US5737463A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Massive parallel optical interconnect system
Assignee: Stratos International Inc
•
Filing: 1995-12-22
•
Granted: 1998-04-07
•
Expires: 2015-12-22
Abstract
Abstract A massive parallel (MP) connector is provided which includes a fiber optic connector having a polymer ferrule having multiple fibers mounted in V-grooves of the ferrule and beveled edges of the ferrule providing for alignment of the ferrule when the MP fiber optic connector is mated to a receptacle having an alignment assembly and an alignment member mounted within the alignment assembly to provide for precision alignment.
Inventors
- 👤 Roger E. Weiss
- 👤 Daniel P. Vladic
- 👤 Philip W. Schofield
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 10:45
CPC Classifications
G; G02; G02B; G02B6/00; G02B6/24; G02B6/36; G02B6/38; G02B6/3807; G02B6/381; G02B6/3826; G02B6/3831; G02B6/3833; G02B6/3834; G02B6/3838; G02B6/3839; G02B6/3873; G02B6/3874; G02B6/3885; G02B6/3855; G02B6/3861; G02B6/3865
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 63
Claim 1
Independent Claim
53 words
A massive parallel optical interconnect system comprising: a plug connector body including an aperture therethrough including a generally rectangular ferrule having beveled edges; and a receptacle including an opening having an alignment sleeve mounted within the opening having a pair of alignment members for providing alignment with the beveled edges of the ferrule.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
53 words
A massive parallel optical interconnect system comprising: a plug connector body including an aperture therethrough including a generally rectangular ferrule having beveled edges; and a receptacle including an opening having an alignment sleeve mounted within the opening having a pair of alignment members for providing alignment with the beveled edges of the ferrule.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the ferrule accommodates multiple fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the ferrule is a molded plastic ferrule having grooves therein for receiving optical fibers.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
The interconnect system of claim 3 wherein the grooves are rectilinear to the beveled edges of the ferrule.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
36 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the plug body includes a mating end that dimensionally conforms to an SC style fiber optic connector form factor having an end face dimension of approximately 8.99 mm×7.39 mm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the ferrule includes at least two optical fibers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
28 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 comprising a pair of plug bodies inserted into either end of the receptacle and providing for a precision alignment of the ferrules.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
47 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the alignment sleeve includes a pair of alignment members mounted within the receptacle, providing a spring-form system applying a force through the alignment members and to the beveled edges of a ferrule parallel to major surfaces of the ferrule halves.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the alignment sleeve is split and the receptacle includes a pretensioning means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the alignment sleeve includes a means for retaining alignment members within the alignment sleeve.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
25 words
The interconnect system of claim 10 wherein the retaining means includes a spring clip having arms having a hook portion for engaging the alignment member.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
33 words
The interconnect system of claim 10 wherein the spring clip applies a spring force through the alignment members to the beveled edges of the ferrule parallel to major surfaces of the ferrule halves.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes a boss for pretensioning the alignment sleeve.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
37 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the plug body includes a rear holder mounted at the cable entry end of the plug body; the rear holder including a longitudinal slot for receiving a fiber optic cable.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The interconnect system of claim 14 wherein the rear holder includes a strain relief portion for receiving a bend relief boot.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
41 words
The interconnect system of claim 14 wherein the fiber optic cable is secured to the rear holder via a retention means to capture strength members of the fiber optic cable and transfer forces applied to the cable to the plug body.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
22 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the plug body includes a marking to designate the position of the first optical fiber.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the plug body includes a resilient member to provide for the axial resiliency of the ferrule.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
33 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the aperture of the plug body includes a diameter greater than the diameter of the ferrule wherein the ferrule is pivotally movable within the plug body.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the plug body includes a sliding tab release sleeve.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
12 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes latch arms.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
32 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the receptacle includes an opening which dimensionally conforms to an SC style fiber optic receptacle form factor including an opening of approximately 9.0 mm×7.4 mm.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
16 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the ferrule includes a window for receiving adhesive therethrough.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
39 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the ferrule is terminated by inserting multiple optical fibers within grooves of the ferrule; securing the optical fibers within the grooves via chemical bonding and polishing the end face of the ferrule.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
32 words
The interconnect system of claim 1 wherein the ferrule is formed of two halves each having a major surface having V-grooves therein and the halves each having a pair of beveled edges.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
28 words
The interconnect system of claim 25 wherein the ferrule halves include a mating end and a rear end having a collar half molded integrally with the ferrule half.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
22 words
The interconnect system of claim 25 wherein the ferrule includes a mating end and a rear end having a collar mounted thereon.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
22 words
The interconnect system of claim 25 wherein the ferrule halves are bonded together and the fibers are secured therein via an adhesive.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
52 words
A massive parallel optical connector comprising: a plug connector body having an aperture therethrough; and a molded plastic ferrule surrounding multiple optical fibers and having an end face on a same plane as end faces of the optical fibers and the ferrule mounted in the aperture and the ferrule having beveled edges.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
52 words
A massive parallel optical connector comprising: a plug connector body having an aperture therethrough; and a molded plastic ferrule surrounding multiple optical fibers and having an end face on a same plane as end faces of the optical fibers and the ferrule mounted in the aperture and the ferrule having beveled edges.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the ferrule is a molded plastic ferrule having grooves therein for receiving the optical fibers.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connector system of claim 30 wherein the grooves are rectilinear to the, beveled edges of the ferrule.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
35 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the plug body includes a mating end which dimensionally conforms to an SC style fiber optic connector form factor having an end face dimension of approximately 8.99 mm×7.39 mm.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the ferrule includes twelve optical fibers.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
35 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the plug body includes a rear holder mounted at the cable entry end of the plug body; the rear holder including an aperture for receiving a fiber optic cable.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
19 words
The connector of claim 34 wherein the rear holder includes a strain relief for receiving a bend relief boot.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
40 words
The connector of claim 34 wherein the fiber optic cable is secured to the rear holder via a retention means to capture strength members of the fiber optic cable and transfer forces applied to the cable to the plug body.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the plug body includes a marking to designate the position of the first optical fiber.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
22 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the plug body includes a .resilient member to provide for the axial resiliency of the ferrule.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
33 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the aperture of the plug body includes a diameter greater thin the diameter of the ferrule so that the ferrule is pivotally movable within the plug body.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the plug body includes a sliding tab release sleeve.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the ferrule includes a window for receiving adhesive therethrough.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
38 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the ferrule is terminated by inserting multiple optical fibers within grooves of the ferrule; securing the optical fibers within the grooves via chemical bonding and polishing the end face of the ferrule.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector of claim 29 wherein the ferrule is formed of two halves each having a major surface having V-grooves therein and the halves each having a pair of beveled edges.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
27 words
The connector of claim 43 wherein the ferrule halves include a mating end and a rear end having a collar half molded integrally with the ferrule half.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 43 wherein the ferrule includes a mating end and a rear end having a collar mounted thereon.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
21 words
The connector of claim 43 wherein the ferrule halves are bonded together and the fibers are secured therein via an adhesive.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
55 words
A massive parallel optical connector comprising: a plug body including a mating end which dimensionally conforms to an SC style fiber optic connector form factor profile having an end face dimension of 8.99 mm×7.39 mm and an aperture through the plug body; and a ferrule having multiple fibers and the ferrule mounted within the aperture.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
55 words
A massive parallel optical connector comprising: a plug body including a mating end which dimensionally conforms to an SC style fiber optic connector form factor profile having an end face dimension of 8.99 mm×7.39 mm and an aperture through the plug body; and a ferrule having multiple fibers and the ferrule mounted within the aperture.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
11 words
The connector of claim 47 wherein the ferrule includes beveled edges.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector of claim 47 wherein the ferrule is formed of two halves each having a major surface having V-grooves therein and the halves each having a pair of beveled edges.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 49 wherein the ferrule is a molded plastic ferrule with V-grooves.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
14 words
The connector of claim 50 wherein the V-grooves are rectilinear to the beveled edges.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
116 words
A massive parallel optical connector comprising: a first block of polymer material having a groove formed in a first major surface for receiving multiple, parallel, optical fibers and a collar half molded integrally at a rear end of the first block; a second block having a second major surface abutting against the first major surface of the first block; and a connector housing having an end face and an aperture for receiving the first and second blocks wherein a portion of the first and second blocks form an end face extending beyond the end face of the housing and the end face of the blocks on a same plane as end faces of the optical fibers.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
116 words
A massive parallel optical connector comprising: a first block of polymer material having a groove formed in a first major surface for receiving multiple, parallel, optical fibers and a collar half molded integrally at a rear end of the first block; a second block having a second major surface abutting against the first major surface of the first block; and a connector housing having an end face and an aperture for receiving the first and second blocks wherein a portion of the first and second blocks form an end face extending beyond the end face of the housing and the end face of the blocks on a same plane as end faces of the optical fibers.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
15 words
The connector of claim 52 wherein the second block is formed of a polymer material.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
18 words
The connector of claim 52 wherein the second block includes a groove formed in the second major surface.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector of claim 52 wherein the first and second blocks form a ferrule having multiple fibers.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
17 words
The connector of claim 52 wherein the first block includes beveled edges being rectilinear to the grooves.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
31 words
The connector of claim 52 wherein the housing end face dimensionally conforms to an SC style fiber optic connector form factor having an end face diameter of approximately 8.99 mm×7.39 mm.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
33 words
The connector of claim 52 wherein the housing includes a rear holder mounted at a cable entry end of the housing; the rear holder including an aperture for receiving a fiber optic cable.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
24 words
The connector of claim 52 wherein the first and second blocks include a mating end and a rear end having a collar mounted thereon.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-04-06 | 2001-10-06 | 2002-04-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-04-06 | 2005-10-06 | 2006-04-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-04-06 | 2009-10-06 | 2010-04-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |