EP0128044A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Fiber optic connector having dual supporting surfaces and method of terminating fiber optic transmission members
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1984-06-05
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2004-06-05
Abstract
Abstract A fiber optic connector comprises a housing member (58), ferrule members (10) and a coupling member (72). The housing member (58) is rigid and has a profiled bore (56) extending therethrough which has a central cylindrical surface (60), tapered surfaces (62) on each side of the central cylindrical surface (60), and a support surface (64) atthe outer end of each tapered surface (62). Theferrule members (10) are of resilient deformable material and are terminated onto fiber optic transmission members. Each ferrule member (10) has a profiled front end comprising a front cylindrical section (20) of slightly larger diameter than the central cylindrical surface (60), a tapered section (22) slightly smaller than the bore tapered surfaces (62), and an alignment section (24) for tight engagement with the support surfaces (64) when the ferrule members (10) are urged together by coupling member (72) thereby applying a radial compressive force to the front cylindrical sections (20) and axially aligning the fiber optic transmission members (14) and the alignment sections of the ferrule members (10) tightly engaging the support surfaces (64) of the housing member (58) to maintain the ferrule members (10) in alignment when lateral forces are applied to the ferrule members (10). A reservoir for index-matching fluid is formed peripherally around the engaged front surfaces (35) by peripheral surfaces (52). A ferrule member (10) may be formed with a domed front surface (34) which is polished to a flat front surface (35) after terminating an end of a fiber optic transmission member (14) therein.
Inventors
- 👤 Bernard George Caron
- 👤 Ronald Francis Cooper
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 11:50
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3855; G02B6/3861; B; B24; B24B; B24B19/00; B24B19/22; B24B19/226; G02B6/381; G02B6/3818; G02B6/382; G02B6/3821; G02B6/3825; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3865; G02B6/389; G02B6/3897; G02B6/3854; G02B6/3863; G02B6/3867; G02B6/3898
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
384 words
A fiber optic connector for connecting fiber optic transmission members (14) together, comprising a rigid housing member (58) having a profiled bore (56) extending therethrough, ferrule members (10) of resiliently rigid but deformable material having a profiled bore (32) extending axially therethrough, said ferrule members (10) terminated onto ends of the fiber optic transmission members (14), each said ferrule member (10) having a profiled front end section which has a front cylindrical section (20), a tapered section (22) and an alignment section (24), said front cylindrical section (20) having a substantially flat front surface (35) with the front end of the fiber optic transmission member (14) being coincident with said flat front surface (35), the profiled front end sections of the ferrule members (10) disposed in the profiled bore (56) of the housing member (58), and a coupling member (72) engaging each ferrule merober (10) urging the profiled front end of each ferrule member (10) into the profiled bore (56) of the housing member (58) causing the front surfaces (35) of the ferrule members (10) to engage or nearly engage each other, characterized in that: the profiled bore (56) of said rigid housing member (58) has a central cylindrical surface (60), tapered surfaces (62) outwardly on each side of said central cylindrical surface (60), and a support surface (64) at the outer end of each said tapered surface (62); and with respect to each ferrule member (10), said front cylindrical section (20) is slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of said central cylindrical surface (60) of said housing member (58), said tapered section (22) is slightly smaller in dimension than said tapered surface (62), and said alignment section (24) is slightly larger in dimension than said support surface (64), all such that when said profiled front end of a said ferrule member (10) is disposed in said profiled bore (56) of said housing member (58) said front cylindrical section (20) tightly engages said central cylindrical surface (60) causing a reduction in diameter of said front cylindrical section (2 0 ) and axially aligns the fiber optic transmission member (14), said tapered section (22) is disposed along said tapered surface (62), and said support surface (64) tightly and sealingly engages said alignment section (24) thereby supporting said ferrule member (10) against lateral forces thereon.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
384 words
A fiber optic connector for connecting fiber optic transmission members (14) together, comprising a rigid housing member (58) having a profiled bore (56) extending therethrough, ferrule members (10) of resiliently rigid but deformable material having a profiled bore (32) extending axially therethrough, said ferrule members (10) terminated onto ends of the fiber optic transmission members (14), each said ferrule member (10) having a profiled front end section which has a front cylindrical section (20), a tapered section (22) and an alignment section (24), said front cylindrical section (20) having a substantially flat front surface (35) with the front end of the fiber optic transmission member (14) being coincident with said flat front surface (35), the profiled front end sections of the ferrule members (10) disposed in the profiled bore (56) of the housing member (58), and a coupling member (72) engaging each ferrule merober (10) urging the profiled front end of each ferrule member (10) into the profiled bore (56) of the housing member (58) causing the front surfaces (35) of the ferrule members (10) to engage or nearly engage each other, characterized in that: the profiled bore (56) of said rigid housing member (58) has a central cylindrical surface (60), tapered surfaces (62) outwardly on each side of said central cylindrical surface (60), and a support surface (64) at the outer end of each said tapered surface (62); and with respect to each ferrule member (10), said front cylindrical section (20) is slightly greater in diameter than the diameter of said central cylindrical surface (60) of said housing member (58), said tapered section (22) is slightly smaller in dimension than said tapered surface (62), and said alignment section (24) is slightly larger in dimension than said support surface (64), all such that when said profiled front end of a said ferrule member (10) is disposed in said profiled bore (56) of said housing member (58) said front cylindrical section (20) tightly engages said central cylindrical surface (60) causing a reduction in diameter of said front cylindrical section (2 0 ) and axially aligns the fiber optic transmission member (14), said tapered section (22) is disposed along said tapered surface (62), and said support surface (64) tightly and sealingly engages said alignment section (24) thereby supporting said ferrule member (10) against lateral forces thereon.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1 further characterized in that said support surface (64) and said alignment section (24) are cylindrical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said support surface (64) and said alignment section (24) are tapered.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that each said ferrule member (10) has tool-engaging means for engagement by a tool (78) to rotate said ferrule member (10) relative to said housing member (58) while light is being transmitted along the fiber optic transmission members (14) to accurately align the axes of the fiber optic transmission members (14).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
83 words
A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said front surface (35) of each said ferrule member (10) has a peripheral surface extending to an external surface (52) of said front cylindrical section (20) which forms a reservoir surrounding the front ends of the ferrule members (10) within said central cylindrical surface (60) of said housing member (58) after engagement or near engagement of front ends of two ferrule members (10) assembled within a housing member (58).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
21 words
. A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 5, further characterized in that said peripheral surface (52) is radiussed.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
30 words
A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said housing member (58) has a slot (70) in communication with said central cylindrical surface (60).
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A fiber optic connector as set forth in claim 1, further characterized in that said ferrule member (10) includes a rear cylindrical section (26) against which said coupling member (72) engages.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
88 words
A ferrule member (10) for use in terminating a fiber optic transmission member (14), characterized in that a front end on said ferrule member (10) has a domed front surface (34) prior to the fiber optic transmission member (14) being terminated in said ferrule member (10) and the domed front surface (34) along with an end of said fiber optic transmission member (14) being polished thereby forming a planar front surface (35) of said front end of said ferrule member (10) and said fiber optic transmission member (14).
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
88 words
A ferrule member (10) for use in terminating a fiber optic transmission member (14), characterized in that a front end on said ferrule member (10) has a domed front surface (34) prior to the fiber optic transmission member (14) being terminated in said ferrule member (10) and the domed front surface (34) along with an end of said fiber optic transmission member (14) being polished thereby forming a planar front surface (35) of said front end of said ferrule member (10) and said fiber optic transmission member (14).
Claim 12
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of terminating an end of a fiber optic transmission member (14) within a ferrule member (10), comprising the steps of: molding the ferrule member (10) from a suitable material with a front end of the ferrule member (10) having a domed front surface (34) and a bore (56) extending through the ferrule member (10) and through the domed front surface (34); securing the end of the fiber optic transmission member (14) in the bore (56) with a front end of the fiber optic transmission member (14) being coincident with the domed front surface (34); and polishing the domed front surface (34) and the front end of the fiber optic transmission member (14) thereby forming a flat polished surface (35) of the front end of the ferrule member (10) including a flat polished surface of the front end of the fiber optic transmission member (14).
Claim 13
Independent Claim
146 words
A method of terminating an end of a fiber optic transmission member (14) within a ferrule member (10), comprising the steps of: molding the ferrule member (10) from a suitable material with a front end of the ferrule member (10) having a domed front surface (34) and a bore (56) extending through the ferrule member (10) and through the domed front surface (34); securing the end of the fiber optic transmission member (14) in the bore (56) with a front end of the fiber optic transmission member (14) being coincident with the domed front surface (34); and polishing the domed front surface (34) and the front end of the fiber optic transmission member (14) thereby forming a flat polished surface (35) of the front end of the ferrule member (10) including a flat polished surface of the front end of the fiber optic transmission member (14).
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein a radiussed peripheral surface (52) is formed during the polishing step at the flat polished front surface (35) of the ferrule member (10).
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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