Amp LLC

Other

The Whitaker Corporation

Denis G Mulholland

Ronald R Schaffer

Gary N Warner

Robert C Briggs

Wallace R Savitsky

Steven P Owens

Thomas Ralph Fawcett, Jr

A universal adapter including a generic fixed housing (10) capable of receiving diverse back panel assemblies (20-1, 20-2 . . . 20-n) each having a set of coupling elements (22-1, 22-2 . . . 22-n) which may differ according to industry standards. The adapter facilitates optical coupling of, for example, a Fiber Distributed-Data Interface (FDDI) style connector or an ESCON.TM. style connector with either an SC.TM. style connector, an ST.TM. style connector, an FC style connector, or any other type of optical connector.

Universal adapter for optical connectors

An interconnect assembly 1 includes an adapter assembly 15, a coupling bushing 13 and an insert 14. The assembly 1 is situated within a wall outlet 2 having a hood assembly 4 with an aperature 8 for receiving therethrough a plug terminated optical fiber cable. The plug is received through the aperture 8 and interconnected by means of the interconnect assembly 1 with a second optical fiber cable. The assembly 1 comprises a receptacle housing 18 having at least one forward extending compartment structure 46, open at a front receiving face and a receptacle 17 within the housing 18 for receiving the first optical cable within the compartment structure 46 for connection to the plug terminating the first optical fiber cable. The assembly 1 further comprises an insert 13 with a guide port 56. The guide port 56 receives the forward extending compartment structure 46 of the receptacle housing 18 with the receptacle 17. The insert 13 further includes connecting means for securing the insert 13 to the hood assembly 4 of the wall outlet 2.

Interconnect assembly for wall outlet

The end of an optical fiber connector 3 and fiber 8 end are protected by a fiber protector body 9 during bonding of the fiber optic cable 6 to the connector 3. The protector body 9 comprises an elongated protective sleeve section 73 with axial bore 74 and terminates in means 75 for securing the protective sleeve 73 to the optical fiber connector 3. The means 75 for securing the protective sleeve 73 comprises an alignment sleeve 76 having a bore 77 extending with the axial bore 74 of the elongated protective sleeve section 73. Further the means 75 has a least two resilient catch pieces 78 extending from the elongated protective sleeve 73 and having the form of cantilever arms extending parallel to and on opposing side of the longitudinal axis of the alignment sleeve 76. The catch pieces 78 terminate in extending protrusions 80 and lip structures 81.

Fiber protector

An active device mount 1 comprises a base 2 having a forward face with a connecting means 3 for attaching an optical fiber connector. The connector has an alignment ferrule and an optical fiber extending therethrough. The mount 1 has a rearward face with securing means 4 for an active device. The connecting means 3 comprises a front socket 17 extending therefrom the active device mount base 2 and has a longitudinal axis and axial bore 18. The connecting means 3 further comprises at least two resilient catch pieces 20 of cantilever form extending from the base 2 parallel to and on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis of the front socket 17. The resilient catch pieces 20 terminate in protrusions 22 and lip structures 23. The securing means 4 of the active device mount base 2 comprises a resilient, four sided, rhombic-shaped structure extending from the base 2 and encompassing the can 8 of the active device. The structure 4 secures the can 8 by press fit at four contact points 16 between the four inner surfaces 15 of the sides of the structure 4 and the surface of the can 8.

Active device mount with push-pull optical fiber connector receptacle

An overconnector assembly 10 converts a pair of simplex optical fiber connectors 1, each having a defined exterior profile, into a unitary structure that operates as a duplex connector. The overconnector assembly 10 comprises a bipartite structure of complementary parts 76, 77. Each part has a double compartment interior 78, 79. The interior of each compartment 78, 79 has a precisely shaped profile conforming to the shape of the defined exterior profile of each of the pairs of simplex optical fiber connectors 1.

Overconnector assembly for a pair of push-pull coupling type optical

An adapter assembly for optical fiber connectors comprises a base having a profiled axial bore, a receptacle housing and a receptacle. The receptacle housing has at least one four sided compartment structure extending forwared from the base and open at a front receiving end. Within the housing is the receptacle comprising a socket extending from the adapter base and having bore a axially alinged with the bore of the base to form an extension thereof and. The receptacle is adapted to receive an alignment ferrule of an optical fiber connector. The receptacle further has two catch pieces of cantilever form extending from the base parallel to and on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis of the socket. The catch pieces terminate in protrusions and lip structures for intermating with a push-pull type of optical fiber connector. Each lip structure of each catch piece has at least three inwardly beveled surfaces leading from the lip edge of each structure forward toward the interconnection with the push-pull optical fiber connector to facilitate lead-in of the connector during connection to the adapter assembly.

Adapter assembly with improved receptacle for a push-pull coupling type

A coupling bushing 1 for optical fiber connectors comprises a first half structure 1A comprising a base 14 having an axial bore 16 and a socket 15 extending from tlhe rear 21 of the base 14. The socket 15 has a bore 16 axially aligned with the bore of the base 14 to form an extension thereof. The socket 15 is adapted to receive an alignment ferrule of the optical fiber connector. The half structure 1A further comprises, at its front face 20, a pattern of ridges 24 and slots 25 forming keying and aligning feature for intermating with complementary feature of another connecting base. Further, the half structure 1A includes at least one recess 23 and at least one nub 22 forming aligning features for intermating with complementary features of another connecting base. The half structure 1A further comprises a barrel-shaped coupling body 17 extending from the rear face 21 of the base 14 and encompassing the socket 15 within its interior 18. The interior 18 of the coupling body 17, is adapted to receive an end of the optical fiber connector.

Coupling bushing for various types of optical fiber connectors

An active device mount assembly 1 comprises an interface mount 4 having front socket 9. Further included is an active device 5. The assembly 1 may also include a focusing element 6. The device 5 has an emission axis aimed along the axis of the optical focusing element. The assembly 4 further comprises a coupler element 7 aligned with the focusing element 6 and inserting into a precise depth into the socket 9 of the mount 4. Further the interface mount 4 provides means for attaching a fiber optic connector 3 where the fiber optic connector 3 has an alignment ferrule 66 and an optical fiber 10 extending therethrough. The alignment ferrule 66 abuts the coupler element 7 with the optical fiber 10 aligned to the center axis of the coupler element 7. The interface mount for attaching the fiber optic connector 36 further comprises a base 28 with an alignment sleeve 29 and at least two resilient catch pieces 30 extending from the base 28. The alignment sleeve 29 has longitudinal axis and axial bore encompassing the alignment ferrule 66 of the fiber optic connector 36. The resilient catch pieces 30 are of cantilever form extending parallel to and on opposing sides of the longitudinal axis of the alignment sleeve 29 and terminating in protrusions 32 and lip structures 33.

Active device mount assembly with interface mount for push-pull coupling

A one-piece molded polishing fixture 9 includes a body member 73 having front disc-shaped flat surface 74 with web of gutters 75. The body member 73 further has a bore extending therethrough in which the front end 76 of a fiber optic member 8 may be disposed with the front surface 76 of the member 8 extending outwardly beyond the front of the flat surface 74. The polishing fixture 9 further includes means for securing the body member 73 to an optical fiber connector 3 with held optical fiber member 8. This said means comprises an alignment sleeve 78 and at least two resilient catch pieces 77 of cantilever form.

Growing community of inventors

Lancaster, PA, United States of America

Denis G Mulholland