Small form factor fiber optic connector with resilient latching mechanism for securing within a hook-less receptacle

A small form factor optical connector holding two or more LC-type optical ferrules is provided. The optical connector includes an outer body, an inner front body accommodating the two or more LC-type optical ferrules, a pair a resilient latches and corresponding recess for the resilient latch, ferrule springs for urging the optical ferrules towards a mating receptacle, and a back body for supporting the ferrule springs. The outer body and the inner front body are configured such that four LC-type optical ferrules are accommodated in a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver footprint or eight LC-type optical ferrules are accommodated in a quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) transceiver footprint. A mating receptacle (transceiver or adapter) includes a receptacle hook and a housing with an opening that accommodates the receptacle hook in a flexed position as the optical connector makes connection with the mating receptacle by introducing the receptacle hook into an optical receptacle hook recess.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present disclosure relates generally to ultra-small form factor optical connectors secured with an adapter or optical transceiver both generally called a receptacle.

BACKGROUND

The prevalence of the Internet has led to unprecedented growth in communication networks. Consumer demand for service and increased competition has caused network providers to continuously find ways to improve quality of service while reducing cost.

Certain solutions have included deployment of high-density interconnect panels. High-density interconnect panels may be designed to consolidate the increasing volume of interconnections necessary to support the fast-growing networks into a compacted form factor, thereby increasing quality of service and decreasing costs such as floor space and support overhead. However, room for improvement in the area of data centers, specifically as it relates to fiber optic connections, still exists: For example, manufacturers of connectors and adapters are always looking to reduce the size of the devices, while increasing ease of deployment, robustness, and modifiability after deployment. In particular, more optical connectors may need to be accommodated in the same footprint previously used for a smaller number of connectors in order to provide backward compatibility with existing data center equipment. For example, one current footprint is known as the small form-factor plug able transceiver footprint (SFP). This footprint currently accommodates two LC-type ferrule optical connections. However, it may be desirable to accommodate four optical connections (two duplex connections of transmit/receive) within the same footprint. Another current footprint is the quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) transceiver footprint. This footprint currently accommodates four LC-type ferrule optical connections. However, it may be desirable to accommodate eight optical connections of LC-type ferrules (four duplex connections of transmit/receive) within the same footprint.

In communication, networks, such as data centers and switching networks, numerous interconnections between mating connectors may be compacted into high-density panels. Panel and connector producers may optimize for such high densities by shrinking the connector size and or the spacing between adjacent connectors on the panel. While both approaches may be effective to increase the panel connector density, shrinking the connector size and/or spacing may also increase the support cost and diminish the quality of service.

In a high-density panel configuration, adjacent connectors and cable assemblies may obstruct access to the individual release mechanisms. Such physical obstructions may impede the ability of an operator to minimize the stresses applied to the cables and the connectors. For example, these stresses may be applied when the user reaches into a dense group of connectors and pushes aside surrounding optical fibers and connectors to access an individual connector release mechanism with his/her thumb and forefinger. Overstressing the cables and connectors may produce latent defects, compromise the integrity and/or reliability of the terminations, and potentially cause serious disruptions to network performance.

While an operator may attempt to use a tool, such as a screwdriver, to reach into a dense group of connectors and activate a release mechanism, adjacent cables and connectors may obstruct the operator's line of sight, making it difficult to guide the tool to the release mechanism without pushing aside the adjacent cables. Moreover, even when the operator has a clear line sight, guiding the tool to the release mechanism may be a time-consuming process. Thus, using a tool may not be effective at reducing support time and increasing the quality of service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An optical connector holding a ferrule assembly the assembly may contain two or more LC-type optical ferrules or a single optical ferrule, basis with a spring, and each ferrule having one or more optical fiber therein is provided. The optical connector includes an outer body, an inner front body accommodating the optical ferrule assembly, the inner front body has open sidewalls, resilient metal latches configured to be secured between the inner front body and outer housing, ferrule springs for urging the optical ferrules and flanges within the inner body, and a back body for supporting the ferrule springs. The outer body and the inner front body are configured such that four LC-type optical ferrules are accommodated in a small form-factor pluggable (SFP) transceiver footprint or eight LC-type optical ferrules are accommodated in a quad small form-factor pluggable (QSFP) transceiver footprint. A mating receptacle (transceiver or adapter) includes does not have an internal receptacle hook configured, as in U.S. Pat. No. 10,281,669B2 to Takano the subject matter of which is fully incorporated herein by reference, and an outer housing with an opening that accommodates the receptacle hook in a flexed position as the optical connector makes connection with the mating receptacle by introducing the receptacle hook into a receptacle hook recess.

Other aspects and features will be apparent hereinafter.

Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A connector, as used herein, refers to a device and/or components thereof that connects a first module or cable to a second module or cable. The connector may be configured for fiber optic transmission or electrical signal transmission. The connector may be any suitable type now known or later developed, such as, for example, a ferrule connector (FC), a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) connector, an LC connector, a mechanical transfer (MT) connector, a square connector (SC) connector, a CS connector, or a straight tip (ST) connector. The connector may generally be defined by a connector housing body. In some embodiments, the housing body may incorporate any or all of the components described herein.

A “fiber optic cable” or an “optical cable” refers to a cable containing one or more optical fibers for conducting optical signals in beams of light. The optical fibers can be constructed from any suitable transparent material, including glass, fiberglass, and plastic. The cable can include a jacket or sheathing material surrounding the optical fibers. In addition, the cable can be connected to a connector on one end or on both ends of the cable.

Various embodiments described herein generally provide a remote release mechanism such that a user can remove cable assembly connectors that are closely spaced together on a high density panel without damaging surrounding connectors, accidentally disconnecting surrounding connectors, disrupting transmissions through surrounding connectors, and/or the like. Various embodiments also provide narrow-pitch LC duplex connectors and narrow-width multi-fiber connectors, for use, for example, with future narrow-pitch LC SFPs and future narrow width SFPs. The remote release mechanisms allow use of the narrow-pitch LC duplex connectors and narrow-width multi-fiber connectors in dense arrays of narrow-pitch LC SFPs and narrow-width multi-fiber SFPs.

FIG. 1Adepicts a prior art adapter (10) configured to receive and secured snap-in hooks (12) with a ferrule alignment sleeve, with one snap-in hook per an adapter port. This forms an adapter port with a hook (12) to receive and secure a small-form factor connector as depicted2B.FIG. 1Bis a top view of the adapter (10) ofFIG. 1Athrough cut-outs (10a) that help to secure snap-in hooks within the adapter port.FIG. 1Cis a front view of the snap-in hooks (12) within a port defined by spaced apart inner channels within the outer housing wall of the adapter and section line A-A.FIG. 1D.1is a cross section along line A-A with snap-in hook clip (16) (refer toFIG. 1D.3) secured by an adapter housing internal rib (14), as depicted inFIG. 1D.2snap-in hook latches. A set of opposing latch hooks (12a,12b) secure a connector upon insertion of the connector into a port of the adapter. The snap-in hook assembly ofFIG. 1D.3has flexible latch (18) arms to secure the connector.

FIG. 2Adepicts an exploded view of a small form factor connector configured to be secured within the adapter (10) of FIG. Snap-in hook latches are secured within opposing recesses a, b) of the inner front body or housing (refer toFIG. 4A) secured within the sliding outer housing (20).FIG. 2Adepicts a strain relief boot (32) with opposing boot hooks (32.1,32.2) (refer toFIG. 3B) to form a push/pull boot, a crimp ring (30) with heat shrink tubing at a distal end, a back-post and spring (28) pushed configured to accept the crimp ring at a proximal end of the crimp, ring (30), a pair of basis springs (26) to bias forward a corresponding flanged ferrules (24) with at least one optical fiber within, the ferrule, and open sidewall, inner housing (22) that accepts and secured the back-post and spring pusher (28) at a distal end of the inner housing (22) with a pair of opposing protrusions on the back-post secured with a pair of corresponding openings at a distal end of the inner housing (22), and a sliding outer housing (20) that accepts the above mentioned assembly when the push/pull boot is secured to the outer housing at a distal end of the housing. The push/pull boot has a pair of opposing hoot hooks (32.1,32.2) that are secured within a pair of opposing openings (20.1,20.2) at the distal of the housing (refer toFIG. 3B), and when the hoot hooks (32.1,32.2) are secured within the housing openings, the connector assembled as shown inFIG. 2B.FIG. 2Bdepicts the assembled connector (100) with opposing recesses (38) formed within the inner front body and accessible at a proximal end of the connector, the distal end defined by the push/pull boot with opposing boot hooks (32.1,32.2). The connector outer housing has opposing alignment keys (35a) that align and guide the connector into an adapter port.

FIG. 3Adepicts outer housing (20) (sometimes called a slider outer housing) and strain relief boot (32) (also called a push/pull boot) that is secured by the opposing boot latches (32.1,32.2) (refer toFIG. 3B) at a proximal end of the push/pull boot into latch openings (20.1,20.2) at a distal end of the of slider outer housing (20) (refer toFIG. 38).FIG. 3Cis a front view of the small form factor connector along section line B-1B,FIG. 3Dis a cross-section view, along section line B-B ofFIG. 3Cafter boot is secured to distal end of slider housing (20) and depicts boot latches (32.1,32.2) within openings at a distal end of sliding outer housing. The assembly connector ofFIG. 3Dis a push/pull boot connector similar disclosed in U.S. Pat. Application 2019/0243072A1 to Takano, the subject matter of which is fully disclosed in the present invention.

FIG. 4Adepicts an exploded view of inner housing (22), flanged ferrules (24), ferrule springs (26) and back body and backpost spring pusher (28), which is the back post to receive the crimp ring to secure the fiber optic cable at a first end or distal end, and a spring push to secure ferrules with bias springs within inner body after assembly at a second end or proximal end.FIG. 4B.1is a front view of the assembled inner assembly along section line C-C.FIG. 4B.2is a cross section view along line C-C ofFIG. 481FIG. 4Cdepicts ferrule springs (26a,26b) compressed under force created by securing backpost spring pusher within inner front body (22) via opposing backpost-spring pusher latches (27a,27b) within openings at a distal end of inner front body.

FIG. 5Adepicts adapter housing (10) with ports (10a-10d) each having snap-in hook assembly secured therein, and prior to insertion of an assembled small form factor connector (100) within an adapter port.FIG. 5Bis an exploded view of the adapter (10) with snap-in hook assembly using the push/pull boot to insert the connector (100) into an adapter port.FIG. 5Cis the connector inserted into adapter port where the opposing latch hooks (18) are secured with the opposing inner front body recesses secured within the connector housing, thereby latching the connector within the adapter port.FIG. 5Ddepicts the connector being released from the adapter port when a user pulls distally or rearward on the push/pull boot or strain relief. When the user pulls the push/pull boot in the direction of arrow A or in the distal/rearward direction, the latch hook (12a) is moved out of recess (38), as depicted in the Takano andFIG. 5D.

FIG. 6Adepicts assembled small form factor connector (200) according to an embodiment of the present invention. As described in the figures below, the connector outer housing has a pair of opposing openings nearer a proximal end of the outer housing configured to allow pair of resilient latches secured with the inner front body to protrude through openings. The resilient latches protrude through a pair of opposing openings formed in a top wall portion and bottom wall portion of the receptacle housing, as depicted atFIG. 11A.FIG. 6Bdepicts an exploded view of the small form factor connector (200) depicted inFIG. 8A, further comprises an outer housing (36), an inner front body (38.1) with opposing recesses formed on a top portion (23a) and a bottom portion (23b) of the inner front body (refer toFIG. 8A), the latch holes (38a,38a) are configured to accept, a resilient latch (42) within the recess. The resilient latch (42) is formed from a metal or a plastic which is characterized by being flexible with breaking when bent from an angle less than ninety (90) degrees about zero (0) degrees relative to a normal formed with the longitudinal bore (L-L′) (refer toFIG. 6B) of the outer housing. The inner front body (38.1) accepts a pair of opposing LC-type optical ferrules (44) biased by a corresponding spring (46) at a distal end of the flanged LC-type optical ferrules. Backpost-spring pusher (48) applies a pre-determined load to ensure the springs bias the LC-type optical ferrules forward. The backpost-spring pusher (48) has a pair of opposing latch hooks (37a,37b) (refer toFIG. 8A) that are accepted into a pair of opposing latch holes (38a,38b) formed at a distal end of the inner front body (refer to refer toFIG. 8A). The backpost-spring pusher (48) forms an inner front body assembly or inner housing assembly. Referring toFIG. 6Ba crimp ring (51) with a heat shrink tubing is crimped onto a post formed at a distal end of the backpost-spring pusher (48). A push/pull boot, is secured to a distal end of the connector outer housing. As depicted inFIG. 7B, a pair of opposing boot latches (32.1,32.2) are received in a corresponding latch holes (36a,36b) at the distal end of the connector outer housing (36). Once the push/pull boot is secured to the outer housing (36), with the inner front body assembly, the small form factor connector (200) is assembled according to the present invention with the resilient latch protruding from the proximal opening formed in the outer housing, as depicted inFIG. 9D.

FIG. 7Adepicts an exploded view of connector outer housing (36) positioned to accept push/pull boot (32) at a distal end of the outer housing (36).FIG. 7Bdepicts opposing boot latches (32.1,32.2) on the push/pull boot prior to being secured to housing via latch holes (36a,36b), at a distal end of the outer housing (36), configured to accept and secure the boot latches (32.1,32.2).FIG. 7Cis a cross-section of connector assembly (200) along section line A-A.FIG. 7Ddepicts angled openings (36c,33d) for the resilient latches (42) secured to the inner front body. Angled opening (36c,36d) allows for a full travel of the spring latch (42) without binding or jamming within the connector outer housing (36), and further allows for a reduced profile or extension, of the resilient latch (42) beyond the outer housing itself. The angled surface is less than ninety (90) degrees (40a,40b) to a normal formed with the longitudinal bore of the connector outer housing.

FIG. 8Adepicts an exploded view of inner front body (38.1), flanged ferrules (44) holding a LC-type optical ferrule, ferrule bias springs (46) and backpost-spring pusher (48) with opposing latch hooks (37a,37b) to secure and compress springs when backpost-spring pusher (48) is secured within the latch holes (38a,38b) at a distal end of inner front body housing.FIG. 8Bis a front view along section line B-B of the inner front body assembled (50).FIG. 8Cis a side view of the inner front body assembly with LC-type optical ferrules protruding from within the inner front body,FIG. 81) depicts assembledFIG. 8A. The backpost-spring pusher latch hooks (37a,37b) secured within latch holes (38a,38b) at a distal end of inner front body thereby compressing ferrule springs (26a,26b) and thus ferrules as shown. The backpost-spring pusher compresses the ferrule bias springs to a desired pre-load force necessary to maintain the LC-type optical ferrules in a biased or forward position.

FIG. 9Adepicts an exploded view of small form factor connector further illustrating the assembly of the resilient latches (42a,42b) with the top and bottom portions of the inner front body having a recess therein (39a,39b). The connector is assembled in the direction of arrow A, after the resilient latches are installed with inner front body as depicted inFIG. 9B.FIG. 9Bis a zoomed view of spring resilient latches (42a,42b) prior to securing to inner front body.FIG. 9Cdepicts assembling the small form factor connector in the direction of arrow A1and arrow A2, after resilient latches secured to inner front body.FIG. 9Ddepicts the push/pull boot or sometimes called a strain relief for the incoming fiber optic cable is attached and secured to distal end of connector outer housing with resilient latches (42a,42b) protruding through outer housing.

FIG. 10Adepicts a side view of small form factor connector according to the present invention, with the resilient latches (42a,42b) protruding through the connector outer housing.FIG. 10Bis a top view of the connector ofFIG. 10Awith resilient latch (42a). FIG.10C is a cross-section view alone section line C-C ofFIG. 10B.FIG. 10Cdepicts push-pull boot latched to connector outer housing at a distal end, with resilient latches (42a,42b) protruding through the outer housing at a proximal end.FIG. 10Ddepicts a view along section line C-C ofFIG. 10B, and shows pulling, back the push/pull boot in direction of the arrow while connector outer housing depresses the resilient latches (42a,42b) into a corresponding recess (39a,39b) formed in the inner housing or inner front body.

FIG. 11Adepicts inserting the connector (200) ofFIG. 10into port of a receptacle (60). The receptacle port (60) does not contain snap-in hooks. The receptacle port (60) is configured to accept and secure resilient latches, for example, by an opening through a top wall portion (60a.1) and a bottom wall portion (60b.1) of the receptacle outer housing.FIG. 11Bdepicts inserting connector (200) ofFIG. 10via connector push/pull boot into a receptacle port by pushing on the push/pull boot in a forward or proximal direction PI.FIG. 11Cdepicts an inner edge (52) of receptacle outer housing depressing resilient latch into recess of inner front body (refer toFIG. 10B) upon insertion into the receptacle port Openings (60a,60b) at distal end of the housing (60) are sized in width to correspond to the width of openings (38a,38b) in the inner front body (38.1) to limit the horizontal travel of the push/pull boot and thus the travel of outer housing (60) over the inner front body assembly (50) with backpost-spring pusher (48). The limited travel ensure the resilient latches are within the recess (39a,39b) without binding the resilient latches in those recesses. Binding the recesses can result in damaging the resilient latch spring constant or force.

FIG. 12depicts resilient latch (42a,42b) entering a port or an opening in receptacle housing or receptacle (60). As the small form factor connector (200) is fully inserted into the receptacle port (PI), resilient latch (42a,42b) expand into corresponding openings formed in the top wall portion (60a.1) or bottom wall portion (60b.1) of the receptacle housing. So when the small form factor connector (200) is frilly seated in the receptacle (60), the resilient latches protrude through the opening's in the receptacle walls. The opening in the receptacle wall is angled more than ninety (90) degrees from a normal to the longitudinal bore of the small form factor connector (60a,60b). The angle at ninety (90) degrees or greater guides the resilient latch through the opening of the receptacle wall without binding or jamming.FIG. 13depicts releasing the small form factor connector (200) from the receptacle port by pulling (PO) the push/pull boot release in a distal direction. As the small form factor connector is pulled distally, the resilient latch (42a42b) travels down the angled inner wall of openings (60a,60b) formed in the receptacle housing (60) configured to receive the resilient latch, as depicted inFIG. 12, and when the outer housing is pulled distally by the push/pull boot, the outer housing wall (36e) traps or secures the resilient latch in the recesses (39a,39b) formed in the inner front body as shown inFIG. 13, as the outer housing (36) slides over the resilient latch (42a,42b) thereby pushing the resilient latch through the openings (60a,60b) and into the recesses (39a,39b). Still referring toFIG. 13, the size or width of the opening (60a,60b) at the distal of the connector outer housing (refer toFIG. 11C) or the latch hole width or angled opening (36c,36d) (FIG. 7B) limits the travel of the connector outer housing so the outer housing depresses the resilient latch within the recess of the front body.

Various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into man other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, each of which is also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments.