3m Innovative Properties Company

Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company

Intellectual Property Company

Scott Anthony Igl

Nicholas A Lee

Gordon D Henson

Michael Alan Meis

Terry Lee Smith

Barbara A DeBaun

Victor Julian Borer

Donald G Doss

Barbara L Birrell

Nicolas A Lee

A fiber optic connector having improved alignment and manufacturing characteristics over traditional connectors. A fiber optic connector of the present invention has a first connector ferrule and alignment means for aligning the first connector ferrule with a matching second connector ferrule. The fiber optic connector includes a first connector ferrule including a first mating surface. The mating surface defines at least one receiving cavity, and at least one protruding alignment rod is seated in the cavity and extends from the mating surface. The alignment rod has a diameter D and protrudes from the mating surface a protrusion distance p , wherein p &lE;2D . In an exemplary embodiment the rod has a spherical tip and 0.5D &lE;p &lE;2D .

Optical connector assembly using partial large diameter alignment features

A connector assembly for optically coupling a first optical waveguide array mounted to a first substrate to an optical device on an intersecting second substrate. The first waveguide array includes a plurality of parallel optical waveguides having a minimum desired bend radius. The first and the second substrate define a first and a second plane respectively and the longitudinal direction of the first waveguide array defines a first axis. The intersection of the two planes defines an intersection axis that is generally perpendicular to the first axis. The first waveguide array has a substrate portion mounted to the first substrate, a midspan portion, and an end portion. The connector assembly includes a first connector adapted to be detachably connected to the second substrate and aligned along a second axis generally perpendicular to the intersection axis. The first connector has a first retaining mechanism that receives and retains the end portion of the first optical waveguide array, where the end portion is suspended over the first plane at a distance along the second axis that is at least equal to the minimum desired bend radius. The midspan portion of the second optical waveguide array describes a suspended bend curve between the first and the second plane, the suspended bend curve having a bend radius that is equal to or greater than the desired minimum bend radius.

Fiber optic connector for coupling devices on intersecting planes

A fiber optic connector having improved alignment and manufacturing characteristics over traditional connectors. A fiber optic connector of the present invention has a first connector ferrule and alignment means for aligning the first connector ferrule with a matching second connector ferrule. The fiber optic connector includes a first connector ferrule including a first mating surface. The mating surface defines at least one receiving cavity, and at least one protruding alignment rod is seated in the cavity and extends from the mating surface. The alignment rod has a diameter D and protruded from the mating surface a protrusion distance p , wherein p &lE;2D . In an exemplary embodiment the rod has a spherical tip and 0.5D &lE;p &lE;2D .

Optical connector using large diameter alignment features

A fiber optic connector having improved alignment and manufacturing characteristics over traditional connectors. A fiber optic connector of the present invention has a first connector ferrule and alignment means for aligning the first connector ferrule with a matching second connector ferrule. The fiber optic connector includes a first connector ferrule including a first mating surface. The mating surface defines at least one receiving cavity, and at least one protruding alignment rod is seated in the cavity and extends from the mating surface. The alignment rod has a diameter D,and protrudes from the mating surface a protrusion distance p,, wherein p,&lE;2D,. In an exemplary embodiment the rod has a spherical tip and 0.5D,&lE;p,&lE;2D,.

An optical fiber connector ferrule that satisfies the existing need for providing an easy to manufacture, inexpensive optical connector having multiple alignment methods is provided. In particular, an optical fiber connector ferrule having a fiber engaging and alignment surface for engaging and aligning at least one optical fiber is provided. The ferrule also has a connector engagement surface. Additionally, the connector ferrule of the present invention has the capability of providing multiple alignment methods for providing compatibility with many different connector devices. Examples of the multiple alignment methods include ball and socket alignment, pin and socket alignment, and edge alignment methods.

Multiple alignment connector ferrule

A control jacket houses a line, such as a fiber optic ribbon cable or other conductor, and limits the amount of bending and twisting movement of the line. The jacket preferably includes a multi-dimensional matrix of engagement elements separated by a plurality of gaps and connected by an underlying web structure. As the jacket is bent or twisted, adjacent engagement elements move together into engagement with each other, limiting the bend radius or twist angle of the jacket, and thus of the fiber optic ribbon cable or other protected line. The jacket preferably includes at least one fastening mechanism, allowing the control jacket to be opened along its length for easy insertion and removal of the line as needed. Multiple jackets can be placed end-to-end along the line, to create a composite jacket of any desired length. Additionally, a control jacket according to the invention includes two slideable jacket portions. Locking structure locks the two portions of the control jacket together and prevents them from separating, but permits sliding movement in a longitudinal direction along the line. This accommodates the radius of curvature differential that occurs upon bending/twisting of the control jacket and consequently reduces strain in the locking structure.

Bend radius control jacket

A control jacket houses a line, such as a fiber optic ribbon cable or other conductor, and limits the amount of bending and twisting movement of the line. The jacket preferably includes a multi-dimensional matrix of engagement elements separated by a plurality of gaps and connected by an underlying web structure. As the jacket is bent or twisted, adjacent engagement elements move together into engagement with each other, limiting the bend radius or twist angle of the jacket, and thus of the fiber optic ribbon cable or other protected line. The jacket preferably includes at least one fastening mechanism, allowing the control jacket to be opened along its length for easy insertion and removal of the line as needed. Multiple jackets can be placed end-to-end along the line, to create a composite jacket of any desired length.

Bend radus control jacket with matrix of engaging elements

A fiber optic connector comprising a plug and a receptacle uses the spring force supplied by bowing of the plug fiber to maintain a continuous compressive load at the fiber joint located in a fiber-alignment groove. The plug has a holder for securing the plug fiber and a shroud which snaps onto the holder with the plug fiber extending generally straight inside the shroud. The shroud has a slot providing access to the terminal portion of the plug fiber, and a sliding door which selectively covers the slot. The receptacle includes a housing and another fiber holder for securing the receptacle fiber, with a projection or finger attached to the receptacle fiber holder, the projection having the fiber-alignment groove. The finger is oriented within the receptacle housing such that, when the plug is inserted into the receptacle, the finger extends through the slot in the shroud at an oblique angle with respect to the plug axis. In this manner, as the plug is inserted, the end of the plug fiber slides into the fiber-alignment groove in the finger and comes into contact. With the end face of the receptacle fiber. Continued insertion results in bowing of the plug fiber to achieve the compressive load. The plug door may have camming surfaces which are actuated by corresponding surfaces on a door of the receptacle. The connector may be used to simultaneously interconnect a plurality of fiber pairs, or to terminate a fiber to an active optical device.

Optical fiber connector using fiber spring force alignment groove

A fiber optic ribbon cable has release elements manufactured in line with the ribbon cable so as to provide access points to the optical fibers contained therein to allow for easy application of a connector in the field. A pair of adhesive tape layers is provided about the optical fibers to create a fiber optic ribbon cable. At least one release element is provided between the adhesive tape layers and the optical fibers at one or more access points along the ribbon cable to allow for subsequent connectorization of the fibers therein. When the ribbon cable needs to be equipped with a connector, the cable is cut near the midpoint of one of the access point. After the cable is cut the adhesive tape layers and the at least one release element may be easily peeled back exposing the optical fibers. A connector is then installed onto the exposed fibers. The at least one release element is removed from the tape layers and the tape is then secured to the connector with any excess tape being trimmed off.

Fiber optic ribbon cable with pre-installed locations for subsequent

A fiber optic ribbon cable assembly has optical connector assemblies manufactured in line with the ribbon cable assembly so as to provide a fixed, lateral spacing of the optical fibers relative to each other within the connector assembly and has the remaining portion of the fiber optic ribbon cable manufactured within an arbitrary lateral spacing of the optical fibers relative to each other. A pair of adhesive tape layers are sandwiched around the optical fibers and the in-line optical connector assemblies. By having the connector assemblies manufactured in line with the fiber optic ribbon cable, resulting ribbon cable assembly is easier to manufacture, has a higher alignment accuracy, and is more cost effective than existing techniques for manufacturing ribbon cable assemblies.

Growing community of inventors

Saint Paul, MN, United States of America

Scott Anthony Igl