Reduced-profile data transmission element connectors, adapters, and connection assemblies thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9618702-B2
Application number	US-201414299224-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	Apr 11, 2017
Grant date	Apr 11, 2017

Abstract

Reduced-profile connection components are described. The reduced-profile connection components are configured to connect various data transmission elements, including cables, network devices, and computing devices. A non-limiting example of a connection component includes a fiber optic connection component, including connectors, adapters, and assemblies formed therefrom. In some embodiments, the connection components may include mechanical transfer (MT) and multi-fiber push-on/pull-off (MPO) connection components, such as MT ferrules and MPO adapters. The reduced-profile connection components configured according to some embodiments have a smaller profile and/or require less parts to achieve a connection compared to conventional connection components. In some embodiments, the reduced-profile connection components may be used with conventional connection components. For example a reduced-profile connector may use a conventional MT ferrule to establish a connection within a conventional MPO adapter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A reduced-profile connection assembly, comprising:
an adapter;
a ferrule having a connection side;
a reduced-profile clip fixedly arranged within the adapter, the reduced-profile clip having hooks configured to engage a portion of the ferrule opposite the connection side to prevent movement of the ferrule within the adapter, wherein each hook comprises one or more non-ferrule engaging protrusions; and
a ferrule installation device configured to install the ferrule within the reduced-profile clip, the ferrule installation device comprising a frame portion configured to interact with the one or more non-ferrule engaging protrusions during ferrule installation.

2. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is a fiber optic ferrule.

3. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is a mechanical transfer ferrule.

4. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the adapter is configured as a multi-fiber push-on/pull-off adapter.

5. The reduced-profile connection assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hooks extend about 2 millimeters outside of the adapter.

Assignees

• Senko Advanced Components Inc

Inventors

• Takano Kazuyoshi
• Iizumi Kenji

Classifications

• G02B6/3869

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

• G02B6/3825 Primary

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

• G02B6/3882

  using rods, pins or balls to align a pair of ferrule ends · 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

• G02B6/387

  Connector plugs comprising two complementary members, e.g. shells, caps, covers, locked together · CPC title