At&t Bell Laboratories

American Telephone & Telegraph Co., At&t Bell Laboratories

Daniel L Stephenson

Ruben Travieso

Naif Taleb Subh

Clyde J Myers

Wilton Wayt King

Kenneth Michael Yasinski

In order to mount optical fiber connectors in a panel (22), the panel is provided with a plurality of openings in each of which is disposed a buildout system. Each buildout system includes a buildout block each having a portion disposed on a rear side of the panel and adapted to have an optical fiber connector assembled thereto. Any one of three buildout blocks may be used in order to receive a desired connector which may be an ST, SC, or FC connector. Secured through a latching arrangement to the portion of the buildout block on a front side of the panel is a buildout which may have any one of three configurations to accept any one of the three connectors. The latching arrangement between buildout block and buildout is the same for any combination of buildout block and buildout. As a result of the structure of the buildout system, a buildout and a buildout block may be selected to connect any combination of the connectors.

Universal optical fiber buildout system

An optical connector (20) includes a ferrule assembly (22) which is adapted to be received in a plug frame (70). The ferrule assembly is held in the plug frame by a cable retention assembly (40) which is adapted to be secured to said plug frame. A leading end of the plug frame is symmetrical in an end cross-section which is normal to a longitudinal axis of the connector. After the ferrule assembly has been assembled to the plug frame, the direction of any eccentricity of the plug passageway or of an optical fiber terminated by the ferrule assembly is determined. Then the plug frame is assembled to a housing of a grip (90) such that the direction of eccentricity is aligned with a key (92) of the grip. The plug frame is capable of being assembled to the grip notwithstanding the rotational orientation of the plug frame with respect to the grip. An optical connection between optical fibers terminated by two connectors is made by inserting the grip of each of the two connectors into a coupling housing (100) so that the keys are aligned. Advantageously, portions of the connector may be factory assembled which facilitates field use of the connector to terminate optical fiber.

Optical fiber ferrule connector having enhanced provisions for tuning

Terminated arrays (22,22) of optical fibers are spliced together by a splicing device (20) which includes a housing (40). The housing includes two sidewalls (42,42) and two endwalls (46,46), each endwall adapted to have an end portion of a terminated array inserted therethrough. The end portions of the terminated arrays are received between two negative chips (33,33) disposed between two backing plates (60,60) to cause the terminated arrays to be aligned. Clamping means (70) includes two spring clips (72,72) each adapted to be disposed in an armed position to allow insertion of the end portions of the terminated arrays and then to be moved to a clamping position in which portions of the clips are in compressive engagement with the backing plates to hold the terminated arrays in alignment and in the housing.

Optical fiber array splicing device

A connector body (26) which terminates at least one transmission medium includes on each side thereof a cantilevered arm (66) having a latching nub (70) projecting from a free end of the arm. A release cover (80) having a gripping portion (88) oriented toward a cable input end (32) of the connector body is mounted slidably on the connector body with the latching nubs of the arms each projecting through a window (90) in the cover. Conductors in the connector body are connected to conductors of another connector or of a device by inserting the connector body and release cover into a coupling (100) or into a receptacle. The latching nubs of the arms protrude into openings (106--106) provided in a housing (102) of the coupling to secure the connector body thereto. In order to withdraw the connector body from the coupling, a user moves the cover slidably along the connector body toward the cable input end. Walls which define the windows of the cover cam against the latching nubs causing them to be depressed as the free ends of the arms are moved inwardly. Once the nubs have cleared the openings in the coupling or in the receptacle, the connector body and release cover may be withdrawn from the housing. The release cover also is effective when forces of a predetermined magnitude are applied to the connector body to cause the latching nubs to become disengaged from the coupling and allow withdrawal of the connector body therefrom.

Growing community of inventors

Norcross, GA, United States of America

Daniel L Stephenson