Optical fiber receptacle, an optical fiber ferrule and an optical fiber receptacle and ferrule interconnection system
View Patent ↗An optical fiber receptacle and ferrule interconnection system is disclosed. The interconnection system includes an optical fiber ferrule and a receptacle. The receptacle has a first portion that is attachable to an optical device and a second portion that is connected to the first portion. The second portion has an inner surface that defines a slot for detachably receiving the optical fiber ferrule and for aligning the optical fiber within the optical fiber ferrule with an attached optical device to allow transmission of light therebetween. The slot provides an interference fit with the ferrule. The inner surface of the second portion and an outer surface of the ferrule are adapted to form at least one channel therebetween.
1. An optical fiber receptacle and ferrule interconnection system comprising:
an optical fiber ferrule having a non-circular section and wherein an external diameter of the ferrule is defined by a diameter of a circle that encompasses the non-circular cross section; and
a receptacle having:
a first portion attachable to an optical device; and
a second portion connected to the first portion, and the second portion having a slot with an internal diameter which is smaller than the external diameter.
2. An interconnection system according to claim 1 , wherein the second portion has an inner surface that defines the slot, and wherein at least a part of the inner surface and at least a part of an outer surface of the ferrule are adapted to form at least one channel therebetween.
3. An interconnection system according to claim 2 , wherein the second portion of the receptacle comprises at least one groove on the inner surface thereof, the at least one groove extending substantially parallel to an axis of the slot, thereby defining the at least one channel.
4. An interconnection system according to claim 2 , wherein the at least a part of the inner surface comprises two sections having the internal diameter, and wherein the two sections are separated by a medial section having a diameter that is greater than the external diameter.
5. An interconnection system according to claim 4 , wherein the two sections of the inner surface comprise two sections of the inner surface having a plurality of grooves thereon, the grooves extending substantially parallel to an axis of the slot, thereby defining the at least one channel.
6. An interconnection system according to claim 1 , wherein the slot has a circular cross section.
7. An interconnection system according to claim 2 , wherein the ferrule comprises at least one groove on an outer surface thereof that extends substantially parallel to an axis of the ferrule, the at least one groove defining the at least one channel.
8. An interconnection system according to claim 6 , wherein the ferrule has a polygonal cross section that defines angles which abut the inner surface of the receptacle that defines the slot when the ferrule is received therein, and wherein spaces in the slot that are unoccupied by the received ferrule define a number of angularly spaced-apart channels, corresponding to a number of sides of the polygonal cross section, around the ferrule.
9. An optical fiber receptacle comprising:
a first portion attachable to an optical device; and
a second portion connected to the first portion, the second portion having a slot with an internal diameter for detachably receiving an optical fiber ferrule with an external diameter that is larger than the internal diameter, wherein the slot has a circular cross section for receiving an optical fiber ferrule having a non-circular cross section, and wherein the external diameter of the ferrule is defined by a diameter of a circle that encompasses the non-circular cross section.
10. An optical fiber receptacle according to claim 9 , wherein the second portion has an inner surface that defines the slot, and wherein at least a part of the inner surface of the second portion and at least a part of an outer portion of a received ferrule are adapted to form at least one channel therebetween.
11. An optical fiber receptacle according to claim 10 wherein the second portion comprises at least one groove on the inner surface thereof that extends substantially parallel to an axis of the slot, thereby defining the at least one channel.
12. An optical fiber receptacle according to claim 10 , wherein the at least a part of the inner surface comprises two sections of the inner surface having the internal diameter, wherein the two sections are separated by a medial section having a diameter that is greater than the external diameter of a received ferrule.
13. An optical fiber receptacle according to claim 12 , wherein the two sections of the inner surface comprise two sections of the inner surface having a plurality of grooves thereon, the grooves extending substantially parallel to an axis of the slot, thereby defining the at least one channel.
14. An optical fiber receptacle according to claim 10 , wherein the at least a part of the inner surface comprises at least one section of the inner surface having at least three spaced apart elongated ribs, wherein the elongated ribs engage a received ferrule such that spaces between adjacent elongated ribs in the slot left unoccupied by the received ferrule define the at least one channel.
15. An optical fiber receptacle according to claim 14 , wherein the at least one section of the inner surface comprises two separate ribbed sections separated by a medial section having a diameter that is greater than the external diameter of a received ferrule.
16. An optical fiber ferrule comprising:
a bore defined therein for receiving an optical fiber;
a first portion attachable to a housing of a connector; and
a second portion, connected to the first portion, the second portion having a non-circular cross section, wherein a circle that encompasses the non-circular cross section has an external diameter that is greater than an internal diameter of a slot of an optical fiber receptacle for receiving the second portion.
17. An optical fiber ferrule according to claim 16 , wherein at least a part of an outer surface of the second portion and at least a part of an inner surface of the receptacle defining the slot are adapted to form at least one channel therebetween.
18. An optical fiber ferrule according to claim 16 , wherein the non-circular cross section defines a polygonal shape.
19. An optical fiber ferrule according to claim 16 , wherein an outer surface of said second portion comprises channels running longitudinally therein.