Multi-fiber fiber optic connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9442257-B2
Application number	US-201615051295-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2016
Priority date	Nov 23, 2011
Publication date	Sep 13, 2016
Grant date	Sep 13, 2016

Abstract

A fiber optic cable assembly includes a fiber optic cable and a fiber optic connector. The cable includes a jacket having an elongated transverse cross-sectional profile that defines a major axis and a minor axis. Strength components of the cable are anchored to the connector. The fiber optic connector includes a multi-fiber ferrule defining a major axis that is generally perpendicular to the major axis of the jacket and a minor axis that is generally perpendicular to the minor axis of the jacket. Certain types of connectors include a connector body defining a side opening that extends along a length of the connector body; a multi-fiber ferrule configured for lateral insertion into the connector body through the side opening; and a cover that mounts over the side opening after the multi-fiber ferrule has been inserted into the connector body through the side opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fiber optic connector and cable assembly comprising:
a fiber optic cable including a jacket having an elongated transverse cross-sectional profile that defines a major axis and a minor axis, the major and minor axes of the jacket being generally perpendicular relative to one another, the fiber optic cable also including a plurality of optical fibers contained within the jacket, the fiber optic cable further including first and second strength components positioned on opposite sides of the optical fibers; and
a fiber optic connector relative to which the first and second strength components are anchored, the fiber optic connector including a connector body in which a multi-fiber ferrule is mounted, the multi-fiber ferrule defining a major axis and a minor axis, the major and minor axes of the multi-fiber ferrule axis being generally perpendicular relative to one another, the major axis of the multi-fiber ferrule being generally perpendicular to the major axis of the jacket and the minor axis of the multi-fiber ferrule being generally perpendicular to the minor axis of the jacket, the connector body and the multi-fiber ferrule being structured to enable the multi-fiber ferrule to side load into the connector body along a direction parallel to the major axis of the ferrule.

2. The fiber optic connector and cable assembly of claim 1 , optical fiber portions that extend at least partially through the connector body, the optical fiber portions having end portions supported by the multi-fiber ferrule.

3. The fiber optic connector and cable assembly of claim 2 , wherein the optical fiber portions are ribbonized.

4. The fiber optic connector and cable assembly of claim 2 , wherein the optical fiber portions are spliced to the optical fibers of the fiber optic cable at a splice location within the connector body.

5. The fiber optic connector and cable assembly of claim 4 , wherein the optical fiber portions are secured to the optical fibers of the fiber optic cable using a re-coat process.

6. The fiber optic connector of claim 2 , wherein the optical fiber portions are integral with the optical fibers of the fiber optic cable.

Assignees

• Commscope Technologies Llc

Inventors

• Lu Yu

Classifications

• G02B6/3821

  with axial spring biasing or loading means (G02B6/3847 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G02B6/3894

  Screw-lock type · CPC title

• G02B6/3825

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

• G02B6/3891

  Bayonet type · CPC title

• G02B6/3833

  Details of mounting fibres in ferrules; Assembly methods; Manufacture · CPC title