Abstract:
An optical fiber connector and adapter according to the present invention are provided. At least one indentation is formed on the connector and a protrusion mating with the indentation is formed within the adapter thereby physically limiting the insertion of a connector into a particular adapter.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan Patent Application Serial Number 098120388 filed Jun. 18, 2009, the full disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The invention relates to an optical fiber connector and adapter, and more particularly, to an optical fiber connector and adapter with keyed features. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Optical fibers terminated by connectors and the adapters which are adapted to received these connectors are an important part of virtually any fiber optical communication systems. For example, such connectors and adapters may be used to interconnect fiber segments to create longer lengths, to connector optical fiber to active or passive devices, etc. However, in some cases, for example for security reasons or in order to better manage a telecommunications network, it is desired to physically limit the insertion of a connector into a particular adapter, and as a result prevent the transmission of data via that connector and adapter. 
         [0006]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , a conventional LC type optical fiber connector  100  has a generally rectangular shape with a square cross section. The connector  100  includes a rectangular housing  110  comprised of a top side-wall  111 , a bottom side-wall  112 , a right side-wall  113  and a left side-wall  114 , wherein the bottom side-wall  112  is opposite to the top side-wall  111  and connects with the right side-wall  113  and the left side-wall  114 . A latch  120  is molded into the top side-wall  111  and includes a living hinge  125  which allows the tab  126  to be moved up and down in a direction perpendicular to the central axis  150 - 150  of the connector  100 . The latch  120  includes a pair of protrusions  121  that are positioned on opposing sides of the tab  126 . In addition, a ferrule  140  protrudes from the opening  116  of housing  110 . A spring (not shown in the figure) is located inside the housing  110  to allow the ferrule  140  to move back and forth through the opening  111 . A pair of protrusions  160  is positioned on the right side-wall  113  and left side-wall  114 , respectively. 
         [0007]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , a conventional LC type optical fiber adapter  200 , such as an LC duplex adapter includes a generally rectangular housing  210 . The housing  210  has an axial cavity defined by a top side-wall  211 , a bottom side-wall  212 , a right side-wall  213  and a left side-wall  214 . The axial cavity is divided into two halves by a compartment wall  215  that is parallel to the right side-wall  213  and left side-wall  214  and connects with the top side-wall  211  and bottom side-wall  212 . The half of the axial cavity defined by the top side-wall  211 , bottom side-wall  212 , compartment wall  215  and right side-wall  213  is named as the right axial cavity and the other half of the axial cavity defined by the top side-wall  211 , bottom side-wall  212 , compartment wall  215  and left side-wall  214  is named as the left axial cavity. Each of the right and left axial cavities has an opening  208 . A pair of indentations  220  mating with the protrusions  160  on the connector  100  is arranged in the left axial cavity on the left side-wall  214  and compartment wall  215 , respectively. Similarly, the indentations  220  are also arranged in the right axial cavity on the right side-wall  213  and compartment wall  215 , respectively. When the connector  100  of  FIG. 1  is fully inserted into the adapter  200  through either of the openings  208 , the protrusions  160  on the connector  100  will be placed in the indentations  220 . Two hollow cylinders  240  are axially positioned in the right and left axial cavities respectively to receive the ferrule  140  of the connector  100 . In addition, the adapter  200  further includes reciprocal locking mechanisms  230  which, referring to  FIG. 1 , mate with the latch  120 , thereby securely interlocking the connector  100  with the adapter  200  when the connector  100  is completely inserted into the adapter  200 . 
         [0008]    In order to solve the above problem, some manufacturers change the cylinder  240  of the adapter  200  from the round cross-sectional shape to a particular shape. With such design, only a connector that the opening of the housing thereof has a shape mating with the cylinder  240 , like one shown in  FIG. 1 , can be fully inserted into the adapter  200 . The object of physically limiting the insertion of a connector into a particular adapter can therefore be achieved. 
         [0009]    However, if one user inadvertently inserts an unmated connector into the adapter  200 , the user cannot notice until a great part of the connector is inserted into the adapter  200 . This will therefore increase the risk of damage to them. 
         [0010]    Accordingly, there exists a need to provide an optical fiber connector and adapter to solve the above-mentioned problems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0011]    The present invention provides an optical fiber connector and adapter. The connector is provided with an indentation thereon and the adapter is provided therein with a protrusion mating with the indentation thereby physically limiting the insertion of a connector into a particular adapter. 
         [0012]    In one embodiment, the optical fiber connector of the present invention includes a housing and a latch. The housing has a front end, a first side-wall, a second side-wall, a third side-wall and a fourth side-wall, wherein the third side-wall is opposite to the first side-wall and connects with the second and fourth side-walls. The housing is provided with an affixed tip with external outward planar surface indentation feature. The housing is provided with an indentation that is positioned on the edge of the third side-wall and adjacent to the second side-wall. The indentation extends from the affixed tip at the front end. A corresponding affixed tip protrusion provided at the outward planar surface of an optical fiber adapter will be placed in the indentation on the optical fiber connector when the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter. The latch is positioned on the first side-wall of the housing. 
         [0013]    In another embodiment, the optical fiber adapter of the present invention includes a housing, a hollow cylinder and a protrusion. The housing has an axial cavity defined by a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a fourth wall, wherein the third wall is opposite to the first wall and connects with the second and fourth walls. The axial cavity has an opening. The hollow cylinder is axially positioned in the axial cavity. The protrusion is positioned on the third wall in the axial cavity and adjacent to the second wall. The protrusion will be placed in the corresponding indentation on an optical fiber connector when the optical fiber connector is inserted into the optical fiber adapter. 
         [0014]    The foregoing, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the following detailed description, which proceeds with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  is an elevated perspective view of a conventional LC type optical fiber connector. 
           [0016]      FIG. 2  is an elevated perspective view of a conventional LC type optical fiber adapter. 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is an elevated perspective view of the optical fiber connector according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 4  is an elevated perspective view of the optical fiber connector according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 5  is an elevated perspective view of the optical fiber connector according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 6  is an elevated perspective view of the optical fiber adapter according to the first embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 7  is an elevated perspective view of the optical fiber adapter according to the second embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 8  is an elevated perspective view of the optical fiber adapter according to the third embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the optical fiber connector  300  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is similar to the optical fiber connector  100  of  FIG. 1  and also includes the housing  110 , latch  120  and protrusions  160 . However, the opening  116  of the housing  110  for the connector  300  is circular. For simplicity, the ferrule of the connector  300  in  FIG. 3  is omitted. In addition, the connector  300  is further provided with rectangular indentations  310  that are positioned on the edges of the bottom side-wall  112  and adjacent to the right side-wall  113  and left side-wall  114 , respectively. The indentations  310  extend from the front end  119  of the housing  110 . 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , the optical fiber connector  400  according to the second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the optical fiber connector  300  of  FIG. 3  and includes the housing  110 , latch  120  and protrusions  160 . The opening  116  of the housing  110  for the connector  400  is circular. For simplicity, the ferrule of the connector  400  in  FIG. 4  is also omitted. However, the indentations  310  for the connector  400  are arranged on different positions, wherein one of the indentations  310  is positioned on the common boundary  117  between the bottom side-wall  112  and left side-wall  114 , and the other is positioned on the common boundary  118  between the bottom side-wall  112  and right side-wall  113 . These indentations  310  also extend from the front end  119  of the housing  110 . Each of the indentations  310  has at least two walls  312  and  314  that are parallel to the left side-wall  114  and bottom side-wall  112 , respectively. 
         [0025]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the optical fiber connector  500  according to the third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the optical fiber connector  100  of  FIG. 1  and also includes the housing  110 , latch  120  and protrusions  160 . For simplicity, the ferrule of the connector  500  in  FIG. 5  is omitted. In addition, a cut face  510  is formed on the common boundary  117  between the bottom side-wall  112  and left side-wall  114  and another cut face  510  is formed on the common boundary  118  between the bottom side-wall  112  and right side-wall  113 . The cut faces  510  can be plane. 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , the optical fiber adapter  600  according to the first embodiment of the present invention is similar to the optical fiber adapter  200  of  FIG. 2  and also includes the housing  210  and hollow cylinder  240 . However, the cylinder  240  has a round cross-sectional shape. In addition, the adapter  600  is further provided in the right and left axial cavities with rectangular protrusions  350  mating with the indentations  310  of the connector  300 . Specifically, two of the protrusions  350  are positioned on the bottom side-wall  212  in the right axial cavity and adjacent to the right side-wall  213  and compartment wall  215 , respectively. The other two protrusions  350  are positioned on the bottom side-wall  212  in the left axial cavity and adjacent to the left side-wall  214  and compartment wall  215 , respectively. When the connector  300  is inserted into the adapter  600  through either of the openings  208 , the protrusions  350  of the adapter  600  will be placed in the indentations  310  on the connector  300 . 
         [0027]    Referring to  FIG. 7 , the optical fiber adapter  700  according to the second embodiment of the present invention is similar to the optical fiber adapter  600  of  FIG. 6  and also includes housing  210 , hollow cylinder  240  and protrusions  350 . The protrusions  350  of the adapter  700  are similarly positioned on the bottom side-wall  212 . However, these protrusions  350  further connect with the right side-wall  213 , left side-wall  214  and compartment wall  215 , respectively. Specifically, the protrusions  350  of the adapter  700  are positioned on the common boundaries between the bottom side-wall  212  and right side-wall  213 , left side-wall  214  and compartment wall  215 . The protrusions  350  of the adapter  700  mate with the indentations  310  of the connector  400  such that the protrusions  350  of the adapter  700  will be placed in the indentations  310  on the connector  400  when the connector  400  is inserted into the adapter  700  through either of the openings  208 . 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , the optical fiber adapter  800  according to the third embodiment of the present invention is similar to the optical fiber adapter  700  of  FIG. 7  and also includes housing  210 , hollow cylinder  240  and protrusions  350 . The protrusions  350  of the adapter  800  are similarly positioned on the bottom side-wall  212  and connect with the right side-wall  213 , left side-wall  214  and compartment wall  215 , respectively. However, the protrusions  350  of the adapter  800  are triangular and mate with the cut faces  510  of the connector  500 . When the connector  500  is inserted into the adapter  800  through either of the openings  208 , the protrusions  350  of the adapter  800  will be brought into contact with the cut faces  510  of the connector  500 . 
         [0029]    According to the present invention, the protrusions  350  are positioned on or adjacent to the boundaries between the bottom side-wall  212  and right side-wall  213 , left side-wall  214  and compartment wall  215 . With such design, a user is easier to notice these keyed features. Accordingly, the opportunity of inserting an unmated connector into the adapter can be reduced. In order to allow these keyed features to be more noticeable, the protrusions  350  can be positioned close to the opening  208  of the housing  210 . For example, the protrusions  350  are positioned closer to the opening  208  than the cylinder  240 . Of course, it is necessary to increase the lengths of the indentations  310  or cut faces  510  on the connectors  300 ,  400 ,  500  in order to mate with the protrusions  350  close to the opening  208 . 
         [0030]    It should be noted that although the present invention is illustrated with duplex adapters, simplex or other multiplex can also be adopted to achieve the present invention. 
         [0031]    Although the preferred embodiments of the invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.