Patent Publication Number: US-2023161111-A1

Title: Fiber optic adapter conversion system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/282,013, filed Nov. 22, 2021, and titled “FIBER OPTIC ADAPTER CONVERSION SYSTEM” the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates to fiber optic data transmission, and more particularly to fiber optic connection systems such as hardened fiber optic connection systems. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Fiber optic cable connection systems are used to facilitate connecting and disconnecting fiber optic cables in the field without requiring a splice. A typical fiber optic cable connection system for interconnecting two fiber optic cables includes fiber optic connectors mounted at the ends of the fiber optic cables, and a fiber optic adapter for mechanically and optically coupling the fiber optic connectors together. Fiber optic connectors generally include ferrules that support the ends of the optical fibers of the fiber optic cables. The end faces of the ferrules are typically polished and are often angled. The fiber optic adapter includes co-axially aligned ports (i.e., receptacles) for receiving the fiber optic connectors desired to be interconnected. The fiber optic adapter includes an internal sleeve that receives and aligns the ferrules of the fiber optic connectors when the connectors are inserted within the ports of the fiber optic adapter. With the ferrules and their associated fibers aligned within the sleeve of the fiber optic adapter, a fiber optic signal can pass from one fiber to the next. The adapter also typically has a mechanical fastening arrangement (e.g., a snap-fit arrangement) for mechanically retaining the fiber optic connectors within the adapter. One example of an existing fiber optic connection system is described at U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,579,014, 6,648,520, and 6,899,467. 
     Hardened fiber optic connection systems have been developed for facilitating making optical connection in outdoor applications. Hardened fiber optic connection systems generally include hardened fiber optic connectors that are sealed with respect to corresponding hardened fiber optic adapters when mated. The hardened fiber optic adapters are often mounted in sealed relation with respect to corresponding telecommunications housings (e.g., terminals such as drop terminals/multi-service terminals). Example hardened fiber optic connection systems are disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,288. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate to enclosures, systems, methods, designs, and assemblies for converting (e.g., modifying, retrofitting, etc.) a first adapter mounting opening compatible with a first type of hardened fiber optic adapter to a second adapter mounting opening compatible with a second type of hardened fiber optic adapter. 
     Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to an enclosure including a housing having an interior and an exterior. The housing includes a housing wall defining a first adapter mounting opening that extends between the interior and the exterior of the housing. The first adapter mounting opening has a first form factor corresponding to a first type of fiber optic adapter. The enclosure also includes a converter secured within the first adapter mounting opening. The converter defines a second adapter mounting opening having a second form factor corresponding to a second type of fiber optic adapter. The enclosure further includes a first seal surrounding the first adapter mounting opening. The first seal is compressed between the converter and the housing wall. The enclosure additionally includes a fiber optic adapter of the second type secured within the second adapter mounting opening. The fiber optic adapter includes an adapter body defining an exterior port for receiving a fiber optic connector at the exterior of the housing. The fiber optic adapter includes a ferrule alignment sleeve mounted within the adapter body for receiving a ferrule of the fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is installed in the exterior port. The enclosure further includes a second seal surrounding the second adapter mounting opening, the second seal being compressed between the adapter body and the converter. 
     A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the examples disclosed herein are based. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG.  1    is a perspective view of a prior art enclosure having first hardened fiber optic adapters mounted within corresponding first adapter mounting openings; 
         FIG.  2    is a perspective view of one of the first hardened fiber optic adapters of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  3    is a side view of one of the first hardened fiber optic adapters of  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  4    is a plan view depicting adapter mounting openings corresponding to different types of hardened fiber optic adapters and demonstrating the relative sizes of such adapter mounting openings; 
         FIG.  5    is a perspective view of a second hardened fiber optic adapter having a different size and form factor than the first hardened fiber optic adapter; 
         FIG.  6    is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second hardened fiber optic adapter of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  7    is another longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second hardened fiber optic adapter of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  8    is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second hardened fiber optic adapter of  FIG.  5    with a non-hardened fiber optic connector installed within a non-hardened port of the hardened fiber optic adapter; 
         FIG.  9    is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the second hardened fiber optic adapter of  FIG.  5    with the non-hardened fiber optic connector installed within the non-hardened port of the hardened fiber optic adapter and with a hardened fiber optic connector installed within a hardened port of the hardened fiber optic adapter; 
         FIG.  10    is a front view depicting a first converter for converting one of the first adapter mounting openings of  FIG.  1    to be compatible with the second hardened fiber optic adapter of  FIG.  5   ; 
         FIG.  11    is a cross-sectional view depicting the second hardened fiber optic adapter of  FIG.  5    mounted on the converter of  FIG.  10    which is shown installed within one of the first adapter mounting openings of the type shown at  FIG.  1   ; 
         FIG.  12    is a perspective view of a third hardened fiber optic adapter having a different size and form factor than the first and second hardened fiber optic adapters; 
         FIG.  13    is a side view of the third hardened fiber optic adapter of  FIG.  12   ; and 
         FIG.  14    is a front view depicting a second converter for converting one of the first adapter mounting openings of  FIG.  1    to be compatible with the third hardened fiber optic adapter of  FIG.  12   . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the present disclosure relate to enclosures, systems, methods, designs, and assemblies for converting (e.g., modifying, retrofitting, etc.) a first adapter mounting opening compatible with a first type of hardened fiber optic adapter to a second adapter mounting opening compatible with a second type of hardened fiber optic adapter. In certain examples, the first type of hardened fiber optic adapter has a larger form factor than the second type of hardened fiber optic adapter. In one example, the first type of hardened fiber optic adapter is an Optitap™ type fiber optic adapter sold by Corning Cable Systems Inc. of Hickory, N.C., USA. In one example, the second type of hardened fiber optic adapter is a Prodigy™ type fiber optic adapter sold by Commscope Inc. of Hickory, N.C., USA. In another example, the second type of hardened fiber optic adapter is a DLX™ type fiber optic adapter sold by Commscope Inc. of Hickory, N.C., USA. In a further example, the second type of hardened fiber optic adapter is a FastConnect type fiber optic adapter sold by Huawei Technologies Co. LTD of Shenzhen, China. Of course, aspects of the present disclosure are also applicable to other types of hardened fiber optic adapters than those specifically described herein. 
       FIG.  1    depicts an enclosure  20  including a housing  22  having an interior  24  and an exterior  26 . The housing  22  includes a housing wall  28  defining a first adapter mounting opening  30  having a first form factor corresponding to a first type of fiber optic adapter  32  (see  FIGS.  2  and  3   ). As depicted, the housing  22  defines a plurality of the first adapter mounting openings  30  in which the first fiber optic adapters  32  are mounted. As depicted, the housing  22  includes a base  34  and a cover  36  that mounts to the base in a sealed manner. In the depicted example, the housing wall  28  is integrated with the cover  36 . 
     In the depicted example, the enclosure  20  is shown as a drop terminal/multi-service terminal which is typically installed in the field to provide access locations for optically coupling subscribers to a fiber optic network. A cable  38  such as a feed cable can be routed into the interior of the housing  22  and optical fibers of the cable  38  can be coupled to fiber optic connectors corresponding to each of the first fiber optic adapters  32 . The fiber optic connectors can be installed within non-hardened ports of the first fiber optic adapters  32 . It will be appreciated that the non-hardened ports of the first fiber optic adapters  32  are accessible from within the interior of the housing  22 . The first fiber optic adapters  32  also include hardened ports that are accessible from the exterior of the housing  22 . In certain examples, optical components such as passive optical power splitters, wavelength division multiplexers, optical splices, fiber management trays and the like can be positioned within the interior of the housing  22 . 
       FIG.  4    is a plan view depicting one of the first adapter mounting openings  30  in comparison to second and third adapter mounting openings  40 ,  42 . The second and third adapter mounting openings  40 ,  42  are smaller and have different form factors than the first adapter mounting opening  30 . The second and third adapter mounting openings  40 ,  42  are compatible with second and third hardened fiber optic adapters that are smaller and have different form factors than the first fiber optic adapters  32 . In one example, the second adapter mounting opening  40  is compatible with a second hardened fiber optic adapter  44  (see  FIGS.  5 - 9   ) and the third adapter mounting opening  42  is compatible with a third hardened fiber optic adapter  46  (see  FIGS.  12  and  13   ). In one example, the second type of hardened fiber optic adapter  44  is a Prodigy™ type fiber optic adapter and the third type of hardened fiber optic adapter  46  is a DLX™ type fiber optic adapter. Further details regarding the second type of hardened fiber optic adapter  44  can be found in PCT international publication number WO2021/041305 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Further details regarding the third type of hardened fiber optic adapter  46  can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 7,744,288 which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     Referring to  FIGS.  5 - 9   , the second hardened fiber optic adapter  44  includes an adapter body  50  having an exterior form factor adapted to fit within (e.g., mate with) the form factor of the second adapter mounting opening  40 . The adapter body  50  defines a hardened exterior port  52  and a non-hardened interior port  54 . When the adapter body  50  is installed on a housing of a terminal, the exterior port  52  is accessible from the exterior of the terminal and the interior port  54  is accessible from within the interior of the terminal. The second fiber optic adapter  44  also includes a ferrule alignment sleeve  56  mounted within the adapter body  50 . In one example, the ferrule alignment sleeve  56  is co-axially aligned with a through-passage defined by the adapter body  50 . It will be appreciated that the ferrule alignment sleeve  56  is configured for coaxially aligning ferrules supporting optical fibers corresponding to fiber optic connectors inserted into the ports  52 ,  54 .  FIG.  8    shows the ferrule alignment sleeve  56  receiving a ferrule  58  of a non-hardened fiber optic connector  60  installed within the interior port  54 .  FIG.  9    shows the ferrule alignment sleeve  56  also receiving a ferrule  62  of a hardened fiber optic connector  64  installed within the exterior port  52 . As depicted at  FIG.  9   , the ferrule alignment sleeve  56  functions to co-axially aligned the ferrules  58 ,  62  within the adapter body  50  such that optical fibers supported by the ferrules  58 ,  62  are optically coupled to one another. 
       FIG.  10    is a front view depicting a first converter  70  for converting one of the first adapter mounting openings  32  to one of the second adapter mounting openings  40 . In this way, the first converter  70  is adapted for converting the first adapter mounting opening  32  to be compatible with the second hardened fiber optic adapter  44 . The first converter  70  includes a converter body  72  including a converter plate  74  defining one of the second adapter mounting openings  40 . The converter body  72  also includes a converter flange  76  (e.g., a front flange) which surrounds the second adapter mounting opening  40 . The converter body  72  also includes a portion  78  (e.g., a rear portion) that projects rearwardly from the flange  76  and defines an exterior form factor  79  adapted to fit within (e.g., complement, mate with, etc.) the form factor of the first adapter mounting opening  30 . 
       FIG.  11    depicts the first converter  70  secured within a first adapter mounting opening  30  defined by a housing wall  28  of a housing  22  (e.g., a terminal). The housing  22  has an interior  24  and an exterior  26 . The first adapter mounting opening  30  extends between the interior  24  and the exterior  26  of the housing  22 . In one example, the first adapter mounting opening  30  can have a form factor compatible with one of the first fiber optic adapters  32 . One of the second fiber optic adapters  44  is depicted secured within the second adapter mounting opening  40  of the first converter  70 . A first seal  80  (e.g., an elastomeric seal such as a gasket which may include a sealing ring such as an O-ring) is positioned to surround the first adapter mounting openings  30 . The first seal  80  is compressed between the converter flange  76  of the first converter  70  and an exterior surface of the housing wall  28 . A second seal  82  (e.g., an elastomeric seal such as a gasket which may include a sealing ring such as an O-ring) is positioned to surround the second adapter mounting openings  40 . The second seal  82  is depicted being compressed between an adapter flange  99  of the adapter body  50  and an exterior surface of the converter body  72 . In one example, the second seal  82  seals against the converter plate  74  of the converter body  72 . 
     In the depicted example, the first converter  70  is secured within the first adapter mounting opening  30  by a first interior fastening arrangement. In certain examples, the first interior fastening arrangement can include a snap-fit arrangement including latching arms that latch the converter  70  within the first adapter mounting opening  30 . In the depicted example, the first interior fasting arrangement includes a first turnable fastener  84  that mounts on an interior portion of the converter  70 . In the depicted example, the first turnable fastener  84  is a threaded fastener. In the depicted example, the first turnable fastener  84  has internal threads  86  that engage external threads  88  on the interior portion of the converter  70 . When the first converter  70  is installed in the first adapter mounting opening  30 , the housing wall  28  is clamped between the exterior converter flange  76  and the first turnable fastener  84  and the first seal  80  is compressed between the exterior converter flange  76  and the exterior surface of the housing wall  28 . In other examples, other types of turnable fasteners such as quarter-turn fasteners (e.g., bayonet-style fasteners) can be used. 
     In the depicted example, the second fiber optic adapter  44  is secured within the second adapter mounting opening  40  by a second interior fasting arrangement. In certain examples, the second interior fasting arrangement can include a snap-fit arrangement including latching arms that latch the second fiber optic adapter  44  within the second adapter mounting opening  40 . In the depicted example, the second interior fasting arrangement includes a second turnable fastener  94  that mounts on an interior portion of the adapter body  50 . In the depicted example, the second turnable fastener  94  is a threaded fastener. In the depicted example, the second turnable fastener  94  has internal threads  96  that engage external threads  98  on an interior portion of the adapter body  50 . When the second fiber optic adapter  44  is installed in the second adapter mounting opening  40 , the converter plate  74  is clamped between the adapter flange  99  and the second turnable fastener  94  and the second seal  82  is compressed between the adapter flange  99  and the exterior surface of the converter plate  74 . In other examples, other types of turnable fasteners such as quarter-turn fasteners (e.g., bayonet-style fasteners) can be used. 
       FIG.  14    is a front view depicting a second converter  170  for converting one of the first adapter mounting openings  32  to one of the third adapter mounting openings  42 . In this way, the second converter  170  is adapted for converting the first adapter mounting opening  32  to be compatible with the third hardened fiber optic adapter  46 . The second converter  170  includes a converter body  172  including a converter plate  174  defining one of the third adapter mounting openings  42 . The converter body  172  also includes a converter flange  176  (e.g., a front flange) which surrounds the third adapter mounting opening  42 . The converter body  172  also includes a portion  178  (e.g., a rear portion) that projects rearwardly from the flange  76  and defines the exterior form factor  79  adapted to fit within (e.g., complement, mate with, etc.) the form factor of the first adapter mounting opening  30 . 
     From the forgoing detailed description, it will be evident that modifications and variations can be made in the devices of the disclosure without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.