CN-115315651-B - Fiber optic connector and associated adapter

Abstract

An optical fiber connector has a ferrule that forms an optical connection with another optical fiber connector. The outer housing supports the ferrule and has a front end portion and a longitudinal central axis. The front end portion includes a front face, and a portion of the ferrule is located forward of the front face. The front end portion includes a protector shaped and arranged to protect the ferrule. The protector is arranged such that the optical fiber connector and another optical fiber connector of the same construction can be mated together to form an optical connection by rotating the other optical fiber connector 180 ° about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis, aligning the longitudinal central axis of the optical fiber connector, and moving the optical fiber connector along the longitudinal central axis until the optical fiber connectors are mated to form the optical connection, starting at the same orientation.

Inventors

• HU GUANPENG
• Takano Yiyi
• ZHANG JUNFU
• J. Ghaniadek

Assignees

• 扇港元器件有限公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20210222

Priority Date

20200221

Claims (18)

1. 1. An optical fiber connector, comprising: A ferrule configured to form an optical connection with another optical fiber connector, and An outer housing supporting the ferrule, the outer housing having a rear end portion, a front end portion and a longitudinal central axis extending between the rear end portion and the front end portion, the front end portion including a front face, at least a portion of the ferrule being forward of the front face, the front end portion including one or more protectors projecting forward from the front face of the outer housing, the one or more protectors being shaped and arranged to protect a portion of the ferrule forward of the front face of the outer housing, Wherein the one or more protectors comprise a first protector and a second protector, the first protector being asymmetrically arranged with respect to the second protector about a plane including the longitudinal central axis of the outer housing, the plane not intersecting either the first protector or the second protector, Wherein the first protector is offset from the longitudinal central axis by a first distance and the second protector is offset from the longitudinal central axis by a second distance, the second distance being different from the first distance, and The first protector and the second protector are configured such that the optical fiber connector and another optical fiber connector of the same configuration can be mated together to form an optical connection, starting with the same orientation, by rotating the other optical fiber connector 180 ° about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis, aligning the longitudinal central axes of the optical fiber connectors after the rotation, and moving the optical fiber connectors along the longitudinal central axes after the alignment until the optical fiber connectors are mated to form an optical connection.
2. 2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the first and second protectors are offset from each other in an x-direction and a y-direction.
3. 3. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the one or more protectors comprise a third protector and a fourth protector that are offset from each other in an x-direction and a y-direction and from the longitudinal central axis by the same distance.
4. 4. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more protectors comprises a wall.
5. 5. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the front end portion of the outer housing defines one or more protector pockets configured to receive one or more protectors of the other fiber optic connector.
6. 6. The fiber optic connector of claim 5, wherein each of the protector pockets is sized and shaped to receive one of the one or more protectors of the other fiber optic connector.
7. 7. The fiber optic connector of claim 6, wherein the one or more protector pockets are forward of the front face.
8. 8. The fiber optic connector of claim 6, wherein the one or more protector pockets are rearward of the front face.
9. 9. The fiber optic connector of claim 6, wherein each of the protector pockets includes a recess.
10. 10. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the ferrule is one of an MPO ferrule, an SC ferrule, an LC ferrule.
11. 11. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, further comprising a coupling element configured to secure the fiber optic connector to a fiber optic adapter.
12. 12. The fiber optic connector of claim 11, wherein the coupling element comprises a coupling nut.
13. 13. The fiber optic connector of claim 12, wherein the coupling nut is a bayonet coupling nut.
14. 14. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, in combination with a fiber optic adapter having a first port configured to receive the fiber optic connector and a second port opposite the first port configured to receive another fiber optic connector having a different configuration, the first and second ports being arranged such that the fiber optic connector and the differently configured fiber optic connector form an optical connection when coupled to the fiber optic adapter.
15. 15. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, in combination with a fiber optic adapter having a first port configured to receive the fiber optic connector and a second port opposite the first port configured to receive a fiber optic connector having the same configuration, the first port and the second port being arranged such that the fiber optic connector and the identically configured fiber optic connector form an optical connection when coupled to the fiber optic adapter.
16. 16. The fiber optic connector of claim 15, wherein the fiber optic adapter includes an alignment guide configured to engage the outer housing of the fiber optic connector to orient the outer housing relative to the fiber optic adapter.
17. 17. The fiber optic connector of claim 15, wherein the fiber optic connector further comprises a polarity key configured to be coupled to the outer housing at one of a first polarity position or a second polarity position, wherein the fiber optic connector is configured to be coupled to the fiber optic adapter in a first polarity orientation or a second polarity orientation, wherein the polarity key prevents the fiber optic connector from being coupled to the fiber optic adapter in the second polarity orientation when the polarity key is in the first polarity position, and wherein the polarity key prevents the fiber optic connector from being coupled to the fiber optic adapter in the first polarity orientation when the polarity key is in the second polarity position.
18. 18. The fiber optic connector of claim 15, wherein the fiber optic adapter defines one or more windows sized and shaped to receive one or more of the one or more protectors of the fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is coupled to the fiber optic adapter.

Description

Fiber optic connector and associated adapter Technical Field The present disclosure relates generally to fiber optic connections, and more particularly to fiber optic connectors and associated adapters. Background Fiber optic connectors are used within optical communications networks to interconnect fiber optic cables with optical devices or other optical cables. Optical connections typically include two fiber optic connectors (with or without the aid of an adapter) that are connected together. Disclosure of Invention In one aspect, a fiber optic connector includes a ferrule configured to form an optical connection with another fiber optic connector. The outer housing supports the ferrule. The outer housing has a rear end portion, a front end portion, and a longitudinal central axis extending between the rear end portion and the front end portion. The front end portion includes a front end face. At least a portion of the ferrule is positioned in front of the front face. The front end portion includes one or more protectors protruding forward from a front end face of the outer housing. One or more protectors are shaped and arranged to protect portions of the ferrule forward of the front face of the outer housing. The one or more protectors are configured such that, when the fiber optic connector and another structurally identical fiber optic connector are mated together to form an optical connection, the fiber optic connector and the other structurally identical fiber optic connector may be mated together to form the optical connection by rotating the other fiber optic connector 180 degrees about an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal central axis, aligning the longitudinal central axis of the fiber optic connector, and moving the fiber optic connector along the longitudinal central axis until the fiber optic connectors mate to form the optical connection. Other objects and features of the present disclosure will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. Drawings FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a fiber optic connector according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 2 is a front perspective view thereof; FIG. 3 is a side perspective view thereof with the coupling elements of the fiber optic connector hidden to reveal internal details; FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 3; FIG. 5 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 1; FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 5; FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of an adapter for coupling to the fiber optic connector of FIG. 1 and a conventional fiber optic connector according to one embodiment of the present disclosure; fig. 8 is a rear perspective view thereof; FIG. 9 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof; FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view thereof; FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 1 attached to the adapter of FIG. 7; FIG. 12 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of FIG. 11; FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 11; FIG. 14 is a vertical cross-sectional perspective view of the adapter of FIG. 7 coupled to the fiber optic connector of FIG. 1 and a conventional fiber optic connector; FIG. 15 is a side perspective view of an adapter for coupling to two of the fiber optic connectors of FIG. 1 according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; fig. 16 is a rear perspective view thereof; FIG. 17 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof; FIG. 18 is a perspective view of two of the fiber optic connectors of FIG. 1 attached to the adapter of FIG. 15; FIG. 19 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof; FIG. 20 is an enlarged view of a portion of FIG. 19; FIG. 21 is a vertical cross-sectional perspective view of two of the fiber optic connectors of FIG. 1 coupled to an adapter similar to the adapter of FIG. 15; FIG. 22 is similar to FIG. 18 with the adapter hidden from view to reveal internal details; FIG. 23 is a side perspective view of a fiber optic connector according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of the connector from an advantageous position below the connector; FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of the connector from an advantageous position on the left side of the connector; FIG. 26 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof, partially enlarged; FIG. 27 is a partially enlarged horizontal cross-sectional view thereof; FIG. 28 is a side perspective view of an adapter for coupling to the fiber optic connector of FIG. 23 and a conventional connector according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; Fig. 29 is a rear perspective view thereof; FIG. 30 is a horizontal cross-sectional view thereof; FIG. 31 is an exploded perspective view thereof; FIG. 32 is a perspective view of the fiber optic connector of FIG. 23 attached to the adapter of FIG. 28; FIG. 33 is a vertical cross-sectional view thereof; FIG. 34 is a side perspective view of an adapter for c