connector including:
i. a second fiber optic cable having a second core and a second cladding, the second fiber optic cable having a second exposed end face;
ii. a second connector main body adapted to be removably received in the adapter main body central opening;
iii. a second ferrule having a main body secured to the second fiber optic cable and being at least partially disposed within the second connector main body, the ferrule defining a second airflow passageway;
d. the adapter being configured to receive the first and second connectors such that the first and second exposed end faces are facing each other; e. the adapter and first and second connectors being constructed such that, as the first or second connector is being inserted into the adapter main body, an air flow is generated from a recess in the first or second connector main body and through the first or second ferrule airflow passageway.

14 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 13 , wherein the adapter main body includes a receptacle body having a central opening, the receptacle body and adapter main body defining an exhaust air passageway extending from the central opening to an outer surface of the connector main body.

15 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 14 , wherein the adapter and first and second connectors are constructed such that, as the first or second connector is being inserted into the adapter main body, an air flow is generated from the first or second connector main body recess, through the first or second ferrule airflow passageway, and through the exhaust air passageway.

16 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 14 , wherein the first and second ferrules are constructed to be received into the receptacle body central opening.

17 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 16 , wherein the each of the first and second connector main bodies defines a recess at a first end through which the first or second ferrule, respectively, extends and wherein the receptacle body is received at least partially into the first or second connector main body recess, respectively.

18 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second ferrule airflow passageways include a plurality of airflow passageways.

19 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 18 , wherein each of the plurality of airflow passageways extends from a first opening proximate the first exposed end face to a second opening.

20 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 19 , wherein the first opening is smaller than the second opening.

21 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 20 , wherein each of the airflow passageways narrows in a direction from the second opening towards the first opening.

22 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 14 , wherein the receptacle body further includes a sleeve member disposed within the central opening.

23 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 22 , wherein the sleeve member includes one or more apertures forming a portion of the exhaust air passageway.

24 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 22 , wherein the sleeve member is configured as a collection surface electrode.

25 . The optical fiber connector system of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule and the connector are configured to generate an electrostatic charge.

26 . An optical fiber connector system comprising:
a. an adapter having a main body defining a central opening within which a receptacle body having a central opening is disposed; b. a sleeve member disposed in the receptacle body central opening, the sleeve member being configured as a collection surface electrode; and c. a first connector including:
i. a fiber optic cable having a core and a cladding, the fiber optic cable having a first exposed end face;
ii. a connector main body adapted to be removably received in the adapter mai

Assignees

• Commscope Connectivity Spain Sl

Inventors

• Gatnau Navarro Jorge
• Maqueda Gonzalez Maria
• Blanch Morella Montserrat
• Mateo Ferrus Rafael
• Pelai Torija Jaime

Classifications

• G02B6/3874

  using tubes, sleeves to align ferrules · CPC title

• G02B6/3866 Primary

  Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors (cleaning in general B08B) · CPC title

• G02B6/3847

  with means preventing fibre end damage, e.g. recessed fibre surfaces · CPC title

• G02B6/3825

  with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/3867

  comprising air venting holes · CPC title