Device for providing enhanced optical fiber ferrule form factor connectivity and / or minimization

Abstract

A device for providing enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or form factor minimization. The device may include an optical fiber connector sub-assembly that may include a stepped ferrule portion configured to engage with a ferrule receiving portion so as to provide push-pull engagement and / or push-pull disengagement connectivity. The optical fiber connector sub-assembly may configured to provide the enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or minimization by structurally configuring an outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly so as to permit the optical fiber connector sub-assembly to be deployed through a duct or conduit having an inside diameter of 2.5 mm operation.

Description

DEVICE FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED OPTICAL FIBER FERRULE FORM FACTOR CONNECTIVITY AND / OR MINIMIZATIONCROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION[OOOIJThis application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 740,483, filed on December 31 , 2024, which is currently pending, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.BACKGROUND

[0002] The present disclosure relates to device for providing enhanced optical fiber ferrule form factor connectivity and / or minimization, and more particularly, to a device, such as an pushable optical fiber connector, that is configured to provide a stepped form factor ferrule sub-assembly so as to be deployed or fit with at least partially certain small form factor connectivity configurations.

[0003] The mechanical tolerances involved in terminating single mode optical fiber are much tighter than those for multimode optical fiber. Therefore, while it is quite common for multimode optical fiber to be terminated at the point of use, for example, at a user's premises or at an outside junction box, in most product applications, single mode optical fiber is not terminated in the field. When single mode fiber must be terminated in the field, then it can take a skilled technician between about 15 to 20 minutes to splice fibers together either by using a V-groove clamp or expensive fusion welding equipment.

[0004] Single mode fiber is therefore often provided in a range of different lengths, preterminated at both ends with a connector plug ready to plug into a matching receptacle. Commonly, eight or twelve single mode optical fibers may be bundled together in an optical fiber cable having an outer protective tube inside of which the optical fibers run.

[0005] An example of such a connector is the "Subscriber Connector," or SC connector, originally developed by NTT®. SC connectors have convenient push / pull style mating, and are approximately square in cross-section and with a 2.5 mm diameter ferrule at the termination of the optical fiber, surrounded by a plastic housing for protection. SC connectors are available in single or duplex configurations. The SC connector latches into a matching socket in a simple push motion. The push-pull design includes a spring against which the ferrule slides within a plastic inner housing. This arrangementprovides a reliable contact pressure at the ferrule end and resists fiber end face contact damage of the optical fiber during connection. The connector can be quickly disconnected by first pulling back an outer housing, which is slidable relative to the inner housing, to disengage a latch inside socket between the socket and the inner housing, before pulling the optical fiber connector from the socket. Until the latch is thus disengaged, the latch prevents withdrawal of the connector when the optical fiber cable is pulled in a direction away from the socket.

[0006] Another example of a push / pull type connectors is an LC (Lucent Connector) connectors. LC connectors are also known as small form factor connectors, by virtue of having a 1 .5 mm diameter ferrule and a connector sub-assembly that is smaller (e.g., has a smaller cross-sectional profile) than that of an SC connector. As a result, a fiber optic cable terminated with an LC connector sub-assembly can be pushed through a duct or conduit having a smaller inside diameter than could a fiber optic cable terminated with an SC connector sub-assembly.

[0007] It may be desirable to provide a pushable fiber optic connector having a stepped ferrule that is structurally configured to minimize the size of a connector sub-assembly so as to provide enhanced deployment. For example, such a fiber optic connector has a connector sub-subassembly with a smaller cross-sectional profile and can thus be pushed through duct or conduct have a smaller inside diameter due to the smaller cross-sectional profile.SUMMARY

[0008] In accordance with various aspects of the disclosure, a Subscriber Connection (SC) fiber optic connector may include a connector sub-assembly, which may include a stepped ferrule portion comprising a forward ferrule portion and rear ferrule portion, wherein the forward ferrule portion comprises an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion, a ferrule holder portion structurally configured to hold the rear ferrule portion of the stepped ferrule portion, and a ferrule holder receiving portion configured to receive the ferrule holder portion. An inner housing portion may be structurally configured to be fixedly connected to the ferrule holder receiving portion, and an outer housing portion may be structurally configured to be coupled with the inner housing portion in a push / pull engagement / disengagement configuration. The forward ferrule portion may have a 2.5mm outside diameter, and the stepped ferrule portion is structurally configured tominimize the size of the connector sub-assembly so as to provide enhanced deployment.

[0009] According to various aspects of the disclosure, a device for providing enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity minimization, includes: an optical fiber connector sub-assembly including: a stepped ferrule portion comprising a forward ferrule portion and a rear ferrule portion, wherein the forward ferrule portion comprises an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion; a ferrule holder portion that may be configured to hold the rear ferrule portion of the stepped ferrule portion; a ferrule holder receiving portion that may be configured to receive the ferrule holder portion; and a biasing portion that may be configured to be disposed in the ferrule holder receiving portion. The ferrule holder receiving portion may comprise an inner housing portion and an outer housing portion that may be configured to be coupled with one another so as to provide push-pull engagement and / or push-pull disengagement connectivity; the biasing portion may be configured to bias the inner housing portion in a direction away from the outer housing portion during operation; the optical fiber connector sub-assembly may comprise an Subscriber Connection (SC) outer housing that may be configured to connect to an SC port during operation; and the optical fiber connector sub-assembly may be configured to provide enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or minimization by structurally configuring an outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly so as to permit the optical fiber connector subassembly to be deployed through a duct or conduit having an inside diameter of 2.5 mm operation.

[0010] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion may be configured to be no greater than 2.5mm and greater than 1.25 mm.

[0011] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the biasing portion may be configured to exert a biasing force toward the inner housing portion at a first end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the inner housing portion away from the outer housing portion, and may be configured to exert a biasing force toward the outer housing portion at a second end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the outer housing portion away from the inner housing portion.

[0012] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the ferrule holder portion may comprise a cylindrical stem portion that may be structurally configured to receive an optical fiber through a longitudinal bore of the cylindrical stem, and the biasing portion may be structurally configured to receive the cylindrical stem through a central portion of the biasing portion.

[0013] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the inner housing portion may comprise a rear ferrule portion receiving portion at a forward end portion of the inner housing portion, and an inside diameter of the rear ferrule portion receiving portion may be configured to receive the rear ferrule portion.

[0014] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the stepped ferrule portion may comprise a stepped portion that may be configured to delineate the forward ferrule portion and the rear ferrule portion so as to permit use of the ferrule in the optical fiber connector subassembly having the outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly.

[0015] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the biasing portion may be configured to contact the inner housing portion at a first end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the inner housing portion away from the outer housing portion, and may be configured to contact the outer housing portion at a second end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the outer housing portion away from the inner housing portion.

[0016] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the connector sub-assembly may be istructurally configured to terminate a pushable 2.2mm Miniflex® cable.

[0017] According to various aspects of the disclosure, a device for providing enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or form factor minimization, includes: an optical fiber connector sub-assembly comprising: a stepped ferrule portion comprising a forward ferrule portion and a rear ferrule portion, wherein the forward ferrule portion may comprise an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion; and a ferrule holder receiving portion may be configured to receive a ferrule holder portion. The ferrule holder receiving portion may comprise a first housing portion and a second housing portion that may be configured to be coupled with one another so as to provide push-pull engagement and / or push-pull disengagement connectivity; and the optical fiberconnector sub-assembly may be configured to provide enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or minimization by structurally configuring an outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly so as to permit the optical fiber connector sub-assembly to be deployed through a duct or conduit having an inside diameter of 2.5 mm operation.

[0018] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, a ferrule holder portion may be configured to hold the rear ferrule portion of the stepped ferrule portion.

[0019] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, a biasing portion may be configured to bias the second housing portion in a direction away from the first housing portion during operation.

[0020] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the biasing portion may be configured to exert a biasing force toward the second housing portion at a first end of the biasing portion so as to bias the second housing portion away from the first housing portion during operation, and may be configured to exert a biasing force toward the first housing portion as a second end of the biasing portion so as to bias the first housing portion away from the second housing portion during operation.

[0021] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the biasing portion may be configured to contact the second housing portion at a first end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the second housing portion away from the first housing portion, and may be configured to contact the first housing portion at a second end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the first housing portion away from the second housing portion.

[0022] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the second housing portion may comprise a rear ferrule portion receiving portion at a forward end portion of the second housing portion, and an inside diameter of the rear ferrule portion receiving portion may be configured to receive the rear ferrule portion.

[0023] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the stepped ferrule portion may comprise a stepped portion that may be configured to delineate the forward ferrule portion and the rear ferrule portion so as to permit use of the ferrule in the optical fiber connector subassembly having the outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly.

[0024] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the optical fiber connector sub-assembly may comprise a Subscriber Connection (SC) outer housing that may be configured to connect to an SC port during operation.

[0025] According to various aspects of the disclosure, a device for providing enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or form factor minimization, including: an optical fiber connector sub-assembly comprising a stepped ferrule portion that may be configured to engage with a ferrule receiving portion so as to provide push-pull engagement and / or push-pull disengagement connectivity; and the optical fiber connector sub-assembly may be configured to provide enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or minimization by structurally configuring an outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly so as to permit the optical fiber connector sub-assembly to be deployed through a duct or conduit having an inside diameter of 2.5 mm operation.

[0026] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the ferrule receiving portion may comprise a first housing portion and a second housing portion may be configured to be coupled with one another so as to provide the push-pull engagement and / or push-pull disengagement connectivity, and the stepped ferrule portion may comprise a forward ferrule portion and a rear ferrule portion, wherein the forward ferrule portion may comprise an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion.

[0027] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the optical fiber connector sub-assembly may further comprise a ferrule holder portion that may be configured to hold a rear ferrule portion of the stepped ferrule portion.

[0028] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the optical fiber connector sub-assembly may further comprise a biasing portion that may be structurally configured to bias the second housing portion in a direction away from the first housing portion during operation.

[0029] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the biasing portion may be configured to exert a biasing force toward the second housing portion at a first end of the biasing portion so as to bias the second housing portion away from the first housing portion, and may be configured to exert a biasing force toward the first housing portion at a second end of the biasing portion so as to bias the first housing portion away from the second housing portion.

[0030] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the biasing portion may be configured to contact the second housing portion at a first end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the second housing portion away from the first housing portion, and may be configured to contact the first housing portion at a second end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the first housing portion away from the second housing portion.

[0031] In some embodiments of any of the aforementioned devices, the optical fiber connector sub-assembly may comprise an Subscriber Connection (SC) outer housing that may be configured to connect to an SC port during operation.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Embodiments of the invention will now be further described, by way of example only, and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0033] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary SC connector in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure;

[0034] FIG. 2 is a side view of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of FIG. 1 ;

[0035] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the SC connector of FIG. 1 when assembled;

[0036] FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary LC connector;

[0037] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of the exemplary LC connector of FIG. 4;

[0038] FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of FIG. 5;

[0039] FIG. 7 is a top cross-sectional view of the LC connector of FIG. 4;

[0040] FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of FIG. 5 when articulated;

[0041] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary SC connector in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure;

[0042] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly of the exemplary SC connector of FIG. 9;

[0043] FIG. 11 is an side cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector subassembly of FIG. 10; and

[0044] FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the optical fiber connector subassembly of FIG. 10 when articulated.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0045] FIGS. 4-8 illustrate an exemplary LC connector 100 and FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an exemplary SC connector 900. Such LC connector 100 and SC connector 900 are described in detail to provide background regarding this disclosure.

[0046] FIGS. 4-8 illustrate an exemplary LC connector 100, including an optical fiber connector sub-assembly 160 and a conventional housing 120 that provides LC-style push / pull engagement / disengagement with a mating optical fiber socket (not shown). The housing 120 is connected with the optical fiber connector sub-assembly 160 in a manner known to persons skilled in the art. The LC connector 100 is configured to be coupled with an optical fiber cable 102, which holds an optical fiber 8, for example, a single strand of 125pm diameter single mode optical fiber, protected by primary and secondary buffering layers 10, about 900 pm in diameter, and an outer sheath 12, typically 3 mm to 5 mm in diameter (see FIG. 2).

[0047] The optical fiber connector sub-assembly 160 includes a cylindrical ceramic ferrule 114, a ferrule holder 116 in which the ferrule 114 is seated, a helical spring 117, and a two-part ferrule holder receiving portion 176. The optical fiber 8 is terminated by the ferrule in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art, and defines a ferrule axis 105 that extends centrally through the LC connector 100. The ferrule holder receiving portion 176 includes an inner sleeve 150 and an outer sleeve 152. The inner sleeve 150 and the outer sleeve 152 are coupled to one another and slidable relative to one another along the ferrule axis 105 of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly 160.

[0048] Further, the inner sleeve 150 and the outer sleeve 152 are coupled to one another to permit articulation relative to one another, as described hereinbelow. Referring to FIG. 6, the inner sleeve 150 includes a plurality of fingers 154 formed on the inner sleeve and extending in the longitudinal direction. The fingers 154 are arranged diametrically opposite to one another and are resilient to allow inward and outward flexion in a radial direction relative to the ferrule axis 105. Although the illustrated embodiment includes two fingers 154, it should be appreciated that three or more fingers can be provided. Each of the fingers 154 includes a tab 158 that extends radially outward from a forward end 162 of the respective finger 154.

[0049] The outer sleeve 152 includes two slots 156 that are arranged diametrically opposite to one another. The slots 156 may be openings that are cut out from theouter sleeve 152. Each of the slots 156 is configured to receive one of the tabs 158 of the fingers 154. The fingers 154 may be resilient such that the tabs 158 may bend radially inward when being inserted into the slots 156 and return toward their unstressed configured after being inserted into the slots 156. As illustrated, the length of the slots 156 in a longitudinal direction parallel to the ferrule axis 105 is greater than a dimension of the tabs 158 in the longitudinal direction.

[0050] The ferrule holder 116 has a cylindrical stem 122 which extends in an axial direction away from the ferrule 114 toward the inner sleeve 150. The inner sleeve 150 includes a crimp portion 136 at its rearward end 138, which crimp portion 136 is used to make a crimp connection around the optical fiber cable 102. The spring 117 is seated around the stem 122 between a rearward-facing annular shoulder 124 on the outer sleeve 152 and a forward-facing annular surface 153 within a cylindrical recess 154 of the inner sleeve 150. The stem 120 is slidably seated in recess 154 of the inner sleeve 150.

[0051] The aforementioned arrangement permits a degree of relative axial movement between the inner sleeve 150 and the outer sleeve 152 and ferrule holder 116. The relative axial movement is limited in one axial direction by engagement of a rearwardfacing surface 159 of one or more of the tabs 158 with a forward-facing surface 157 of a rear wall 166 of the respective slot 156 and in the other axial direction by the contact of the outer sleeve 152 with an annular stop ring 165 extending radially outward from the outer surface of the inner sleeve 150.

[0052] The aforementioned arrangement also permits a degree of relative articulation between the inner sleeve 150 and the outer sleeve 152 and ferrule holder 116, as illustrated in FIG. 8. That is, after the tabs 158 are received by the slots 156, the inner sleeve 150 and the outer sleeve 152 and ferrule holder 116 can articulate relative to one another in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction that are perpendicular to each other and to the optical fiber axis 105 because the longitudinal dimension of the tabs 158 is less than the longitudinal dimension of the slots 156.

[0053] For example, when a load L is applied to the ferrule holder receiving portion 176 in a direction transverse to the ferrule axis and adjacent to one of the tabs 158, the tab 158 and the forward-facing surface 157 of the respective slot 156 adjacent to the load L will be urged in a direction T toward one another, and the diametrically opposed tab 158 and forward-facing surface 157 of the respective slot 156 will beurged in a direction A away from one another. The load L can thus result in an articulation angle a, as illustrated in FIG. 8. On the other hand, when a load is applied to the ferrule holder receiving portion 176 at a location between the two tabs 158, the circumferential ends of the tabs 158 that are nearest to the load and their respective forward -facing surfaces 157 will be urged toward one another, and the opposite circumferential ends of the tabs 158 and their respective forward -facing surfaces 157 will be urged away from one another. As a result of this articulation, the two-part ferrule holder receiving portion 176 isolates a front end 190 of the connector 100 from a rear end 192 of the connector 100 so that the ferrule 114 is isolated from movement due to bending at the rear end 192 of the connector 100. Thus, the connector 100 is capable of transmitting a better signal when weight is applied to the rear end 192 of the connector 101 that causes bending of the rear end 192.

[0054] Further, the tabs 158 and the slots 156 are configured such that the inner sleeve 150 and the outer sleeve 152 are rotatably fixed to one another (i.e., are not rotatable relative to one another) when the tabs 158 are inserted into the slots 156. The ferrule holder receiving portion 176 may also include one or more longitudinal structures (not shown) along the length of its outer surface that are keyed to mating structures (not shown) on an inner surface of the housing 120 to prevent the ferrule holder receiving portion 176 from rotating relative to the housing 120.

[0055] The ferrule holder carrier 150 has a central aperture (not shown) through which the optical fiber 8 and buffering 110 pass and has in a rear-most portion the crimp portion 136 configured to receive and be crimped to the cable sheathing 12. In some aspects, a strain-relief sleeve (not shown), for example, a boot, may be provided around the junction of the optical fiber cable 102 and the ferrule housing sub-assembly 104. The optical fiber 108 is therefore terminated in the optical fiber connector subassembly 160. The resulting optical fiber connector sub-assembly 160 is therefore mechanically whole or integral, both as regards the components forming the subassembly and as regards the mechanical connection of the sub-assembly to the optical fiber cable 102.

[0056] FIGS. 9-12 illustrate an exemplary SC connector 900 including an optical fiber connector sub-assembly 960 and a conventional inner housing 920 and a conventional outer housing 940 that provides SC-style push / pull engagement / disengagement with a mating optical fiber socket (not shown). The inner housing 920 is connected withthe optical fiber connector sub-assembly 960 in a manner known to persons skilled in the art. The SC connector 900 is configured to be coupled with an optical fiber cable, which holds an optical fiber 8, for example, a single strand of 125pm diameter single mode optical fiber, protected by primary and secondary buffering layers 10, about 900 pm in diameter, and an outer sheath 12, typically 3 mm to 5 mm in diameter.

[0057] The optical fiber connector sub-assembly 960 includes a cylindrical ceramic ferrule 914, a ferrule holder 916 in which the ferrule 914 is seated, a helical spring 917, and a two-part ferrule holder receiving portion 976. The optical fiber 8 is terminated by the ferrule in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art and defines a ferrule axis 905 that extends centrally through the SC connector 900. The ferrule holder receiving portion 976 includes an inner sleeve 950 and an outer sleeve 952. The inner sleeve 950 and the outer sleeve 952 are coupled to one another and slidable relative to one another along the ferrule axis 905 of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly 960.

[0058] Further, the inner sleeve 950 and the outer sleeve 952 are coupled to one another to permit articulation relative to one another, as described hereinbelow. The inner sleeve 950 includes a plurality of fingers 954 formed on the inner sleeve 950 and extending in the longitudinal direction. The fingers 954 are arranged diametrically opposite to one another and are resilient to allow inward and outward flexion in a radial direction relative to the ferrule axis 905. Although the illustrated embodiment includes two fingers 954, it should be appreciated that three or more fingers can be provided. Each of the fingers 954 includes a tab 958 that extends radially outward from a forward end 962 of the respective finger 954.

[0059] The outer sleeve 952 includes two slots 956 that are arranged diametrically opposite to one another. The slots 956 may be openings that are cut out from the outer sleeve 952. Each of the slots 956 is configured to receive one of the tabs 958 of the fingers 954. The fingers 954 may be resilient such that the tabs 958 may bend radially inward when being inserted into the slots 956 and return toward their unstressed configured after being inserted into the slots 956. As illustrated, the length of the slots 956 in a longitudinal direction parallel to the ferrule axis 905 is greater than a dimension of the tabs 958 in the longitudinal direction.

[0060] The ferrule holder 916 has a cylindrical stem 922 which extends in an axial direction away from the ferrule 914 toward the inner sleeve 950. The inner sleeve 950includes a crimp portion 936 at its rearward end 938, which crimp portion 936 is used to make a crimp connection around the optical fiber cable. The spring 917 is seated around the stem 922 between a rearward-facing annular shoulder 924 on the outer sleeve 952 and a forward -facing annular surface 952 within a cylindrical recess 954 of the inner sleeve 950. The stem 920 is slidably seated in recess 954 of the inner sleeve 950.

[0061] The aforementioned arrangement permits a degree of relative axial movement between the inner sleeve 950 and the outer sleeve 952 and ferrule holder 916. The relative axial movement is limited in one axial direction by engagement of a rearwardfacing surface 959 of one or more of the tabs 958 with a forward-facing surface 957 of a rear wall 966 of the respective slot 956 and in the other axial direction by the contact of the outer sleeve 952 with an annular stop ring 965 extending radially outward from the outer surface of the inner sleeve 950.

[0062] The aforementioned arrangement also permits a degree of relative articulation between the inner sleeve 950 and the outer sleeve 952 and ferrule holder 916, as illustrated in FIG. 12. That is, after the tabs 958 are received by the slots 956, the inner sleeve 950 and the outer sleeve 952 and ferrule holder 916 can articulate relative to one another in an X-axis direction and a Y-axis direction that are perpendicular to each other and to the optical fiber axis 905 because the longitudinal dimension of the tabs 958 is less than the longitudinal dimension of the slots 956.

[0063] For example, when a load L is applied to the ferrule holder receiving portion 976 in a direction transverse to the ferrule axis and adjacent to one of the tabs 958, the tab 958 and the forward-facing surface 957 of the respective slot 956 adjacent to the load L will be urged in a direction T toward one another, and the diametrically opposed tab 958 and forward-facing surface 957 of the respective slot 956 will be urged in a direction A away from one another. The load L can thus result in an articulation angle a, as illustrated in FIG. 12. On the other hand, when a load is applied to the ferrule holder receiving portion 976 at a location between the two tabs 958, the circumferential ends of the tabs 958 that are nearest to the load and their respective forward-facing surfaces 957 will be urged toward one another, and the opposite circumferential ends of the tabs 958 and their respective forward-facing surfaces 957 will be urged away from one another. As a result of this articulation, the two-part ferrule holder receiving portion 976 isolates a front end 990 of the connector 900 from a rearend 992 of the connector 900 so that the ferrule 914 is isolated from movement due to bending at the rear end 992 of the connector 900. Thus, the connector 900 is capable of transmitting a better signal when weight is applied to the rear end 992 of the connector 901 that causes bending of the rear end 992.

[0064] Further, the tabs 958 and the slots 956 are configured such that the inner sleeve 950 and the outer sleeve 952 are rotatably fixed to one another (i.e . , are not rotatable relative to one another) when the tabs 958 are inserted into the slots 956. The ferrule holder receiving portion 976 may also include one or more longitudinal structures (not shown) along the length of its outer surface that are keyed to mating structures (not shown) on an inner surface of the inner housing 920 to prevent the ferrule holder receiving portion 976 from rotating relative to the inner housing 920.

[0065] The ferrule holder carrier 950 has a central aperture (not shown) through which the optical fiber 8 and buffering 10 pass, and has in a rear-most portion the crimp portion 936 configured to receive and be crimped to the cable sheathing 12. In some aspects, a strain-relief sleeve (not shown), for example, a boot, may be provided around the junction of the optical fiber cable and the ferrule housing sub-assembly 904. The optical fiber 8 is therefore terminated in the optical fiber connector sub-assembly 960. The resulting optical fiber connector sub-assembly 960 is therefore mechanically whole or integral, both as regards the components forming the sub-assembly and as regards the mechanical connection of the sub-assembly to the optical fiber cable.

[0066] It should be appreciated that the inner sleeve 150, 950 and the outer sleeve 152, 952 may be constructed of a metal in some preferred embodiments. However, this invention is not intended to be limited to any particular material of the inner sleeve 150, 950 and the outer sleeve 152, 952.

[0067] Referring now to FIGS. 1-3, an exemplary SC connector 500 in accordance with various aspects of the disclosure is illustrated and described. The SC connector 500 may be referred to as a “nano SC connector” in view of the minimized size of its connector sub-assembly 560.

[0068] FIGS. 1-3 illustrate an exemplary SC connector 500, including an optical fiber connector sub-assembly 560 and a conventional inner housing portion 520 and a conventional outer housing portion 540 that are configured to provide SC-style push / pull engagement / disengagement with a mating optical fiber socket (not shown). The inner housing portion 520 is connected with the optical fiber connector sub-assembly 560 in a manner known to persons skilled in the art. The SC connector 500 is configured to be coupled with an optical fiber cable 502, which holds an optical fiber 8, for example, a single strand of 125pm diameter single mode optical fiber, protected by primary and secondary buffering layers 10, about 900 pm in diameter, and an outer jacket 12.

[0069] The optical fiber connector sub-assembly 560 includes a cylindrical ceramic ferrule 514, a ferrule holder 516 in which the ferrule 514 is seated, a biasing portion, for example, a helical spring 517, and a two-part ferrule holder receiving portion 576. As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the ferrule 514 comprises a stepped ferrule having a forward ferrule portion 5141 , a rear ferrule portion 5142, and stepped portion 5143 that delineates the forward ferrule portion 5141 and the rear ferrule portion 5142. The forward ferrule portion 5141 has a larger outside diameter than the rear ferrule portion 5142. For example, the forward ferrule portion 5141 has a 2.5mm outside diameter, which is the diameter of a conventional SC ferrule, and the rear ferrule portion 5142 has an outside diameter that is less than 2.5mm but greater than 1 ,25mm, which is the diameter of a conventional LC ferrule. In the embodiments shown, the ferrule 514 has an end surface at the forward ferrule portion 5141 that is perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ferrule 514. In other embodiments, ferrule 514 has an end surface at the forward ferrule portion 5141 that is not perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the ferrule 514.

[0070] The optical fiber 8 is terminated by the ferrule 514 in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art and defines a ferrule axis 505 that extends centrally through the SC connector 500. The ferrule holder receiving portion 576 includes a first housing portion, for example an outer housing portion or an outer sleeve, 552 and a second housing portion, for example an inner housing portion or an inner sleeve, 550. Comparing the outer sleeve 552 to the outer sleeve 152 of LC connector 110, a forward end portion 553 has larger inner and outside diameters than a forward end portion 153 of the LC connector. As shown, an outside diameter of the forward end portion 553 may be sized to be slightly greater than the diameter of the forward ferrule portion 5141 , and an inside diameter of a rear ferrule portion receiving portion at the forward end portion 553 is sized to minimize the reduction in the diameter of the rear ferrule portion 5142.

[0071] The stepped ferrule 514 thus provides an SC sized ferrule that can be received in a ferrule holder receiving portion 576 that is sized similar (e.g., has a similar cross-sectional profile) to the LC ferrule holder receiving portion 176, which is smaller than the SC ferrule holder receiving portion 976 because the SC ferrule holder receiving portion 976 is sized to receive a ferrule having a 2.5mm outside diameter along its entire length. As a result, the connector sub-assembly 560 can be used to terminate a fiber cable having a smaller outside diameter than the connector sub-assembly 960. For example, the SC connector sub-assembly 960 is typically used with a fiber cable having a 4.5mm outside diameter, whereas the connector sub-assembly 560 is structurally configured to terminate a fiber cable having a 3.0mm outside diameter, for example, a pushable 2.2mm Miniflex® cable.

[0072] The inner sleeve 550 and the outer sleeve 552 are coupled to one another and slidable relative to one another along the ferrule axis 505 of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly 560. Further, the inner sleeve 550 and the outer sleeve 552 are coupled to one another to permit articulation relative to one another, as described in detail above. The aforementioned arrangement permits a degree of relative axial movement between the inner sleeve 550 and the outer sleeve 552 and ferrule holder 516 and a degree of relative articulation between the inner sleeve 550 and the outer sleeve 552 and ferrule holder 516, as described in detail above.

[0073] The ferrule holder carrier 550 has a central aperture through which the optical fiber 8 and buffering 10 pass and has in a rear-most portion a crimp portion 536 configured to receive and be crimped to the cable sheathing 12. In some aspects, a strain-relief portion 555, for example, a boot, may be provided around the junction of the optical fiber cable 502 and the ferrule housing sub-assembly. The optical fiber 8 is therefore terminated in the optical fiber connector sub-assembly 560. The resulting optical fiber connector sub-assembly 560 is therefore mechanically whole or integral, both as regards the components forming the sub-assembly and as regards the mechanical connection of the sub-assembly to the optical fiber cable 502.

[0074] Additional embodiments include any one of the embodiments described above, where one or more of its components, functionalities or structures is interchanged with, replaced by or augmented by one or more of the components, functionalities, or structures of a different embodiment described above.

[0075] It should be understood that various changes and modifications to the embodiments described herein will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Such changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present disclosure and without diminishing its intended advantages. It is therefore intended that such changes and modifications be covered by the appended claims.

[0076] Although several embodiments of the disclosure have been disclosed in the foregoing specification, it is understood by those skilled in the art that many modifications and other embodiments of the disclosure will come to mind to which the disclosure pertains, having the benefit of the teaching presented in the foregoing description and associated drawings. It is thus understood that the disclosure is not limited to the specific embodiments disclosed herein above, and that many modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, although specific terms are employed herein, as well as in the claims which follow, they are used only in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for the purposes of limiting the present disclosure, nor the claims which follow.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A device for providing enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity minimization, comprising:an optical fiber connector sub-assembly comprising:a stepped ferrule portion comprising a forward ferrule portion and a rear ferrule portion, wherein the forward ferrule portion comprises an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion;a ferrule holder portion configured to hold the rear ferrule portion of the stepped ferrule portion;a ferrule holder receiving portion configured to receive the ferrule holder portion;a biasing portion configured to be disposed in the ferrule holder receiving portion;wherein the ferrule holder receiving portion comprises an inner housing portion and an outer housing portion configured to be coupled with one another so as to provide push-pull engagement and / or push- pull disengagement connectivity;wherein the biasing portion is configured to bias the inner housing portion in a direction away from the outer housing portion during operation;wherein the optical fiber connector sub-assembly comprises an Subscriber Connection (SC) outer housing configured to connect to an SC port during operation; andwherein optical the fiber connector sub-assembly is configured to provide enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or minimization by structurally configuring an outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly so as to permit the optical fiber connector subassembly to be deployed through a duct or conduit having an inside diameter of 2.5 mm operation.

2. The device of claim 1 , wherein the outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion is configured to be no greater than 2.5mm and greater than 1.25 mm.

3. The device of any of the preceding claims, wherein the biasing portion is configured to exert a biasing force toward the inner housing portion at a first end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the inner housing portion away from the outer housing portion, and is configured to exert a biasing force toward the outer housing portion at a second end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the outer housing portion away from the inner housing portion.

4. The device of any of claims 1 -2, wherein the ferrule holder portion comprises a cylindrical stem portion structurally configured to receive an optical fiber through a longitudinal bore of the cylindrical stem, and the biasing portion is structurally configured to receive the cylindrical stem through a central portion of the biasing portion.

5. The device of any of claims 1 -2, wherein the inner housing portion comprises a rear ferrule portion receiving portion at a forward end portion of the inner housing portion, and an inside diameter of the rear ferrule portion receiving portion is configured to receive the rear ferrule portion.

6. The device of any of claims 1 -2, wherein the stepped ferrule portion comprises a stepped portion that is configured to delineate the forward ferrule portion and the rear ferrule portion so as to permit use of the ferrule in the optical fiber connector subassembly having the outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly.

7. The device of any of claims 1-2, wherein the biasing portion is configured to contact the inner housing portion at a first end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the inner housing portion away from the outer housing portion, and is configured to contact the outer housing portion at asecond end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the outer housing portion away from the inner housing portion.

8. The device of any of claims 1-2, wherein the connector sub-assembly is structurally configured to terminate a pushable 2.2mm Miniflex® cable.

9. A device for providing enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or form factor minimization, comprising:an optical fiber connector sub-assembly comprising:a stepped ferrule portion comprising a forward ferrule portion and a rear ferrule portion, wherein the forward ferrule portion comprises an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion; anda ferrule holder receiving portion configured to receive a ferrule holder portion;wherein the ferrule holder receiving portion comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion configured to be coupled with one another so as to provide push-pull engagement and / or push- pull disengagement connectivity; andwherein the optical fiber connector sub-assembly is configured to provide enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or minimization by structurally configuring an outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly so as to permit the optical fiber connector subassembly to be deployed through a duct or conduit having an inside diameter of 2.5 mm operation.

10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a ferrule holder portion configured to hold the rear ferrule portion of the stepped ferrule portion.

11. The device of any of claims 9-10, further comprising a biasing portion that is configured to bias the second housing portion in a direction away from the first housing portion during operation.

12. The device of claim 11 , wherein the biasing portion is configured to exert a biasing force toward the second housing portion at a first end of the biasing portion so as to bias the second housing portion away from the first housing portion during operation, and is configured to exert a biasing force toward the first housing portion as a second end of the biasing portion so as to bias the first housing portion away from the second housing portion during operation.

13. The device of claim 11 , wherein the biasing portion is configured to contact the second housing portion at a first end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the second housing portion away from the first housing portion, and is configured to contact the first housing portion at a second end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the first housing portion away from the second housing portion.

14. The device of any of claim 10, wherein the second housing portion comprises a rear ferrule portion receiving portion at a forward end portion of the second housing portion, and an inside diameter of the rear ferrule portion receiving portion is configured to receive the rear ferrule portion.

15. The device of any of claims 9-10, wherein the stepped ferrule portion comprises a stepped portion that is configured to delineate the forward ferrule portion and the rear ferrule portion so as to permit use of the ferrule in the optical fiber connector subassembly having the outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly.

16. The device of any of claim 9-10, wherein the optical fiber connector subassembly comprises a Subscriber Connection (SC) outer housing configured to connect to an SC port during operation.

17. A device for providing enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or form factor minimization, comprising:an optical fiber connector sub-assembly comprising a stepped ferrule portion configured to engage with a ferrule receiving portion so as to provide push-pull engagement and / or push-pull disengagement connectivity; and wherein the optical fiber connector sub-assembly is configured to provide enhanced optical fiber connector sub-assembly form factor connectivity and / or minimization by structurally configuring an outside diameter of the optical fiber connector sub-assembly so as to permit the optical fiber connector subassembly to be deployed through a duct or conduit having an inside diameter of 2.5 mm operation.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the ferrule receiving portion comprises a first housing portion and a second housing portion configured to be coupled with one another so as to provide the push-pull engagement and / or push-pull disengagement connectivity, and wherein the stepped ferrule portion comprises a forward ferrule portion and a rear ferrule portion, wherein the forward ferrule portion comprises an outside diameter that is greater than an outside diameter of the rear ferrule portion.

19. The device of any of claims 17-18, wherein the optical fiber connector subassembly further comprises a ferrule holder portion configured to hold a rear ferrule portion of the stepped ferrule portion.

20. The device of any of claims 17-18, wherein the optical fiber connector subassembly further comprises a biasing portion structurally configured to bias the second housing portion in a direction away from the first housing portion during operation.21 . The device of claim 20, wherein the biasing portion is configured to exert a biasing force toward the second housing portion at a first end of the biasing portion so as to bias the second housing portion away form the first housing portion, and is configured to exert a biasing force toward the first housing portion at a second end of the biasing portion so as to bias the first housing portion away from the second housing portion.

22. The device of claim 20, wherein the biasing portion is configured to contact the second housing portion at a first end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the second housing portion away from the first housing portion, and is configured to contact the first housing portion at a second end portion of the biasing portion during operation so as to bias the first housing portion away from the second housing portion.

23. The device of any of claims 17-18, wherein the optical fiber connector subassembly comprises an Subscriber Connection (SC) outer housing configured to connect to an SC port during operation.

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