Compact fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods of making the same with alignment elements
Fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods for making the same are disclosed. In one embodiment, the optical connector comprises a housing and a ferrule. The housing comprises a longitudinal passageway between a rear end and a front end, and, a part of the rear portion of the housing comprises a round cross-section and a part of the front portion of the housing comprises a non-round cross-section with a transition region disposed between the rear portion and the front portion.
1. A fiber optic connector, comprising:
a housing comprising a rear portion defining a rear end, a front portion defining a front end, and a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, wherein a part of the rear portion of the housing comprises a round cross-section with a keying portion configured as a female key and a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, and wherein a part of the front portion of the housing comprises a non-round cross-section with a transition region disposed between the rear portion and the front portion, wherein the transition region comprises an asymmetric portion;
a ferrule holder disposed within the housing component; and
a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end, wherein the ferrule is disposed within a portion of the ferrule holder.
2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the keying portion extends into the transition region.
3. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the asymmetric portion is a threaded portion.
4. The fiber optic connector of claim 3 , wherein the threaded portion is adjacent to the keying portion.
5. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the locking feature of the housing is disposed about 180 degrees from the keying portion.
6. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the locking feature of the housing is disposed less than 180 degrees from the keying portion.
7. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the locking feature is a ramp with a ledge.
8. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the locking feature is a notch, a groove, a shoulder, or a scallop formed in the housing.
9. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising a cable adapter sized for fitting into a rear opening of the housing.
10. The fiber optic connector of claim 9 , further comprising a boot attached to the cable adapter.
11. The fiber optic connector of claim 10 , wherein the boot is overmolded on the cable adapter.
12. The fiber optic connector of claim 10 , further comprising a sealing element disposed about a portion of the boot.
13. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising a resilient member for biasing the ferrule holder to a forward position.
14. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises one or more latch arms for securing the ferrule holder within the housing.
15. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising an O-ring disposed on the housing.
16. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 being a portion of a cable assembly comprising a fiber optic cable.
17. A fiber optic connector, comprising:
a housing comprising a rear portion defining a rear end, a front portion defining a front end, and a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, wherein a part of a rear portion of the housing comprises a round cross-section with a keying portion configured as a female key and a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, and wherein a part of a front portion of the housing comprises a non-round cross-section with a transition region disposed between the rear portion and the front portion, wherein the transition region comprises a threaded portion;
a ferrule holder disposed within the housing component; and
a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end, wherein the ferrule is disposed within a portion of the ferrule holder.
18. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the keying portion extends into the transition region.
19. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the threaded portion is adjacent to the keying portion.
20. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the locking feature of the housing is disposed about 180 degrees from the keying portion.
21. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the locking feature of the housing is disposed less than 180 degrees from the keying portion.
22. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the at least one locking feature is a ramp with a ledge.
23. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the at least one locking feature is a notch, a groove, a shoulder, or a scallop formed in the housing.
24. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , further comprising a cable adapter sized for fitting into a rear opening of the housing.
25. The fiber optic connector of claim 24 , further comprising a boot attached to the cable adapter.
26. The fiber optic connector of claim 25 , wherein the boot is overmolded on the cable adapter.
27. The fiber optic connector of claim 25 , further comprising a sealing element disposed about a portion of the boot.
28. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , further comprising a resilient member for biasing the ferrule holder to a forward position.
29. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the housing further comprises one or more latch arms for securing the ferrule holder within the housing.
30. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , further comprising an O-ring disposed on the housing.
31. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 being a portion of a cable assembly comprising a fiber optic cable.
32. A fiber optic connector, comprising:
a housing comprising a rear portion defining a rear end, a front portion defining a front end, and a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, wherein a part of a rear portion of the housing comprises a round cross-section with a keying portion configured as a female key and a locking feature for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, and wherein a part of a front portion of the housing comprises a non-round cross-section with a transition region disposed between the rear portion and the front portion, wherein the transition region comprises an asymmetric portion;
a ferrule holder disposed within the housing component;
a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end, wherein the ferrule is disposed within a portion of the ferrule holder; and
a fiber optic cable comprising an optical fiber, wherein the optical fiber is disposed in the fiber bore of the ferrule.
33. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , wherein the keying portion extends into the transition region.
34. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , wherein the asymmetric portion is a threaded portion.
35. The fiber optic connector of claim 34 , wherein the threaded portion is adjacent to the keying portion.
36. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , wherein the locking feature of the housing is disposed about 180 degrees from the keying portion.
37. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , wherein the locking feature of the housing is disposed less than 180 degrees from the keying portion.
38. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , wherein the locking feature is a ramp with a ledge.
39. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , wherein the locking feature is a notch, a groove, a shoulder, or a scallop formed in the housing.
40. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , further comprising a cable adapter sized for fitting into a rear opening of the housing.
41. The fiber optic connector of claim 40 , further comprising a boot attached to the cable adapter.
42. The fiber optic connector of claim 41 , wherein the boot is overmolded on the cable adapter.
43. The fiber optic connector of claim 41 , further comprising a sealing element disposed about a portion of the boot.
44. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , further comprising a resilient member for biasing the ferrule holder to a forward position.
45. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , wherein the housing further comprises one or more latch arms for securing the ferrule holder within the housing.
46. The fiber optic connector of claim 32 , further comprising an O-ring disposed on the housing.
47. A fiber optic connector, comprising:
a housing comprising a rear portion defining a rear end and a front portion defining a front end, and a longitudinal passageway extending from the rear end to the front end, wherein a part of a rear portion of the housing comprises a round cross-section with a keying portion and a locking feature configured as a ramp with a ledge that is integrally formed in the rear portion of the housing for securing the optical mating of the fiber optic connector, and wherein a part of a front portion of the housing comprises a non-round cross-section with a transition region disposed between the rear portion and the front portion, and the transition region comprises an asymmetric portion;
a ferrule holder disposed within the housing; and
a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end, wherein the ferrule is disposed within a portion of the ferrule holder.
48. The fiber optic connector of claim 47 , wherein the keying portion is configured as a female key.