Short optical terminus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9465171-B2
Application number	US-201414573520-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 17, 2014
Priority date	Jun 10, 2014
Publication date	Oct 11, 2016
Grant date	Oct 11, 2016

Abstract

An optical connector comprising a plug housing having a pin cavity; a pin having a front and rear orientation and disposed at least partially in the pin cavity, the pin comprising at least a pin sleeve having a pin sleeve length, the pin sleeve at least partially containing a pin ferrule and a pin lens; a receptacle housing having a socket cavity; a socket having a front and rear orientation and disposed at least partially in the socket cavity, the socket comprising at least a socket sleeve having a socket sleeve length, the socket sleeve at least partially containing a socket ferrule and a socket lens; and an alignment sleeve between the pin and socket, wherein, when in a mated state, a pin front portion of the pin sleeve and a socket front portion of the socket sleeve are disposed in the alignment sleeve, wherein the pin front portion and the socket front portion are at least ⅓ the length of the pin sleeve and socket sleeve, respectively.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An optical connector comprising:
a plug housing having a pin cavity;
a pin having a front and rear orientation and disposed at least partially in said pin cavity, said pin comprising at least a pin sleeve having a pin sleeve length, said pin sleeve at least partially containing a pin ferrule and a pin lens;
a receptacle housing having a socket cavity;
a socket having a front and rear orientation and disposed at least partially in said socket cavity, said socket comprising at least a socket sleeve having a socket sleeve length, said socket sleeve at least partially containing a socket ferrule and a socket lens; and
an alignment sleeve between said pin and socket, wherein, when in a mated state, a pin front portion of said pin sleeve and a socket front portion of said socket sleeve are disposed in said alignment sleeve, wherein said pin front portion and said socket front portion are at least ⅓ the length of said pin sleeve and socket sleeve, respectively, and
wherein said pin and said socket are held in said plug and receptacle within a certain tolerance such that the relative distance between them ranges from a minimum distance to a maximum distance when in said mated state, wherein said pin front portion ranges from about at least ⅓ of said pin sleeve length at said maximum distance to over ½ of said pin sleeve length at said minimum distance.

2. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein neither said pin or said socket comprises a spring to urge said ferrule assembly forward.

3. The optical connector of claim 2 , wherein said socket has a length of no greater than about 3 times the socket sleeve length.

4. The optical connector of claim 3 , wherein said socket has a length of no greater than about 2.5 times the socket sleeve length.

5. The optical connector of claim 2 , wherein said socket has a length of no greater than about the length of said pin.

6. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein said pin front portion ranges from about at least ⅓ to over ½ of said pin sleeve length.

7. The optical connector of claim 6 , wherein said pin front portion is at least 40% of said pin sleeve length.

8. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein said alignment sleeve is connected to said socket.

9. The optical connector of claim 1 , further comprising a shroud at least partially containing said alignment sleeve, wherein said shroud has at least one end comprising a shoulder to retain said alignment sleeve.

10. The optical connector of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first clip disposed between said plug housing and said pin in said pin cavity to position said pin axially in said plug housing;
a second clip disposed between said receptacle housing and said socket in said socket cavity to position said socket axially in said receptacle housing; and
wherein the clip-to-clip (CTC) distance between said first and second clips has a certain tolerance such that the CTC ranges from a minimum distance to a maximum distance.

11. The optical connector of claim 10 , wherein said pin front portion ranges from about at least ⅓ of said pin sleeve length at said maximum distance to over ½ of said pin sleeve length at said minimum distance.

12. The optical connector of claim 11 , wherein said connector is a MIL-29504-type connector.

13. The optical connector of claim 1 , wherein said connector is a size 16 connector.

14. The optical connector of claim 13 , wherein said connector is a EN4165 or a EN4644.

Assignees

• Tyco Electronics Corp

Inventors

• Grinderslev Soren

Classifications

• G02B6/3893

  Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on · CPC title

• G02B6/32

  having lens focusing means {positioned between opposed fibre ends (with lens being an integral part of the single fibre end G02B6/262)} · CPC title

• G02B6/3878

  comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means · CPC title

• G02B6/3869

  Mounting ferrules to connector body, i.e. plugs · CPC title

• G02B6/3817

  containing optical and electrical conductors (cables including electrical and optical conductors H01B11/22; G02B6/3816 takes precedence) · CPC title