Stackable adapter housing for opposing MT ferrules

This application claims priority to provisional U.S. Pat. Application 62/733,945 filed on Sep. 20, 2018, “Stackable Adapter Housing for Opposing MT Ferrules”, which is incorporated by reference into this application.

The present invention relates to fiber optic connectors and adapters, and more particularly, to fiber optic adapters and clip for mating opposing mechanical transfer ferrules.

Modern high capacity optical systems often utilize fiber optic ribbons for inter-system connection. As there are multiple connection points in an optical path, there are needs for mating two fiber optic ferrules or a ferrule to another connector. In the mating of two fiber optic ferrules or a ferrule and a connector, the mechanical and optical alignment is paramount. Slight misalignment can result in significant signal loss, especially in the case of ferrules and connectors for multi-fiber optic ribbons and cables. Therefore, there is a need for an adapter that can hold and secure two fiber optic ferrules or a ferrule and a connector in alignment with precision. The adapter design should also allow that installation of the ferrules and connectors that is easy enough for in-field assembly. Further, the adapter should be durable in design and/or material for repeated installations and uninstallations.

According to the present invention, a fiber optic adapter with a bottom portion and a top portion secures opposing MT ferrules. The MT ferrule adapter has a top and bottom portion. The bottom portion has a pair of legs that attached or secure the adapter to a PCB or printed circuit board. The top portion secures to pair of retention wings and convers the opposing MT ferrules. The top portion has a stopper or lip at one end to prevent inadvertent removal of a MT ferrule from the adapter housing.

The MT Ferrule Adapter top and bottom portion are configured to allowing stacking of adapters vertically to take advantage of unused space, while reducing PCB space needed.

Embodiments of the invention are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A depicts a fiber optic MT adapter with a plural of receptacles on either side each capable of accepting and securing a MT ferrule therein

FIG. 1B is an assembled view of a second embodiment of the MT ferrule adapter attached to a PCB;

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the MT ferrule adapter of FIG. 1B (PCB not shown);

FIGS. 3A-3F depict the assembly steps of a MT adapter secured to a PCB;

FIG. 4A depicts an assembled MT ferrule adapter of FIG. 1B secured to a PCB with dimensional units;

FIG. 4B depicts an assembled MT ferrule adapter of FIG. 1A secured to a PCB with dimensional units;

FIG. 5 depicts stacking of MT ferrule adapters;

FIG. 6 is a cross-section view of MT ferrule adapter ( 100 B).

In the following description, apparatuses for mating opposing multi-fiber MT optic connectors. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications, including additions and/or substitutions may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Specific details may be omitted so as not to obscure the invention; however, the disclosure is written to enable one skilled in the art to practice the teachings herein without undue experimentation.

FIG. 1A depicts MT Ferrule adapter ( 100 A) comprising a bottom portion ( 50 ), retention wings ( 51 a , 52 a ) for securing a top portion ( 10 ) to bottom portion, and to hold MT ferrules ( 31 , 32 ) oppose of each other. MT means mechanical transfer ferrule. Each wing ( 51 a , 52 a ) terminates in lip ( 51 a ′, 51 a ″ ( FIG. 2 ), 52 a ′, 52 a ″). When the retention wings are secured or attached to the bottom portion, opposing lips ( 52 a ′, 52 a ″) forms channel ( 55 ) ( FIG. 2 ) therebetween that holds a MT ferrule. A set of opposing pair of retention wings are formed or attached to the top portion along a longitudinal axis L-L′ of the adapter, as shown in FIG. 1A .

FIG. 1B depicts a second embodiment of MT Ferrule adapter ( 100 B) secured to PCB ( 60 ) via slot ( 61 a - 61 c ) formed within PCB ( 60 ).

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of MT Ferrule adapter ( 100 B) having a top portion ( 10 ) with a pair of clips ( 11 a , 11 b ) offset from one another. Top portion ( 10 ) has a stopper ( 70 ) that prevents MT ferrule ( 31 or 32 ) from being removed from adapter ( 100 B) along longitudinally L-L′. Stopper ( 70 ) is generally lip structure. A MT-MT clip further secures opposing MT ferrules within adapter ( 100 B). A pair of guide pins ( 42 a , 42 b ) align opposing MT ferrules ( 31 , 32 ). A bottom portion ( 50 ) or bottom cover ( 50 ) accepts MT ferrule ( 31 , 32 ) in a channel ( 55 ) formed by ferrule retention portions ( 53 a - 53 d ). A pair of flexible boot clips ( 54 a , 54 b ) are inserted into PCB slot 61 a to secure MT Ferrule adapter to PCB ( 60 ).

FIG. 3A depicts installing the bottom portion ( 50 ) as the first step in final assembly ( FIG. 1B ) of the MT Ferrule adapter ( 100 b ). Step 1 is inserting bottom portion ( 50 ) into slot 61 b . FIG. 3B depicts inserting first ferrule 32 into channel 55 a at Step 2 . FIG. 3C depicts second ferrule 31 is inserted in second channel 55 b . FIG. 3D depicts securing opposing MT ferrules with a MT-MT retention clip ( 20 ) at Step 4 . Clip ( 20 ) snaps or clips over each opposing MT ferrule to secured the opposing, mated MT ferrules ( 31 , 32 ) within their corresponding channel ( 55 a , 55 b ). The retention clip ( 20 ) has spring arms ( 21 a ), 21 ( d ) that engage the MT ferrules ( 31 , 32 ). FIG. 3E depicts installing upper portion ( 10 ) to lower bottom portion ( 50 ), which secures retention clip 20 at Step 5 . FIG. 3F is a MT Ferrule Adapter with opposing MT ferrules installed and secured onto PCB ( 60 ) as a final assembly at Step 6 .

FIG. 4A shows dimensional units of FIG. 3F . FIG. 4B shows dimensions of first embodiment ( FIG. 1A ) installed onto PCB ( 60 ). FIG. 5 depicts stopper ( 70 ) retaining MT Ferrule ( 31 or 32 ) within adapter housing to prevent removal. FIG. 6 is a cross-section of FIG. 5 , depicting clip wing clearance ( 11 a , 11 b ), and placement of MT Ferrule ( 21 ) with channel ( 55 a ). Wing clearance is about 0.50 mm. The stacking of MT Ferrule adapters ( 100 B) reduces space needed on PCB ( 60 ). The stacking is performed using a vertical side of ferrule adapter housing formed from upper portion ( 10 ) and bottom portion ( 50 ).

An ordinarily skilled person in the art can appreciate that by following the principal of the present invention, a version of the adapter for mating a multi-fiber optic ferrules connector with another multi-fiber optic ferrule connector can be derived without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Although the embodiments of the present invention described herein are related to multi-fiber optic applications, the present invention can be adapted to single fiber optic applications. Specific details may be omitted so as not to obscure the invention; however, the disclosure is written to enable one skilled in the art to practice the teachings herein without undue experimentation.

The foregoing description of the present invention has been provided for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to the practitioner skilled in the art.

The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, thereby enabling others skilled in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments and with various modifications that are suited to the particular use contemplated.