Reversible polarity MPO fiber optic connector

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9829645-B2
Application number	US-201414319132-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 30, 2014
Priority date	Jun 30, 2014
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector is provided having a housing having a first end for receiving a multi-fiber fiber optic cable and a second end having openings for the fibers from the cable. First and second keys for setting the polarity of the fibers within the connector located on opposing sides of the connector. The connector has either one of guide pins or guide pin receiving holes for guiding the connection with a second connector. The keys are movable between a first active position and a second retracted position, such that when one of the keys is in the first active position, the fibers are presented within the connector in a first polarity and when the second key is in the first active position, the fibers are presented within the connector in a second polarity reversed from the first polarity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-fiber, fiber optic connector, said connector comprising:
a housing having a first end for receiving a multi-fiber fiber optic cable and a second end having openings for said fibers from said cable;
first and second key slots and two separate first and second movable key structures, where said first and second key slots each maintain a respective first and second movable key structure simultaneously,
said first and second key slots and respective first and second movable key structures retained therein being located on opposing sides of said connector,
said first and second movable key structure being movable within said first and second respective key slots, but otherwise retained within and not removable from said first and second key slots,
said first and second movable key structures being provided within said connector are configured to set the polarity of said fibers within said connector; and
either one of guide pins or guide pin receiving holes for guiding the connection with a second connector,
wherein said first and second key structures are movable within their respective said first and second key slots between an forward active position where the movable key structure is moved fully into an exposed portion of its respective key slot up to the second end of the connector and a retracted position where the movable key structure is moved out of said exposed portion of its respective key slot into and towards said first end of said connector,
such that when said first key structure is in said active position, said fibers are presented within said connector are in a first polarity, and
when said second key structure is in said active position, said fibers are presented within said connector in a second polarity reversed from said first polarity.

2. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first and second moveable key structures are structures that are movable between a first forward position and a second backward position by sliding within said first and second key slots respectively.

3. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 2 , wherein when either one of said first and second movable key structures are in said first active position within its key slot, and another of said first or second movable key structure located on the opposite side of said connector is in said second backward position within its slot, said first or second key structure in said backward position is slid within said housing.

4. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said first and second movable key structures are accessible through said housing such that said keys can be moved between said first and second position without opening said housing.

5. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said connector employs a spring biasing mechanism for arranging said first and second movable key structures between said active positions and said retracted positions.

6. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said connector has guide pins and said guide pins are configured to be movable to form guide pin openings.

7. The multi-fiber, fiber optic connector as claimed in claim 6 , wherein said guide pins are movable to form said guide pin openings via a tab that extends through said housing so that said guide pins are moved without opening said housing.

Assignees

• Nexans

Inventors

• Good Paul Michael
• Ayres Iii William E
• Heffner Greg

Classifications

• G02B6/3883

  using rods, pins or balls to align a plurality of pairs of ferrule ends · CPC title

• G02B6/3882

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

• G02B6/3831 Primary

  comprising a keying element on the plug or adapter, e.g. to forbid wrong connection (keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical coupling H01R13/64) · CPC title

• G02B6/3851

  Ferrules having keying or coding means · 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