Source: https://patents.google.com/patent/US6984074B2/en
Timestamp: 2020-02-21 19:39:42
Document Index: 198123897

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 18', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 20', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18', 'art 18']

US6984074B2 - Rotationally adjustable fiber optic connector having a partial key ring - Google Patents
Rotationally adjustable fiber optic connector having a partial key ring Download PDF
US6984074B2
US6984074B2 US10/758,471 US75847104A US6984074B2 US 6984074 B2 US6984074 B2 US 6984074B2 US 75847104 A US75847104 A US 75847104A US 6984074 B2 US6984074 B2 US 6984074B2
US10/758,471
US20040264877A1 (en
Aleksander Yazvin
Vyacheslav Malevanets
2003-06-24 Priority to US10/602,513 priority Critical patent/US7018108B2/en
2004-01-15 Application filed by Molex LLC filed Critical Molex LLC
2004-01-15 Priority to US10/758,471 priority patent/US6984074B2/en
2004-05-03 Assigned to MOLEX INCORPORATED reassignment MOLEX INCORPORATED ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: GROIS, IGOR, GRZEGORZEWSKA, BARBARA, MAKHLIN, LLYA, MALEVANETS, VYACHESLAV, PHIFER, MALCOM R., YAZVIN, ALEKSANDER
2004-06-24 Assigned to SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD., KANTO SANYO SEMICONDUCTORS CO., LTD. reassignment SANYO ELECTRIC CO., LTD. ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: OCHIAI, ISAO, KATO, TAKUJI
2004-12-30 Publication of US20040264877A1 publication Critical patent/US20040264877A1/en
2006-01-10 Publication of US6984074B2 publication Critical patent/US6984074B2/en
230000036961 partial Effects 0 claims description title 16
A fiber optic connector assembly includes an outer connector housing defining an optic axis in a through passage. A first key is disposed in the passage at a given position angularly about the axis. An inner optical fiber plug terminates an optical fiber and is disposed in the passage and includes a second key movably positionable about the periphery of the plug to different selected positions of rotational adjustment for the plug. The second key is fixable at any selected position on the plug and is lockable with the first key on the housing to fix the angular position of the plug relative to the housing and, thereby, fix the rotational position of the optical fiber angularly of the optic axis.
This invention generally relates to the art of fiber optic connectors and, particularly, to a connector wherein an optical fiber is angularly adjustable about its axis and is maintainable in a selected rotational position of adjustment.
Fiber optic connectors of a wide variety of designs have been employed to terminate optical fiber cables and to facilitate connection of the cables to other cables or other optical fiber transmission devices. A typical fiber optic connector includes a ferrule that mounts and centers an optical fiber or fibers within the connector. The ferrule may be fabricated of such material as ceramic. A ferrule holder or other housing component of the connector embraces the ferrule and may be fabricated of such material as molded plastic. A spring typically is disposed within the housing or ferrule holder such that the ferrule is yieldably biased forwardly for engaging another fiber-mounting ferrule of a mating connector device. In many fiber optic connectors, it is desirable to angularly adjust the optical fiber within the connector relative to the fiber's longitudinal axis to achieve an optimum angular position of the fiber whereat the insertion losses of the connector are at a minimum. In addition, the use of polarization maintaining (PM) fibers has been increasing, and it is essential that the PM fibers be properly angularly oriented within the connector. Systems for angularly adjusting such fibers have been complicated and not very cost effective. The present invention is directed to solving these problems by providing an extremely simple system that includes a fiber optic connector assembly as well as a method for very simply and efficiently adjusting the angular position of a fiber within a fiber optic connector.
An object, therefore, of the invention is to provide a new and improved fiber optic connector assembly and method of rotationally adjusting an optical fiber within the connector assembly.
Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and first to FIGS. 1–3, the invention is embodied in a fiber optic connector assembly, generally designated 10, which includes an outer connector housing, generally designated 12, having a front mating end 12 a, a rear end 12 b and a through passage 14 extending between the ends and defining an optic axis 16. Housing 12 is a two-part housing that includes a front housing part 18 and a rear housing part 20. The front housing part has a pair of latch openings 22 in opposite sides thereof for receiving a pair of chamfered latch bosses 24 on opposite sides of rear housing part 20 when the housing parts are assembled as seen in FIG. 1. Typically, the housing parts are molded of plastic material whereby latch bosses 24 snap automatically into latch openings 22 when the housing parts are assembled. The front housing part also has a latch arm 26 that is flexible in the direction of double-headed arrows “A”. The latch arm has a pair of latching ears 26 a on opposite sides thereof for latching engagement with appropriate latch means on a complementary mating connector, a mating adapter or other mating optical transmission device. Rear housing part 20 has a flexible actuator arm 28 having a serrated top surface 28 a, for engagement by an operator, such as an operator's thumb, for depressing latch arm 26 downwardly toward the connector assembly. Pressing down on actuator arm 28 depresses flexible latch arm 26 that is effective to unlatch latching ears 26 a from appropriate latch means on the mating connector, thereby allowing unmating of the connectors. Finally, a strain relief boot 30 projects rearwardly of the rear housing part to provide strain relief for a fiber optic cable 32.
Inner optical fiber plug 34 is inserted into front housing part 18 in the direction of arrows “A” (FIGS. 2 and 3). Referring to FIGS. 4–6 in conjunction with FIGS. 2 and 3, a socket 46 (FIG. 6) is formed within through passage 14 of front housing part 18 for receiving ferrule holder 38 and key ring 42 of inner optical fiber plug 34. The ferrule holder abuts a front shoulder 46 a (FIG. 5) of socket 46 under the biasing of coil spring 40. The key ring includes a pair of radially outwardly projecting keys 48 on diametrically opposite sides of the key ring. Socket 46 includes a pair of axially extending keyways 50 formed therein for receiving keys 48 as seen most clearly in FIG. 6. Therefore, it can be understood that, if key ring 42 is fixed to inner optical fiber plug 34, the angular position of the plug within front housing part 18 and, thereby, connector assembly 10, also is fixed due to the positioning of keys 48 in keyways 50. FIG. 6 shows that the top key 48 and keyway 50 are wider than the bottom key and keyway. This ensures that the optical fiber plug and optical fiber are inserted into the front housing part in only one orientation. It is to be noted that the key ring 42, in an alternate embodiment (not shown), is formed such that it includes the keyway. Accordingly, the socket 46 is formed with axially extending keys. Coupling and decoupling operations of the socket 46 and key ring 42, as described above, therefore remains unchanged.
Before proceeding with further details of the invention, it should be understood that fiber optic connector assemblies, such as assembly 10, typically are “keyed” to the complementary mating connector, mating adapter or other mating optical transmission device. This “keying” is accomplished by the vertical orientation of latch arm 26 and, especially, a front mounting portion 52 of the latch arm. As is clearly seen in FIG. 6, mounting portion 52 and, likewise, latch arm 26 are “keyed” in a vertical direction. Correspondingly, keyways 50 in the front housing part and keys 48 on key ring 52 similarly are “keyed” or aligned in this common vertical direction. Therefore, it can be understood that the angular orientation of inner optic fiber plug 34 and the optical fiber that is terminated thereby, can be keyed or polarized to the entire keyed orientation of the connector assembly.
FIGS. 10–15 illustrate several embodiments of various key rings having one or more keys. As shown, the key rings may be full or partial key rings. Accordingly, prior or subsequent references herein pertaining to key rings encompass both full and/or partial key rings. By way of example only, FIG. 10 shows a full key ring having two keys. Such a key ring may be used, for example, in an SC, LC, BSC and/or BLC type connector. FIG. 11 shows another full key ring, but having three keys. This key ring also may be used in the types of connectors in which the key ring of FIG. 10 is used. The partial key ring shown in FIG. 12 includes a single key and may be used in ST and ST II type connectors. Similarly, the partial key ring shown in FIG. 13 also includes only a single key. This type of partial key ring may be used in FC type connectors. FIG. 14 once again illustrates a full key ring, but in a square shape. This type of key ring may be used in MU connectors. FIG. 15 also shows an MU compatible key ring, but configured as a half square in this instance. It is to be noted that other shapes for the full and partial key rings are possible as well, depending on the type of connector.
Still further, it should be understood that connector assembly 10 is but one example of a connector assembly with which the invention is applicable. In the industry, connector assembly 10 is called an “LC” connector, but the invention is equally applicable for “SC” connectors or other connector configurations.
Specifically, FIG. 7 shows key ring 42 removed from its assembled position about rear tubular portion 44 of optical fiber plug 34. In actual practice, if the plug is terminating a conventional optical fiber of fiber optic cable 32, plug 34 is “tuned” in order to achieve the optimum angular orientation of the fiber relative to the keyed connector assembly. As is known in the art, tuning is achieved by placing a component, such as plug 34, in a measuring apparatus that simulates the connector assembly. The insertion losses of the plug (i.e., the optical losses of the optical fiber) are measured in a given rotary position of the plug. An operator continues to rotate the plug until the measuring apparatus indicates the position of optimum orientation whereat the insertion losses are at a minimum. Key ring 42 then is moved forwardly in the direction of arrow “B” (FIG. 7) until the key ring is abutted against ferrule holder 38 as shown in FIG. 8. This is done while holding the plug in its optimum angular orientation. Adhesive 60 (FIG. 8) then is applied between the inside of the key ring and the outside of tubular member 44 to maintain the key ring in its vertical orientation, as shown. The outside of tubular member 44 may be provided with a trough 62, and the inside face of ferrule holder 38 may be provided with a recess 64, for receiving a sufficient amount of the adhesive material 60. Now, with keys 48 of key ring 42 being fixed in the vertical direction, and the fiber terminated within ferrule 36 being in its optimum angular orientation, the optical fiber plug and fixed key ring are inserted into socket 46 of front housing part 18 as shown above and described in relation to FIGS. 4–6. It now can be understood that the optimum angular orientation of the optical fiber within fiber optic cable 32 is keyed to the entire vertical keying system of the connector assembly allowed by mounting portion 52 (FIG. 6) of the front housing part, as described above. With plug 34 being freely rotatable within key ring 42 during timing of the plug, an infinite number of relative positions of angular adjustment are afforded.
Although the invention has been described above in relation to a conventional optical fiber, the invention has considerable advantages when terminating a polarization maintaining (PM) fiber described below in relation to FIGS. 9, 9 a and 9 b. First, a general background of PM fibers might be useful herein. In particular, a very useful property of light that is utilized in fiber optics is the phenomena of polarization. Many fiber optic applications today are affected by the polarization of the light traveling through the fiber. Polarization dependent losses can adversely affect system performance. Therefore, analyzing, controlling and manipulating the polarization state of light in a fiber has become increasingly important. There are different types of polarized light, but the simplest type is “linearly” polarized light in which the electromagnetic field oscillates in a section plane. In most applications, it is desirable to preserve this form of polarization. It might be theoretically possible to produce perfectly linearly polarized light, but in actual practice, this is not the case. The polarization-extinction ratio (E) gives a measure of the portion of the beam that is linearly polarized along a single axis. ER meters are used for this purpose.
Specifically, a pair of stress rods 68 (FIG. 9 b) are embedded in the cladding 70 of the fiber. A plane 72 through the stress rods is referred to as the “slow axis”. A perpendicular plane 74 is called the “fast axis”. The terms “slow” and “fast” refer to the relative propagation velocity in each axis. By comparing FIG. 9 b with FIG. 9 a, it can be understood that if the PM fiber, generally designated 76, is terminated within the optical fiber plug such that one of the axes (e.g., slow axis 72) is aligned with keys 48 (FIG. 9 a), the PM fiber can be keyed to the entire vertical keying arrangement of connector assembly 10 described above. This is important because the angular orientation of PM fiber 76 in connector assembly 10 must be rotationally aligned with a PM fiber of a complementary mating connector or other fiber optic transmission device. In other words, rotational alignment is required in connecting two PM fibers at a connector interface. The invention herein is very useful in achieving these goals, while the connector assembly still is applicable for maintaining the angular orientation of a normal optical fiber. The principal difference is rather simple. The angular orientation of optical fiber plug 34 for a normal fiber is “tuned” in a measuring apparatus that measures optical losses, whereas the PM fiber is tested in an ER meter. Otherwise, the method of the invention is the same for either fiber. Plug 34 is rotated to its optimum angular orientation; key ring 42 is fixed onto the plug while holding the plug at its optimum angular orientation, and then the key ring is used to precisely align the inner optical fiber plug with the vertical keyed orientation of the connector assembly as described above.
US10/758,471 2003-06-24 2004-01-15 Rotationally adjustable fiber optic connector having a partial key ring Expired - Fee Related US6984074B2 (en)
US10/602,513 US7018108B2 (en) 2003-06-24 2003-06-24 Rotationally adjustable fiber optic connector
US10/758,471 US6984074B2 (en) 2003-06-24 2004-01-15 Rotationally adjustable fiber optic connector having a partial key ring
US10/602,513 Continuation-In-Part US7018108B2 (en) 2003-06-24 2003-06-24 Rotationally adjustable fiber optic connector
US20040264877A1 US20040264877A1 (en) 2004-12-30
US6984074B2 true US6984074B2 (en) 2006-01-10
ID=33539564
US10/602,513 Expired - Fee Related US7018108B2 (en) 2003-06-24 2003-06-24 Rotationally adjustable fiber optic connector
US10/758,471 Expired - Fee Related US6984074B2 (en) 2003-06-24 2004-01-15 Rotationally adjustable fiber optic connector having a partial key ring
US (2) US7018108B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1636622A1 (en)
KR (1) KR20060016122A (en)
CN (1) CN1910488A (en)
WO (1) WO2005006045A1 (en)
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WO2002079840A1 (en) 2001-04-02 2002-10-10 Tyco Electronics Corpporation Optical fiber assembly with adjustable fiber radial orientation
2003-06-24 US US10/602,513 patent/US7018108B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
2004-01-15 US US10/758,471 patent/US6984074B2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
2004-06-14 EP EP04755128A patent/EP1636622A1/en not_active Withdrawn
2004-06-14 WO PCT/US2004/018781 patent/WO2005006045A1/en active Application Filing
2004-06-14 KR KR1020057024822A patent/KR20060016122A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
2004-06-14 CN CN 200480022730 patent/CN1910488A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
International Search Report for International Application No. PCT/US2004/018781 mailed on Sep. 15, 2004.
CN1910488A (en) 2007-02-07
US20040264877A1 (en) 2004-12-30
US7018108B2 (en) 2006-03-28
KR20060016122A (en) 2006-02-21
US20040264875A1 (en) 2004-12-30
EP1636622A1 (en) 2006-03-22
WO2005006045A1 (en) 2005-01-20
EP0203611B1 (en) 1993-04-14 Optical fiber connectors and methods of making
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:MAKHLIN, LLYA;YAZVIN, ALEKSANDER;MALEVANETS, VYACHESLAV;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:015285/0857
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KATO, TAKUJI;OCHIAI, ISAO;REEL/FRAME:015493/0305;SIGNING DATES FROM 20040410 TO 20040422