Optical connector assembly with a low profile

Details Optical connector assembly with a low profile Optical connector assembly with a low profile

2002-12-10

2004-10-05

Prasad, Chandrika (Department: 2839)

Optical waveguides

With disengagable mechanical connector

Structure surrounding optical fiber-to-fiber connection

C385S055000

Reexamination Certificate

active

06799898

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an LC-type optical connector assembly, and particularly to a low profile LC-type optical connector assembly.
2. Description of Related Art
Optical fiber connectors are widely used in optical communication systems to join optical fibers together to form a longer length fiber run, or to connect an optical fiber to a device. An SFF (Small Form Factor) and an SFP (Small Form-factor Pluggable) standard were introduced into the industry to meet a demand for high-density communication ports. An LC-type optical connector is a kind of SFF standard optical connector which can be used to connect with an SFF or an SFP transceiver.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a traditional LC-type optical connector assembly
1
comprises two optical connectors
10
and a combiner
13
holding the optical connectors
10
together. Each optical connector
10
further comprises a connector body
11
, an optical fiber (not labeled) retained in the connector body
11
and a latching arm
12
adapted to latch the connector body
11
with one of two receptacles (not shown) of a transceiver (not shown). The latching arm
12
further comprises a free distal end
122
and a fixed end
121
on an outer surface (not labeled) of the connector body
11
. The distal end
122
of the latching arm
12
extends slantways from the fixed end
121
.
Referring also to
FIG. 2
, the combiner
13
comprises a main body
131
and a cantilevered trigger arm
132
. The main body
131
further defines two cylindrical openings (not labeled) for receiving two optical connectors
10
therein. The trigger arm
132
includes a fixed end (not labeled) on the main body
131
and a free end (not labeled) extending slantways from the fixed end of the trigger arm
132
. In assembly, the combiner
13
holds the optical connectors
10
in the openings, respectively. The free end of the trigger arm
132
overlies the distal ends
122
of the latching arms
12
on the optical connectors
10
. Thus, the connector assembly
1
fixes two optical fibers together, and the connector assembly
1
can be used to connect with a transceiver (not shown) for transmitting and receiving optical signals at the same time.
However, the latching arm
12
extends slantways from the connector body
11
at a relatively high angle, which results in a large height of the connector assembly
1
. Furthermore, the free end of the trigger arm
132
overlies the distal end
122
of the latching arm
12
, which further increases the height of the connector assembly
1
. This kind of high profile connector assembly is not suitable to connect with a transceiver in a device having high-density communication ports.
Therefore, an improved optical connector assembly is required to overcome the disadvantage described above.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a low profile optical connector assembly.
In order to achieve the object set forth, an optical connector assembly comprises two optical connectors and a combiner. Each optical connector comprises a connector body and an angled latching arm formed on the connector body. The latching arm further comprises a fixed end on the connector body and a free distal end, and a groove is defined on the distal end. The combiner comprises a combiner body holding the optical connectors and a cantilevered trigger arm. The trigger arm comprises a fixed end on the combiner body and a free distal end. A rod is formed on the distal end of the trigger arm, and is received in the grooves of the latching arms.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


REFERENCES:
patent: 6017153 (2000-01-01), Carlisle et al.
patent: 6024498 (2000-02-01), Carlisle et al.
patent: 6116938 (2000-09-01), Myer et al.
patent: 6287018 (2001-09-01), Andrews et al.
patent: 6318903 (2001-11-01), Andrews et al.

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