Other

At&t Bell Laboratories

Vasilios E Kalomiris

Jerry Max Anderson

Bruce V Darden

Thomas C Cannon, Jr

Glenn A Thaller

In a hermaphroditic biconic connector (20), an optical fiber cable (24) extends through a cap (46) into a tapered passageway of a flanged bushing. Optical fibers extend from the cable through a bore in a wedge (65) having a truncated conical shape and being received in the bushing. Portions of a strength member system (28) of the cable in the form of non-metallic filamentary strand material are captured between a wall which defines the tapered passageway and an outer surface of the wedge. The surfaces between which the strength members become locked are substantially smooth to avoid damage to the strength members. Forces applied to the cable and hence to the strength members cause the wedge to be seated further in the bushing. Also, the included angle between diametrically opposite lines on the surface of the wedge that lie in a plane that passes through the longitudinal axis of the wedge enhances the locking features of the connector. The fibers also extend through a retention nut (70) which is turned threadably over a threaded portion of the bushing and each fiber is connected to a truncated, conically shaped plug (94). The plugs are mounted adjacent to an end of the connector with one plug being received in an alignment sleeve (130). A sleeve retainer (140) is disposed over the sleeve and the other plug and includes alignment posts (145--145) so that when another connector is assembled thereto, a plug of the other connector is received in the unused end of the sleeve and a sleeve extending from another plug of the other connector receives the other plug of this connector.

Connector for optical fiber cable

This disclosure relates to fiber optic connector keying arrangements which prevent the unintended mixing of traffic when a plurality of similar fiber optic cables are to be interconnected with electronic equipment handling traffic of various types and classifications. The connector assembly at each end of a fiber optic cable comprises a hermaphrodite connector end plug (i.e., a keying insert) that has an end face configuration which is unique to that particular cable. The equipment (bulkhead) connector assembly to be connected to a given cable also includes a keying insert end plug which is identical to that of the cable. Thus, a given cable connector can be connected or coupled to, and only to, a similarly configured, bulkhead, connector assembly. Each cable comprises at each end a unique, keying insert, end plug and, therefore, each cable can be connected to only one similarly configured, bulkhead connector; and, undesirable connections, and consequent traffic mixing, are thereby precluded. Each cable and bulkhead connector assembly has a cover with a unique insert that exactly matches and precisely mates with its intended connector assembly.

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Holmdel, NJ, United States of America

Vasilios E Kalomiris