IP Library Granted Patent US 8,152,386
Granted Patent B2
US 8,152,386 · App. 12/849,525 · Granted Apr 10, 2012

Fiber optic adapter and connector assemblies

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,152,386
App. No.
12/849,525
Granted
Apr 10, 2012
Kind
B2
Abstract

A fiber optic assembly comprising an adapter assembly defining an internal cavity, a first end for a receiving a first fiber optic connector, and a second end for receiving a second fiber optic connector, wherein the first and the second fiber optic connectors are dissimilar. A fiber optic connection comprising a first fiber optic connector comprising a connector housing, a first multi-fiber ferrule, and a clearance about an end face of the first multi-fiber ferrule for clearing a ferrule surround during connector mating, and a second connector that is a FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

Claims (34)

1. An adapter for mating dissimilar multi-fiber connectors, comprising:

an adapter housing defining an internal cavity therethrough;

a first end of the adapter housing for receiving a fiber optic connector, wherein the fiber optic connector comprises a connector housing, a first multi-fiber ferrule, and a clearance about an end face of the first multi-fiber ferrule for clearing a ferrule surround during connector mating; and

a second end of the adapter housing for receiving a FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector, wherein the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector comprises a second multi-fiber ferrule and the ferrule surround.

2. The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a flange positioned about midway between the first end and the second end.

3. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic connector further defines a slot for providing clearance for an exclusion feature of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

4. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the fiber optic connector defines a slot for receiving a key.

5. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the adapter housing further defines threading for threadably engaging with a coupling nut of the fiber optic connector.

6. The adapter of claim 1 , further comprising a side-loading force reducing structure.

7. The adapter of claim 6 , wherein the side-loading force reducing structure comprises a shroud that surrounds at least a portion of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

8. The adapter of claim 2 , wherein the flange extends from a surface of the adapter housing such that the flange fully encircles the adapter housing.

9. The adapter of claim 1 , wherein the connector housing of the fiber optic connector is cylindrical.

10. An adapter for mating dissimilar multi-fiber connectors, comprising:

an adapter housing defining an internal cavity therethrough;

a first end of the adapter housing for receiving a fiber optic connector, wherein the fiber optic connector comprises a cylindrical connector housing, a first multi-fiber ferrule, and a clearance about an end face of the first multi-fiber ferrule for clearing a ferrule surround during connector mating;

a second end of the adapter housing for receiving a FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector, wherein the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector comprises a second multi-fiber ferrule and the ferrule surround;

a flange positioned about midway between the first end and the second end, the flange radially extending from a surface of the adapter housing such that the flange fully encircles the adapter housing; and

a shroud that surrounds at least a portion of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

11. The adapter of claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic connector further defines a slot for providing clearance for an exclusion feature of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

12. The adapter of claim 10 , wherein the fiber optic connector defines a slot for receiving a key.

13. The adapter of claim 10 , wherein the adapter housing further defines threading for threadably engaging with a coupling nut of the fiber optic connector.

14. The adapter of claim 10 , wherein the adapter housing is cylindrical.

15. An adapter for mating dissimilar multi-fiber connectors, comprising:

an adapter housing defining a cylindrical internal cavity therethrough;

a first end of the adapter housing for receiving a fiber optic connector, wherein the fiber optic connector comprises a connector housing, a first multi-fiber ferrule, a slot for receiving a key, and a clearance about an end face of the first multi-fiber ferrule for clearing a ferrule surround during connector mating, wherein the first end of the adapter housing further defines threading for threadably engaging with a coupling nut of the fiber optic connector; and

a second end of the adapter housing for receiving a FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector, wherein the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector comprises a second multi-fiber ferrule and the ferrule surround, wherein second end of the adapter housing further defines threading for threadably engaging with a coupling nut of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector, and the fiber optic connector and the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector are dissimilar; and

a side-loading force reducing structure extending from the second end of the adapter housing.

16. The adapter of claim 15 , further comprising a flange positioned about midway between the first end and the second end.

17. The adapter of claim 16 , wherein the flange radially extends from a surface of the adapter housing such that the flange fully encircles the adapter housing.

18. The adapter of claim 15 , wherein the side-loading force reducing structure comprises a shroud that surrounds at least a portion of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

19. The adapter of claim 7 , wherein the shroud comprises at least two protrusions that partially surround a portion of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

20. The adapter of claim 7 , wherein the shroud fully surrounds a portion of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

21. The adapter of claim 10 , wherein the shroud comprises at least two protrusions that partially surround a portion of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

22. The adapter of claim 18 , wherein the shroud comprises at least two protrusions that partially surround a portion of the FOCIS 5 compliant MTP connector.

Assignments (1)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 23, 2016
From: CORNING CABLE SYSTEMS LLC
To: CORNING OPTICAL COMMUNICATIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 039844/0482 →