Compact fiber optic connectors, cable assemblies and methods of making the same
Fiber optic connectors comprising compact footprints along with 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. The optical connectors disclosed may be tunable for improving optical performance and may include a spring for biasing the ferrule to a forward position as desired.
1. A fiber optic connector, comprising:
a housing comprising a rear end and a front end with 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 that comprises a locking feature integrally formed in the housing that alters the 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, wherein the transition region comprises a threaded portion and a keying portion extending into the transition region configured as a female key for rotational orientation of the fiber optic connector during optical mating; and
a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end.
2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion extends from the non-round cross-section to the round cross-section.
3. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the threaded portion is adjacent to the keying portion.
4. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the front portion of housing comprises another cross-section portion.
5. The fiber optic connector of claim 4 , wherein the another cross-section portion comprises a SC footprint.
6. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the ferrule is a portion of a ferrule subassembly, and an opening at the front end or the rear end of the housing is sized for receiving a portion of the ferrule subassembly.
7. The fiber optic connector of claim 6 , wherein the ferrule subassembly is configured to cooperate with the housing for inhibiting the rotation of the ferrule subassembly with respect to the housing.
8. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the locking feature is a groove. shoulder, a ramp with a ledge, or a scallop formed in the housing.
9. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , wherein the housing comprises at least one adhesive fill opening.
10. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , the housing further comprising one or more grooves for receiving an O-ring.
11. The fiber optic connector of claim 10 , wherein the locking feature is disposed rearward of the one or more grooves in the housing that seats the 0 - ring.
12. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 , further comprising a dust cap.
13. The fiber optic connector of claim 1 being a portion of a cable assembly.
14. A fiber optic connector, comprising;
a housing comprising a rear end and a front end with 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 that comprises a locking feature integrally formed in the housing that alters the 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, wherein the transition region comprises a threaded portion and a keying portion extending into the transition region for rotational orientation of the fiber optic connector during optical mating;
a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end; and
an O-ring.
15. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the threaded portion extends from the non-round cross-section to the round cross-section.
16. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the threaded portion is adjacent to the keying portion.
17. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the front portion of housing comprises another cross-section portion.
18. The fiber optic connector of claim 17 , wherein the another cross-section portion comprises a SC footprint.
19. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the ferrule is a portion of a ferrule subassembly, and an opening at the front end or the rear end of the housing is sized for receiving a portion of the ferrule subassembly.
20. The fiber optic connector of claim 19 , wherein the ferrule subassembly is configured to cooperate with the housing for inhibiting the rotation of the ferrule subassembly with respect to the housing.
21. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the locking feature is a groove. shoulder, a ramp with a ledge, or a scallop formed in the housing.
22. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the housing comprises at least one adhesive fill opening.
23. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , wherein the locking feature is disposed rearward of a groove in the housing that seats the O-ring.
24. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 , further comprising a dust cap.
25. The fiber optic connector of claim 14 being a portion of a cable assembly.
26. A fiber optic connector, comprising;
a housing comprising a rear end and a front end with 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 that comprises a locking feature integrally formed in the housing that alters the 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, wherein the transition region comprises a threaded portion and a keying portion extending into the transition region for rotational orientation of the fiber optic connector during optical mating;
a ferrule comprising a fiber bore extending from a rear end to a front end; and
an O-ring, wherein the locking feature is disposed rearward of a groove in the housing that seats the O-ring.
27. The fiber optic connector of claim 26 , wherein the locking feature is a groove. shoulder, a ramp with a ledge, or a scallop formed in the housing.
28. The fiber optic connector of claim 26 , wherein the housing comprises at least one adhesive fill opening.
29. The fiber optic connector of claim 26 , wherein the threaded portion is adjacent to the keying portion.
30. The fiber optic connector of claim 26 being a portion of a cable assembly.