WO2009040564A1 - Array of adaptors for optical connectors - Google Patents

Array of adaptors for optical connectors Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009040564A1
WO2009040564A1 PCT/GB2008/050787 GB2008050787W WO2009040564A1 WO 2009040564 A1 WO2009040564 A1 WO 2009040564A1 GB 2008050787 W GB2008050787 W GB 2008050787W WO 2009040564 A1 WO2009040564 A1 WO 2009040564A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
adaptors
attachment
array
adaptor
formations
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB2008/050787
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Dirk Kempeneers
Original Assignee
Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv
Tyco Electronics Uk Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv, Tyco Electronics Uk Ltd filed Critical Tyco Electronics Raychem Nv
Publication of WO2009040564A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009040564A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/381Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres
    • G02B6/3825Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs of the ferrule type, e.g. fibre ends embedded in ferrules, connecting a pair of fibres with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
    • GPHYSICS
    • G02OPTICS
    • G02BOPTICAL ELEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS
    • G02B6/00Light guides; Structural details of arrangements comprising light guides and other optical elements, e.g. couplings
    • G02B6/24Coupling light guides
    • G02B6/36Mechanical coupling means
    • G02B6/38Mechanical coupling means having fibre to fibre mating means
    • G02B6/3807Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
    • G02B6/3897Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards

Definitions

  • This invention relates to an array of improved adaptors for holding optical connectors, for example of the kind described in WO-A-2007/039585, Figure III-2 of which is attached hereto as Figure 1 (Prior Art).
  • Figure 1 shows an optical fibre connection device including a pivotable mounting, which consists of a supporting baseplate 301 and pivoting part or arm 302 for retaining a connector attached to an optical drop cable 106.
  • the pivoting part 302 carries a simplex adaptor 304 of known kind enclosing the forward part of a known LC optical connector, the release tab 108 of which can be seen projecting from the adaptor 304.
  • the adaptor 304 is retained on the pivoting part 302 by frame 320 moulded integrally with the part 302.
  • Pivoting the part 302 upwards away from the support table or baseplate 301 improves access for connecting and disconnecting the connectorised cable to the connector part enclosed in the selected adaptor 304, because the latter is lifted out of an array of terminations as shown.
  • upstanding location members/mounting retainers 313 engage the flat lands 113 on a connectorised optical fibre cable. This provides resistance to both longitudinal and torsional movement of the connector parts.
  • the present invention provides an alternative form of adaptor for simplified mounting in a drop cable array or in other optical cable handing or organising arrays.
  • the invention accordingly provides an array of adaptors for holding optical fibre connector parts, each adaptor having at least one attachment formation on a first one of its sides whereby a first one of the adaptors is attached to a support, and each adaptor having at least one cooperating attachment formation on an oppositely- facing second one of its sides, whereby the said first one of the adaptors is attached to adjacent similar adaptors in the array by engagement of their respective co-operating attachment formations.
  • the adaptor may have two of the attachment formations on its said first side and two of the attachment formations on its said second side.
  • the adaptor may preferably have male attachment formation(s) on the said first side and female attachment formation(s) on the said second side, but could alternatively have, for example "Velcro"-style attachment members on the respective sides, or identical inter- engageable formations such as spines on both sides, or any other convenient attachment formations capable of co-operating to attach the adaptors to one another.
  • Figure 2 shows left and right side perspective views of a modified simplex adaptor for use in arrays according to the invention
  • Figure 3 shows two of the modified adaptors shown in Figure 2 aligned for attachment to each other
  • Figure 4 shows the resulting attached adaptors in perspective whole view and cross- sectional view
  • Figure 5 shows in perspective an array of the adaptors in process of being attached to one another according to this invention
  • Figure 6 shows a completed array of four adaptors attached to one another
  • Figure 7 shows an array of two adaptors attached together according to this invention in an optical fibre organiser tray and
  • Figure 8 shows schematically one possible form of friction-fit attachment formations for use in adaptors according to this invention.
  • an adaptor 10 carries two female attachment formations 20 on a first one of its sides, and two male attachment formations 30 on an oppositely-facing second one of its sides.
  • two such adaptors 10 are aligned ready for attachment together by insertion of the male formations 30 (not visible in this view) of the adaptor 10 shown on the left into the aligned female formations 20 of the adaptor 10 shown on the right.
  • Figure 4 shows the resulting assembly of the two adaptors 10, with the sectioned view on the right of Figure 4 illustrating the insertion of the male formations 30 into the female formations 20.
  • Figure 5 shows adaptors according to the invention holding optical splice connectors 50, 51 at the ends of optical fibres 52, 53 in process of being aligned for mutual attachment of the adaptors by engagement of formations 20, 30 as described above.
  • Figure 6 shows a resulting array of four such adaptors attached to one another.
  • Figure 7 shows the use of an array of two such adaptors 10 according to this invention in an optical fibre splice tray 60 of known kind.
  • Figure 8 shows in principle one form of friction- fit female (20) and male (30) attachment formations for use in adaptors for arrays of the present invention.
  • the adaptors for use in the arrays according to this invention may be produced using any convenient moulding or other techniques and materials, for example those used to make the known simplex adaptors.

Abstract

An array of adaptors (10) for holding optical fibre connector parts, each adaptor having at least one attachment formation (20) on a first one of its sides whereby a first one of the adaptors is attached to a support, and eachadaptor having at least one co-operating attachment formation (30) on an oppositely-facing second one of its sides, whereby the said first one of the adaptors is attached to adjacent similar adaptors in the array by engagement of their respective co-operating attachment formations.

Description

ARRAY OF ADAPTORS FOROPTICAL CONNECTORS
This invention relates to an array of improved adaptors for holding optical connectors, for example of the kind described in WO-A-2007/039585, Figure III-2 of which is attached hereto as Figure 1 (Prior Art).
Figure 1 (Prior Art) shows an optical fibre connection device including a pivotable mounting, which consists of a supporting baseplate 301 and pivoting part or arm 302 for retaining a connector attached to an optical drop cable 106. The pivoting part 302 carries a simplex adaptor 304 of known kind enclosing the forward part of a known LC optical connector, the release tab 108 of which can be seen projecting from the adaptor 304. The adaptor 304 is retained on the pivoting part 302 by frame 320 moulded integrally with the part 302. Pivoting the part 302 upwards away from the support table or baseplate 301 improves access for connecting and disconnecting the connectorised cable to the connector part enclosed in the selected adaptor 304, because the latter is lifted out of an array of terminations as shown. On pivoting the part 302 down, upstanding location members/mounting retainers 313 engage the flat lands 113 on a connectorised optical fibre cable. This provides resistance to both longitudinal and torsional movement of the connector parts.
The present invention provides an alternative form of adaptor for simplified mounting in a drop cable array or in other optical cable handing or organising arrays. The invention accordingly provides an array of adaptors for holding optical fibre connector parts, each adaptor having at least one attachment formation on a first one of its sides whereby a first one of the adaptors is attached to a support, and each adaptor having at least one cooperating attachment formation on an oppositely- facing second one of its sides, whereby the said first one of the adaptors is attached to adjacent similar adaptors in the array by engagement of their respective co-operating attachment formations.
In preferred forms of the invention, the adaptor may have two of the attachment formations on its said first side and two of the attachment formations on its said second side. The adaptor may preferably have male attachment formation(s) on the said first side and female attachment formation(s) on the said second side, but could alternatively have, for example "Velcro"-style attachment members on the respective sides, or identical inter- engageable formations such as spines on both sides, or any other convenient attachment formations capable of co-operating to attach the adaptors to one another. It will be understood that mutual attachment of adaptors to one another according to the present invention is an alternative to the individually-hinged arrangement of the aforementioned prior art, and can greatly simplify the construction of a connector mounting, since only the first of a series of adaptors need be attached to a base or connecting plate, subsequent adaptors being adequately secured by the snap-fit or friction-fit attachment to the preceding adaptors. Adaptors other than the known simplex adaptors referred to herein may similarly be attached to each other by provision of suitable attachment members according to the invention. Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to Figures 2 to 8 of the accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 2 shows left and right side perspective views of a modified simplex adaptor for use in arrays according to the invention,
Figure 3 shows two of the modified adaptors shown in Figure 2 aligned for attachment to each other,
Figure 4 shows the resulting attached adaptors in perspective whole view and cross- sectional view,
Figure 5 shows in perspective an array of the adaptors in process of being attached to one another according to this invention, Figure 6 shows a completed array of four adaptors attached to one another,
Figure 7 shows an array of two adaptors attached together according to this invention in an optical fibre organiser tray and,
Figure 8 shows schematically one possible form of friction-fit attachment formations for use in adaptors according to this invention. Referring to Figure 2, an adaptor 10 carries two female attachment formations 20 on a first one of its sides, and two male attachment formations 30 on an oppositely-facing second one of its sides. In Figure 3, two such adaptors 10 are aligned ready for attachment together by insertion of the male formations 30 (not visible in this view) of the adaptor 10 shown on the left into the aligned female formations 20 of the adaptor 10 shown on the right. Figure 4 shows the resulting assembly of the two adaptors 10, with the sectioned view on the right of Figure 4 illustrating the insertion of the male formations 30 into the female formations 20. Figure 5 shows adaptors according to the invention holding optical splice connectors 50, 51 at the ends of optical fibres 52, 53 in process of being aligned for mutual attachment of the adaptors by engagement of formations 20, 30 as described above. Figure 6 shows a resulting array of four such adaptors attached to one another. Figure 7 shows the use of an array of two such adaptors 10 according to this invention in an optical fibre splice tray 60 of known kind. Figure 8 shows in principle one form of friction- fit female (20) and male (30) attachment formations for use in adaptors for arrays of the present invention.
The adaptors for use in the arrays according to this invention may be produced using any convenient moulding or other techniques and materials, for example those used to make the known simplex adaptors.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. An array of adaptors for holding optical fibre connector parts, each adaptor having at least one attachment formation on a first one of its sides whereby a first one of the adaptors is attached to a support, and each adaptor having at least one co-operating attachment formation on an oppositely-facing second one of its sides, whereby the said first one of the adaptors is attached to adjacent similar adaptors in the array by engagement of their respective co-operating attachment formations.
2. An array according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the attachment formations are snap-fit or friction-fit attachment formations.
3. An array according to claim 1 or 2, having two of the attachment formations on its said first side and two of the attachment formations on its said second side.
4. An array according to any preceding claim, wherein the attachment formation(s) on the said first side are male and the attachment formation(s) on the said second side are female.
5. An array according to any preceding claim, wherein the said first one of the adaptors is secured to an optical fibre organiser tray by engagement of the attachment formation(s) of that adaptor with co-operating attachment formation(s) on the tray, and the other adaptors of the array are attached to the secured one.
6. An array according to any preceding claim, wherein the adaptors are simplex adaptors.
7. A simplex adaptor for use in array according to any preceding claim, the adaptor having the said attachment formations on its oppositely-facing sides.
PCT/GB2008/050787 2007-09-24 2008-09-05 Array of adaptors for optical connectors WO2009040564A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB0718604.2 2007-09-24
GB0718604A GB0718604D0 (en) 2007-09-24 2007-09-24 Adaption for optical connectors

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2009040564A1 true WO2009040564A1 (en) 2009-04-02

Family

ID=38670414

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB2008/050787 WO2009040564A1 (en) 2007-09-24 2008-09-05 Array of adaptors for optical connectors

Country Status (2)

Country Link
GB (1) GB0718604D0 (en)
WO (1) WO2009040564A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2845280A4 (en) * 2012-05-01 2016-06-08 3M Innovative Properties Co Cell tower enclosure
WO2017081295A1 (en) * 2015-11-13 2017-05-18 CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA Method and arrangements for stacking adapters

Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5946440A (en) * 1997-11-17 1999-08-31 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Optical fiber cable management device
EP1168018A2 (en) * 2000-06-23 2002-01-02 Molex Incorporated Fiber optic connector
EP1186921A2 (en) * 2000-09-06 2002-03-13 Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. Optical cable adapter or connector
WO2003087910A1 (en) * 2002-04-15 2003-10-23 SQS Vláknová optika a.s. Fiber optic connector set with firmly fixed ferrule and resilient adapter
US6986607B2 (en) * 2003-09-26 2006-01-17 Roth Richard F Protective covers for fiber optic connector to modular protective covers for fiber optic connector assembly
WO2006076062A2 (en) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-20 Adamant Kogyo Co., Ltd. Ultra-small, form factor single fiber optical interconnect system, with push-push type insertion/withdrawal mechanism and shuttered modular connector and shuttered adapter and method for using same

Patent Citations (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5946440A (en) * 1997-11-17 1999-08-31 Adc Telecommunications, Inc. Optical fiber cable management device
EP1168018A2 (en) * 2000-06-23 2002-01-02 Molex Incorporated Fiber optic connector
EP1186921A2 (en) * 2000-09-06 2002-03-13 Hirose Electric Co., Ltd. Optical cable adapter or connector
WO2003087910A1 (en) * 2002-04-15 2003-10-23 SQS Vláknová optika a.s. Fiber optic connector set with firmly fixed ferrule and resilient adapter
US6986607B2 (en) * 2003-09-26 2006-01-17 Roth Richard F Protective covers for fiber optic connector to modular protective covers for fiber optic connector assembly
WO2006076062A2 (en) * 2005-01-12 2006-07-20 Adamant Kogyo Co., Ltd. Ultra-small, form factor single fiber optical interconnect system, with push-push type insertion/withdrawal mechanism and shuttered modular connector and shuttered adapter and method for using same

Cited By (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP2845280A4 (en) * 2012-05-01 2016-06-08 3M Innovative Properties Co Cell tower enclosure
US9395506B2 (en) 2012-05-01 2016-07-19 3M Innovative Properties Company Cell tower enclosure
WO2017081295A1 (en) * 2015-11-13 2017-05-18 CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA Method and arrangements for stacking adapters
US10598867B2 (en) 2015-11-13 2020-03-24 CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA Method and arrangements for stacking adapters
US11187856B2 (en) 2015-11-13 2021-11-30 CommScope Connectivity Belgium BVBA Method and arrangements for stacking adapters

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB0718604D0 (en) 2007-10-31

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