US5222168A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector and a stacked-type optical connector
Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co Ltd
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Filing: 1991-12-06
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Granted: 1993-06-22
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Expires: 2011-12-06
Abstract
Abstract A method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector wherein stacking portions for stacking are provided in corresponding positions of each ferrule, the individual ferrules are stacked with the corresponding individual stacking portions aligned, and a plurality of ferrules are simultaneously stacked up with stacking members which work in cooperation with those corresponding stacking portions in such a manner that the ferrules can practically float with a specific degree of freedom to allow a gap between the ferrules, and a stacked-type optical connector assembled according to this method.
Inventors
- 👤 Masami Saito
- 👤 Shinichiro Ohta
- 👤 Hiroyuki Yamada
- 👤 Etsuo Tanabe
- 👤 Toshihiko Ohta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 09:35
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3878; G02B6/3879; G02B6/381; G02B6/3825; G02B6/3885; G02B6/389; G02B6/3897; H; H01; H01R; H01R13/00; H01R13/46; H01R13/516; H01R13/518; H01R13/514
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 26
Claim 1
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector wherein individual ferrules of a plurality of optical connectors are all stacked up to simultaneously butt-connect a plurality of optical connectors, which optical connectors are provided with positioning pin holes in which connecting pins are inserted and which have a ferrules with at least one optical fiber, to a plurality of other matching optical connectors, and wherein stacking portions for stacking are provided in each ferrule at matching positions on said individual ferrules, the method comprising: stacking said individual ferrules with said individual stacking portions of each of said stacked ferrules aligned; and engaging at least one stacking member with said aligned stacking portions of each of said stacked ferrules such that said ferrules are all stacked up using said at least one stacking member working in cooperation with corresponding stacking portions of said stacked ferrules so that said stacked and engaged ferrules each are movable relative to each other and can practically float with a specific degree of freedom, and thereby allowing a gap to be formed between the respective ferrules during butt-connecting of said stacked ferrules.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
188 words
A method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector wherein individual ferrules of a plurality of optical connectors are all stacked up to simultaneously butt-connect a plurality of optical connectors, which optical connectors are provided with positioning pin holes in which connecting pins are inserted and which have a ferrules with at least one optical fiber, to a plurality of other matching optical connectors, and wherein stacking portions for stacking are provided in each ferrule at matching positions on said individual ferrules, the method comprising: stacking said individual ferrules with said individual stacking portions of each of said stacked ferrules aligned; and engaging at least one stacking member with said aligned stacking portions of each of said stacked ferrules such that said ferrules are all stacked up using said at least one stacking member working in cooperation with corresponding stacking portions of said stacked ferrules so that said stacked and engaged ferrules each are movable relative to each other and can practically float with a specific degree of freedom, and thereby allowing a gap to be formed between the respective ferrules during butt-connecting of said stacked ferrules.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said stacking portions comprise stacking holes formed in each of said ferrules.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
58 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 2, wherein said at least one stacking member comprises: a plurality of stacking pins which are inserted in respective corresponding aligned stacking holes of the stacked ferrules; and retaining means coupled to said stacking pins for retaining said stacking pins inserted in said stacking holes.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 3, wherein said retaining means comprises a concave groove formed in each of said stacking pins, and a snap ring fitted onto the concave groove of each stacking pin.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
55 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 2, wherein said stacking member comprises a single stacking pin which is spread over and inserted in said aligned stacking holes of said stacked ferrules, and which is provided with a retaining means for retaining said stacking pins in said stacking holes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 5, wherein said retaining means comprises concave grooves formed in said stacking pin and snap rings fitted to the respective concave grooves.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said stacking portions comprise stacking grooves provided in said ferrule.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 7, wherein said stacking member comprises a coupling clip which has holding portions to be fitted to said aligned stacking grooves of said stacked ferrules, and engaging hooks.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 1, wherein said stacking portion comprises pinching portions provided on said ferrule.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 9, wherein said stacking member comprises an elastic cap means for wrapping and holding all said pinching portions which are aligned and stacked.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method for stacking ferrules of a stacked-type optical connector according to claim 10, wherein said cap means is provided with slits for producing elasticity in said cap means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
138 words
A stacked-type optical connector wherein optical connectors, each including a ferrule, are stacked up, comprising: a plurality of said optical connectors which are adapted to be butt-connected by means of positioning pin holes and connecting pins fitted in the respective pin holes, each optical connector having respective stacking portions for use in said stacking and which are aligned when said optical connectors are stacked; each optical connector having a ferrule with at least one optical fiber; and stacking means engageable with said aligned stacking portions such that a plurality of said ferrules are engaged in a stacked manner with said stacking means and are movable relative to each other and are allowed to practically float with a specific degree of freedom, to thereby allow a gap to form between the respective ferrules during butt-connecting of said stacked ferrules.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
138 words
A stacked-type optical connector wherein optical connectors, each including a ferrule, are stacked up, comprising: a plurality of said optical connectors which are adapted to be butt-connected by means of positioning pin holes and connecting pins fitted in the respective pin holes, each optical connector having respective stacking portions for use in said stacking and which are aligned when said optical connectors are stacked; each optical connector having a ferrule with at least one optical fiber; and stacking means engageable with said aligned stacking portions such that a plurality of said ferrules are engaged in a stacked manner with said stacking means and are movable relative to each other and are allowed to practically float with a specific degree of freedom, to thereby allow a gap to form between the respective ferrules during butt-connecting of said stacked ferrules.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 12, wherein said stacking means comprises stacking holes provided in said ferrules.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
49 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 13, wherein said stacking means comprises a plurality of stacking pins which are inserted in said corresponding aligned stacking holes of said stacked ferrules and which are provided with a retaining means for retaining said stacking pins engaged in said stacking holes.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 14, wherein said retaining means comprises a respective concave groove formed in each said stacking pin and a snap ring fitted to the respective concave groove.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 13, wherein said stacking means comprises a single stacking pin which is extended over and inserted in said corresponding aligned stacking holes and which is provided with a retaining means for retaining said stacking pin in said aligned stacking holes.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
29 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 16, wherein said retaining means comprises concave grooves formed in said stacking pin, and snap rings fitted to the respective concave grooves.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 12, wherein said stacking means comprises stacking grooves formed in said ferrule.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
30 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 18, wherein said stacking means comprises a coupling clip which has holding portions fitted to said corresponding aligned stacking grooves and engaging hooks.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
19 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 12, wherein said stacking means comprises pinching portions provided on said ferrule.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 20, wherein said stacking means comprises an elastic cap means for wrapping and holding all of said corresponding aligned pinching portions of said stacked ferrules.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 21, wherein said cap means is provided with slits which produce elasticity in said cap means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
23 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 12, wherein said stacked-type optical connector is butt-connected to another stacked-type optical connector via an adapter.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
31 words
The stacked-type optical connector according to claim 23, wherein the individual ferrules of said stacked-type optical connector are provided with guides for butt-connecting to another stacked-type optical connector via said adapter.
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