Articulated force application for multi-fiber ferrules
View Patent ↗The present invention provides a multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly providing articulated force application, including: a ferrule holder including an x-pivot component and a y-pivot component, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly; a multi-fiber ferrule comprising a plurality of optical connection points coupled to the ferrule holder; and a biasing member coupled to the ferrule holder and the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring a force through the ferrule holder and to the multi-fiber ferrule, and wherein the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the biasing member, the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder, and the multi-fiber ferrule is coupled to the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder.
1. A multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly providing articulated force application, comprising:
a ferrule holder comprising an x-pivot component including a first through passage and a y-pivot component including a second through passage in communication and generally aligned with the first through passage, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly;
a multi-fiber ferrule comprising a plurality of optical connection points coupled to the ferrule holder; and
a biasing member coupled to the ferrule holder and the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring a force through the ferrule holder and to the multi-fiber ferrule.
2. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the x-axis and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly are substantially separated in the z direction.
3. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the biasing member.
4. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 3 , wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder.
5. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 4 , wherein the multi-fiber ferrule is coupled to the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder.
6. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises one of a coil spring and a wave spring.
7. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a shoulder structure integrally formed with the multi-fiber ferrule and disposed substantially between the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly.
8. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder act cooperatively to minimize the torque force experienced by the face of the multi-fiber ferrule.
9. A multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly providing articulated force application, comprising:
a ferrule holder comprising an x-pivot component including a first through passage and a y-pivot component including a second through passage in communication and generally aligned with the first through passage, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly;
a multi-fiber ferrule comprising a plurality of optical connection points coupled to the ferrule holder; and
a biasing member coupled to the ferrule holder and the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring a force through the ferrule holder and to the multi-fiber ferrule, and wherein the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the biasing member, the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder, and the multi-fiber ferrule is coupled to the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder.
10. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the x-axis and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly are substantially separated in the z direction.
11. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9 , further comprising a shoulder structure integrally formed with the multi-fiber ferrule and disposed substantially between the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly.
12. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder act cooperatively to minimize the torque force experienced by the face of the multi-fiber ferrule.
13. A multi-fiber fiber optic connection method providing articulated force application, comprising:
providing a ferrule holder comprising an x-pivot component including a first through passage and a y-pivot component including a second through passage in communication and generally aligned with the first through passage, wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is operable for providing relative rotational movement about the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly;
providing a multi-fiber ferrule comprising a plurality of optical connection points coupled to the ferrule holder; and
providing a biasing member coupled to the ferrule holder and the multi-fiber ferrule, wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring a force through the x-pivot component and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder and to the multi-fiber ferrule.
14. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13 , wherein the x-axis and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly are substantially separated in the z direction.
15. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13 , wherein the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the biasing member.
16. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 15 , wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder is coupled to the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder.
17. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 16 , wherein the multi-fiber ferrule is coupled to the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder.
18. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13 , wherein the biasing member comprises one of a coil spring and a wave spring.
19. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13 , further comprising providing a shoulder structure integrally formed with the multi-fiber ferrule and disposed substantially between the x-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly and the y-axis of the multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly.
20. The multi-fiber fiber optic connection method of claim 13 , wherein the x-pivot component of the ferrule holder and the y-pivot component of the ferrule holder act cooperatively to minimize the torque force experienced by the face of the multi-fiber ferrule.
21. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring the force through the x-pivot component and the y-pivot component.
22. The multi-fiber fiber optic connector assembly of claim 9 , wherein the biasing member is operable for transferring the force through the x-pivot component and the y-pivot component.