Unitary fiber optic ferrule and adapter therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9417409-B2
Application number	US-201514599947-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2015
Priority date	Nov 28, 2008
Publication date	Aug 16, 2016
Grant date	Aug 16, 2016

Abstract

A unitary fiber optic ferrule reflects light off an interior lens and through the fiber optic ferrule. Optical fibers can be easily secured in the unitary fiber optic ferrule. An adapter to secure the unitary fiber optic ferrule to a optical component assembly is also presented. The adapter provides a sealing function for the lenses and to provide routing for optical fibers from other assemblies of unitary fiber optic ferrules and adapters.

First claim

We claim:

1. An adapter to hold and align a unitary fiber optic ferrule having optical fibers extending therefrom comprising:
a main body having a front end, a back end opposite to the front end, and an opening extending therebetween to receive the unitary fiber optic ferrule, the optical fibers extending away from the adapter through the back end of the main body;
a first projection extending downward from the front end and orthogonal to the opening;
a second projection extending downward from the back end and orthogonal to the opening; and
a cover portion extending between the front end and back end and partially defining the opening, the cover portion disposed to cover at least one opening in the unitary fiber optic ferrule.

2. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second projections comprise a latching mechanism to attach the adapter to a portion of an optical component.

3. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second projections have dimensions that are different from one another to act as a key.

4. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein a leading edge of the first and second projections include a chamfered portion.

5. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein the cover portion has an inclined surface and an upwardly extending rail on opposing sides to guide optical fibers from adjacent adapters when installed.

6. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second projections extend downward away from the main body and below the unitary fiber optic ferrule.

7. The adapter according to claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second projections allow for prealignment of the unitary fiber optic ferrule.

8. An adapter to hold and align a unitary fiber optic ferrule comprising:
a main body having a front end, a back end opposite to the front end, and an opening extending therebetween;
a first projection extending downward from the front end and below the opening;
a second projection extending downward from the back end and below the opening; and
a cover portion at least partially extending between the front end and back end and defining at least a portion of the opening, the cover portion fixedly attached to the main body and disposed to cover at least one opening in the unitary fiber optic ferrule inserted into the opening.

9. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein the opening in the adapter is larger than the unitary fiber optic ferrule in at least one dimension to allow for relative movement between the ferrule and the adapter.

10. The adapter according to claim 8 , further comprising a projection extending inward from each of two side portions, the inward extending projection defining a bottom portion of opening and configured to engage at least a portion of the unitary fiber optic ferrule.

11. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second projections comprise a latching mechanism to attach the adapter to a portion of an optical component.

12. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second projections have dimensions that are different from one another to act as a key.

13. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein a leading edge of the first and second projections include a chamfered portion.

14. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein the first and second projections have an opening therein to attach the adapter to a portion of an optical component.

15. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein the cover portion has an inclined surface and an upwardly extending rail on opposing sides to guide optical fibers from adjacent adapters when installed.

16. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second projections extend downward away from the main body and below the unitary fiber optic ferrule.

17. The adapter according to claim 8 , wherein each of the first and second projections allow for prealignment of the unitary fiber optic ferrule.

Assignees

• Us Conec Ltd
• Us Conec Ltd

Inventors

• Howard Joseph P
• Childers Darrell R
• Granger Russell J

Classifications

• G02B6/4231

  with intermediate elements, e.g. rods and balls, between the elements · CPC title

• G02B6/3845

  ferrules comprising functional elements, e.g. filters · CPC title

• G02B6/36

  Mechanical coupling means (G02B6/255, G02B6/42 take precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/4292

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

• G02B6/3853 Primary

  Lens inside the ferrule (lensed connectors G02B6/32) · CPC title