Fiber Systems International

Bryan D Cull

Daniel C Roehrs

Jon M Woodruff

Kerry W Whitaker

Michael R Roehrs

Jaime Castillega

Jamie Castillega

A hermaphroditic connector for mounting to a cable having a plurality of optical fibers and connecting the fibers to mating optical fibers wherein the optical fibers and mating optical fibers have termini mounted to the respective ends thereof, and wherein the termini of at least one of the optical fibers is slidably mounted and biased to provide a predetermined amount of longitudinal travel during connection includes a plug insert for mounting the termini, a generally cylindrical plug body for receiving the plug insert through an open end thereof, the plug body including a mating end with a plurality of mating features configured to cooperate with corresponding mating features of a second connector to align the termini of the first and second connectors in opposed relationship, a plurality of ears extending radially from the mating end of the plug body, a coupling nut slidably mounted on the plug including a groove formed between a plurality of ribs extending around an inside nut so that rotation of the coupling nut in a forward position captures the ears of the connector and the ears of the second connector in the groove in opposed relationship between the ribs.

Fiber optic connector having hermaphroditic coupling mechanism

A fiber optic connector for mounting to a cable having a plurality of optical fibers and connecting the optical fibers to mating optical fibers using termini. The connector comprises a housing defining an exterior and having a rear portion to which the cable is secured and through which the plurality of optical fibers enter. A support member having a shank which is engaged with a retainer ring and which is disposed within the housing extends between the rear portion of the housing and a forward portion of the housing with a gap disposed between the housing and the shank through which the optical fibers extend. A recess is disposed in the forward portion of the housing and has an interiorly disposed periphery which defines a recess profile. The recess profile has inner portions which receive the termini of the optical fibers.

Hybrid fiber optic and power connector

A fiber optic connector is provided having translating termini, such that the terminal end of the termini will extend out of the forward end of an insert cap to prevent mud or debris from becoming lodged within the bores of the insert and within alignment sleeves which are contained within the insert cap. The fiber optic cable connector preferably is provided with continuous ceramic sleeves to align the adjacent termini of optical fibers included within respective ones of the cables. The continuous ceramic sleeves have internal bores which are slightly larger than the outside diameter of the periphery of the termini, providing a clearance fit between the continuous ceramic sleeves and respective ones of the termini. The termini are independently gimbaled, with gimbal points being disposed distally from respective mating planes between opposing terminal ends of the termini. Floating seal assemblies extend around respective ones of the termini between the mating planes and the gimbal points, and seal between the respective ones of the termini and a connector housing. The floating seal assemblies each include an annular-shaped, floating collar having an aperture through which a respective one of the termini extends. The floating collar is free to move parallel to a longitudinal axis of the respective termini, and also transverse thereto. A first seal element seals between the aperture of the floating collar and the respective termini. The floating collar includes a face which extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of the respective termini. A second seal element extends around the longitudinal axis of the respective termini and is sealingly engaged between the face of the floating collar and a seal surface of a bore in the connector housing.

Fiber optic connector having translating termini

A hybrid electro-optic connector ( ) has an insert ( ), a rear seal body ( ) and a centrally disposed support member ( ) which extends between the insert ( ) and the rear seal body ( ). The insert ( ) has a rearwardly open recess ( ) which is configured for receiving the support member ( ). The support member ( ) is formed of non-conductive plastic, and has a forward end defining a shank ( ) and a retainer ring ( ). The retainer ring ( ) and the recess ( ) in the insert ( ) have mating profiles ( ) which are configured for aligning to receive and retain optical termini ( ), alignment sleeves ( ) and electrical contacts ( ) in fixed positions within the insert ( ). The insert ( ) is formed of conductive plastic, and a forward housing ( ) of the connector ( ) is formed of a non-conductive plastic, which is over molded to the insert ( ).

A multi-channel fiber optic connector is provided having a plug connector half and a receptacle connector half. The plug and the receptacle have respective inserts that include exterior peripheries of a particular shape for mating with an interior profile of a housing of the receptacle. The peripheries of the inserts are preferably defined by cylindrical bodies having respective tabs which protrude outward from the outer diameters of the inserts. The interior profile of the receptacle housing defines a recess for receiving the tabs to both angularly align the insert associated with the receptacle and to angularly align the insert associated with the plug. The recess in the receptacle housing is defined by a groove which extends parallel to the longitudinal length of the receptacle housing, with the same groove receiving the protuberant tabs of both inserts to angularly align the inserts. The inserts have fiber optic termini mounted therein.

Growing community of inventors

Allen, TX, United States of America

Bryan D Cull