Multi-fiber assembly for a ferrule-less fiber optic connector

Inventors: Danny Willy August Verheyden (Gelrode, BE); Jozef Christiaan Mathieu Versleegers (Bree, BE); Marc Eugène Willem Bervoets (Hasselt, BE); Michael Maris (Paal, BE); Erwin Junius (Termelo, BE); Walter Mattheus (Herent, BE)

Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC

G02B6/3885 G02B6/3809 G02B6/40 G02B6/3636

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Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 11,953,735
App. No.: 17/423,311
Filed: Jul 15, 2021
Granted: Apr 9, 2024
Kind: B2
Examiner: PETKOVSEK, DANIEL
Art Unit: 2874
USPC: 385/39

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Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a ferrule-less multi-fiber connector having features adapted to compensate or adjust for angular misalignment that may occur when the multi-fiber connector is optically connected with a corresponding ferrule-less multi-fiber connector. In one example, the features for adjusting for angular misalignment are integrated in a multi-fiber holder that mounts within a connector body of the fiber optic connector.

Claims (32)

1. A multi-fiber assembly comprising:

a holder housing having a front end and an opposite rear end;

a head portion of the holder housing being positioned at the front end of the holder housing, the head portion having a rear end and a front end, the head portion defining a plurality of optical fiber openings;

a plurality of optical fibers received and secured within the optical fiber openings;

flexible beams having forward ends coupled to the rear end of the head portion of the holder housing and rearward ends coupled to a main body portion of the holder housing, the flexible beams having lengths that extend between the head portion and the main body portion of the housing; and

wherein the flexible beams are adapted to form a hinge arrangement that allows the head portion to angularly adjust relative to the main body portion.

2. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge arrangement is configured such that when the head portion angularly adjusts relative to the main body portion, the head portion moves about an adjustment reference axis positioned in front of the head portion.

3. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 2 , wherein the optical fibers include unsupported end portions that project forwardly from the head portion such that front tips of the unsupported end portions are positioned at least one millimeter in front of the head portion, and wherein the adjustment reference axis is forwardly offset from the head portion by a distance generally equal to a projection length of the unsupported end portions of the optical fibers.

4. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein the holder housing includes two halves that each define a plurality of grooves for receiving the optical fibers.

5. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 4 , wherein when the two halves are coupled together the plurality of grooves of the respective two halves oppose each other and cooperate to define the plurality of optical fiber openings.

6. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 4 , wherein the two halves are secured together by a snap-fit connection interface.

7. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of optical fiber openings has a center-to-center spacing of 200 or 250 microns.

8. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein the main body portion of the holder housing, the head portion of the holder housing, and the flexible beams are integrally molded.

9. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein the flexible beams converge as the flexible beams extend forwardly.

10. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge arrangement allows the head portion of the holder housing to pivot at an angle of at least ¼ of a degree relative to the main body portion to adjust for an angular misalignment gap of at least 12 microns at tips of the optical fibers during optical connection with another set of optical fibers.

11. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge arrangement allows the head portion of the holder housing to pivot at an angle of at least ½ of a degree relative to the main body portion to adjust for an angular misalignment gap of at least 23 microns at tips of the optical fibers during optical connection with another set of optical fibers.

12. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein the hinge arrangement allows the head portion of the holder housing to pivot at an angle of at least 1 degree relative to the main body portion to adjust for an angular misalignment gap of at least 48 microns at tips of the optical fibers during optical connection with another set of optical fibers.

13. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 1 , wherein the head portion defines a cutout for receiving epoxy to secure the optical fibers in the plurality of optical fiber openings.

14. A multi-fiber assembly adapted to be mounted in a ferrule-less connector, the multi-fiber assembly comprising:

a sleeve having a front end and an opposite rear end;

a front head disposed at the front end of the sleeve, the front head defining a plurality of optical fiber openings;

a plurality of optical fibers received within the optical fiber openings, wherein the optical fibers are fixed relative to the front head and include forward portions that project forwardly at least 1 millimeter front the front head; and

wherein the front head is adapted to pivot within the sleeve to correct any angular misalignment that may occur when the plurality of optical fibers make physical contact with other optical fibers.

15. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 14 , wherein when the front head pivots relative to the sleeve, the front head moves about an adjustment reference axis positioned in front of the front head.

16. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 15 , wherein the adjustment reference axis is forwardly offset from the head portion by a distance generally equal to a projection length of the forward portions of the optical fibers.

17. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 14 , wherein the front head includes two halves that each define a plurality of grooves.

18. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 17 , wherein when the two halves are coupled together the plurality of grooves of the respective two halves cooperate to form the plurality of optical fiber openings.

19. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 17 , wherein the two halves are secured together by a snap-fit connection interface, an adhesive bonded interface or a welded interface.

20. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 14 , wherein the front head has a front end and an opposite rear end, and wherein the front head has a body that tapers inwardly as the body extends in a direction from the front end toward the rear end.

21. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 14 , wherein the front head pivots at an angle of at least 1 degree relative to the sleeve.

22. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 14 , wherein the fiber holder pivots at an angle of no more than 5 degrees relative to the sleeve.

23. The multi-fiber assembly of claim 14 , wherein the front head defines a cutout for receiving an adhesive filling material for securing the plurality of optical fibers in the plurality of optical fiber openings.