Fiber optic connector designed for repeatable and precise grasping and actuation in a robotic fiber optic cross-connect system
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/IB2026/051529
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2025-02-20
- Filing Date
- 2026-02-17
- Publication Date
- 2026-08-27
Smart Images
Figure IB2026051529_27082026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Fiber Optic Connector Designed for Repeatable and Precise Grasping and Actuation in a Robotic Fiber Optic Cross-Connect System Copyright Statement
[0001] This patent document contains material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction of this patent document or any related materials in the files of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.Cross-Reference to Related Applications
[0002] This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No.63 / 761,148, filed on February 20, 2025, titled “Fiber Optic Connector Designed for Repeatable and Precise Grasping and Actuation in a Robotic Fiber Optic Cross-Connect System,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference, as though set forth herein, for all purposes.Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a connector for fiber-optic systems, including a multifiber-optic connector configured to be grasped and actuated by a robotic gripper.Background
[0004] Fiber-optic connectors, particularly MPO (Multi-fiber Push-On) connectors, SN-MT, MMC, MDC, EBO (Expanded Beam Optics), or EBC (Expanded Beam Connectors), are commonly used in high-density data center applications. Multi-fiber connectors typically have 8, 12, 16, 24, 32, or 36 fibers per connector. These fibers are bonded within a single plastic or metal injection-molded MT (Mechanical Transfer) ferrule with an array of precisely diametered holes, precise spacings, and two alignment pin / hole engagement elements. After fiber bonding, the MT ferrule endface with integral optical fiber endfaces is polished to precise angles and radii of curvature to ensure low insertion loss and low back-reflection in the optical connection. The diameter of the MT ferrule holes provided for optical fibers is typically 125.5 to 126 microns for a 125-micron OD (outer diameter) cladding optical fiber, or 80.5 to 81 microns for an 80-micron OD cladding optical fiber. MT ferrules have a male and female version, the male version having two chamfered alignmentpins and the female version having matched holes to receive the alignment pins. Multi-fiber connectors enable the connection and disconnection of multiple optical fibers simultaneously, providing high-speed data transmission. MPO, SN-MT, MMC, and MDC connectors have a typical insertion loss of 0.35 dB and require manual endface cleaning. Endface inspection, test, and cleaning is labor-intensive, error-prone, and slow, especially in environments where speed, precision, and efficiency are critical. EBO and EBC have the advantage of using integral lens arrays to expand the beam so that it is less susceptible to dirt and contamination, but they typically have a higher loss of 0.7 dB for single-mode fiber connectors. MPO and EBO connectors are widely used in high-density fiber optic networks, especially in data centers and telecommunications networks, due to their ability to interface multiple fibers in a single connector with low insertion loss.
[0005] The latching mechanism of multi-fiber connectors is a critical component that ensures secure connection and reliable performance. This latching mechanism typically includes latch arms (spring-loaded or fixed) that are integral to the front connector body. The latch arms are mechanically biased to hold the connector in place. They engage with corresponding slots in the receptacle, preventing the connector from being easily pulled out. These slots must be precisely dimensioned to allow the latch arms to engage securely while also permitting the easy disengagement of the connector when required.
[0006] The release mechanism includes a sliding latch release sleeve incorporated into the ferrule end of the connector to facilitate disconnection of the multi-fiber connector from the receptacle. When the sliding latch release sleeve on the connector body is pulled away from the receptacle, the release sleeve disengages the latch arms from the latch slots, allowing the connector to be repeatedly plugged in and pulled out of the receptacle. The latch arms are often equipped with one or more small springs that ensure they return to their nominal locked and latched position after being manually disengaged. The spring provides a consistent retention force, ensuring the connector remains secure during operation.
[0007] When a multi-fiber connector is inserted into a receptacle, the latch arms on the plug connector align with the slots on the receptacle. As the connector is pushed in, the latch arms may deflect inward slightly, allowing the connector to enter the receptacle with some nominal plug-in force. Once the connector is fully inserted into the receptacle, the latch arms are free to return to their latched position, which simultaneously engages with the slots in the receptacle. The spring-loaded latch arms then lock into place, preventing the connector from being pulled out even with a large force.
[0008] The release mechanism should withstand many mating / demating cycles (e.g., 500 cycles) without failing. Proper alignment between the latch arms on the connector, the latch slots in the receptacle, and the alignment pins / holes in the mating MT ferrules or EBO lens arrays is critical to ensuring a secure, reliable connection. Tight tolerances are required during the manufacturing of both the connectors and receptacles to avoid misalignment and ensure the latch engages properly.
[0009] The forces required to engage and disengage the latch in multi-fiber connectors are influenced by several factors, including the latch mechanism design, the materials used, surface roughness, and specific manufacturing tolerances. For example, the engagement force is the force required to insert the MPO connector into the receptacle until the latch arms are securely locked into the slots. Typically, the engagement force for MPO-16 connectors is designed to be around 20 N (Newtons). Other, more compact MT ferrulebased connectors with physical contact, such as the SN-MT and MMC connectors, require about half the insertion force due to the smaller endface area of the mating ferrules.
[0010] Typically, the latch release sleeve is a cylindrical or rectangular sleeve-like component that surrounds the latch mechanism. It slides over the connector's locking mechanism to release the latch arms. To disengage the connector, the user pulls or slides the sleeve, which disengages internal latch arms in the connector or in the mating receptacle. The latch release sleeve is typically made from plastic materials such as polycarbonate, LCP, or PEI for strength and durability. It is located at the front or side of the connector, surrounding the housing and MT ferrule area.
[0011] Robotic cross-connect technology (as described by the present inventors in U.S. Patent Nos. 9,052,490, 9,052,465, 9,703,060, and 10,345,526) allows for fully automated management of fiber optic cables. Robots can autonomously connect and disconnect fiber optic cables by accurately grasping, manipulating, and cleaning connectors in a highly controlled manner. However, standard MPO, MTP, EBO, EBC, SN-MT, MMC, and MDC connectors are not designed to be compatible with robotic actuation systems. Conventional multi-fiber connectors are designed for human grasping, connection, and disconnection, limiting the use of robotic systems for fiber optic connectivity installation, management, and testing.
[0012] Conventional multi-fiber connectors are neither optimized nor compatible with typical forms of robotic manipulation.
[0013] There is a need, and it is an object hereof, to enhance the efficiency of data center networks through physical automation. There is a need for a multi-fiber optic connector that can be reliably grabbed, actuated, connected, and / or disconnected by a robotic system.Summary
[0014] The present invention is specified in the claims as well as in the description.
[0015] These features, along with additional details of the invention, are described further in the examples herein, which are intended further to illustrate the invention but are not intended to limit its scope in any way.
[0016] The present invention provides a novel multi-fiber optic connector with mechanical characteristics enabling reliable and precise robotic handling and actuation in robot cross-connect systems. The connector includes mechanical elements including precise MT ferrules and / or lens arrays, integrated alignment pins / holes, color / reflectivity variations to aid in detection, a magnet to aid in retention, a latch release sleeve with a gripper solenoid latch receiving pocket, internal spring(s) in the sliding latch sleeve mechanism, mechanical features to facilitate capture and hold by a robotic gripper, and bevel features to ensure the connector does not jam when plugged into its mating receptacle. These design features ensure that the multi-fiber connector can be manipulated with high precision by a robotic gripper, resulting in fast, efficient, and reliable fiber optic connections in an automated environment.
[0017] In one general aspect, a multi-fiber connector may include a housing with a sliding latch feature designed to engage a moving latch attached to a core of a gripper solenoid. The multi-fiber connector may also include a pair of gripper actuation points configured to interface with holding features in the gripper. The multi-fiber connector may furthermore include a magnet to facilitate reliable latching of the connector into any of many multi-fiber connector receptacles arranged within a stacked array of individually and independently shifting rows. The multi-fiber connector may, in addition, include a multicolor combination of parts to aid in determining a position of the connector relative to the gripper.
[0018] Implementations may include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination(s):• The multi-fiber connector further includes an MT ferrule for multiple fiber terminations.• The multi -fiber connector where the ferrule is an MT- 16 ferrule accepting 16 optical fibers with 80 micron or 125-micron glass cladding.• The multi-fiber connector where the ferrule includes a pair of precision guide holes to accept the male pins of a mating multi-fiber ferrule.• The multi-fiber connector where the multi-fiber connector is mateable to MPO connector receptacles.• The multi-fiber connector further includes an expanded beam lens array for multiple fiber terminations.• The multi-fiber connector, where the connector is an expanded-beam type connector with low insertion force and non-connect optical surfaces that are relatively insensitive to contamination.• The multi-fiber connector, where the housing includes both high- and low-IR reflectivity surfaces, which are detected by one or more optical sensors within the gripper.
[0019] In another general aspect, the method may include grasping the connector with a robotic gripper. The method may also include positioning the gripper along the body of the connector. The method may furthermore include dropping a gripper latch into a matching pocket of a slidable latch sleeve of the connector. The method may also include aligning the connector with a corresponding port. The method may include actuating a slidable sleeve to establish or disconnect a fiber optic connection.
[0020] Implementations may include cleaning an endface of the multi-fiber ferrule by contacting the endface with a dry-cleaning fabric and sliding the endface with contact pressure along the fabric.
[0021] In another general aspect, an optical fiber connector may include a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be grasped by a robotic gripper. The optical fiber connector may also include a fiber optic interface supported by the connector body. The optical fiber connector may furthermore include a latch-release sleeve supported by the connector body and movable relative to the connector body, the latchrelease sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector in the mating receptacle. The optical fiber connector may, in addition, include a gripping mechanism configured with the latch-release sleeve to receive a latch element of therobotic gripper such that the robotic gripper can move the latch-release sleeve between a first position and a second position. The optical fiber connector may, moreover, include a first surface on the latch-release sleeve configured to be sensed relative to a second surface on the connector by a position detector configured on the robotic gripper.
[0022] Implementations may include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination(s):• The optical fiber connector, where the gripping mechanism includes a latch pocket formed in or on the latch-release sleeve.• The optical fiber connector, where the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed optically by the position detector.• The optical fiber connector, where the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed by a position detector sensing optical reflections.• The optical fiber connector, where the first surface has a first reflectivity and the second surface has a second reflectivity different from the first reflectivity.• The optical fiber connector, where the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity less than the first reflectivity.• The optical fiber connector has the first surface white and the second surface black.• The optical fiber connector, where the position detector may include one or more optical sensors.• The optical fiber connector, where the first surface may include a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface may include a low IR reflectivity surface, where the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.• The optical fiber connector, where, when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the position detector senses a corresponding movement of the first surface.• The optical fiber connector, where, when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is disengaged from the mating receptacle.• The optical fiber connector, where, when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector.• The optical fiber connector, where, when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the latch-release sleeve moves along the longitudinal axis away from the mating receptacle.• The optical fiber connector may include first and second gripper engagement features on the connector body configured to be held by the robotic gripper.• The optical fiber connector, where the first gripper engagement feature is located at a forward position on the connector body, and the second engagement feature is located at a rear position on the connector body.• The optical fiber connector may include a magnet on the connector body configured to interface with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.• The optical fiber connector, where the magnet is configured at the rear end of the connector body, opposite the fiber-optical interface.
[0023] In another general aspect, an optical fiber connector system may include a robotic gripper including a movable latch element and a position detector. The optical fiber connector system may also include a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be grasped by the robotic gripper. The optical fiber connector system may further include a fiber-optic interface supported by the connector body. The optical fiber connector system may, in addition, include a latch-release sleeve supported by the connector body and movable relative to the connector body, the latch-release sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector in the mating receptacle. The optical fiber connector system may, moreover, include a gripping mechanism configured with the latch-release sleeve to receive the latch element of the robotic gripper, such that the robotic gripper can move the latch-release sleeve between a first position and a second position. The optical fiber connector system may also include a first surface on the latch-release sleeve configured to be sensed relative to a second surface on the connector by the robotic gripper’s position detector.
[0024] Implementations may include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination(s):• The optical fiber connector system, where the gripping mechanism includes a latch pocket formed in or on the latch-release sleeve.• The optical fiber connector system, in which the position detector includes an optical sensor, and the first surface and / or the second surface are sensed optically.• The optical fiber connector system, where the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed by sensing optical reflections.• The optical fiber connector system, where the first surface has a first reflectivity and the second surface has a second reflectivity different from the first reflectivity.• The optical fiber connector system, where the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity less than the first reflectivity. • The optical fiber connector system has the first surface white and the second surface black.• The optical fiber connector system, where the position detector may include one or more optical sensors.• The optical fiber connector system, where the first surface may include a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface may include a low IR reflectivity surface, where the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.• The optical fiber connector system, where, when the robotic gripper moves the latchrelease sleeve from the first position to the second position, a corresponding movement of the first surface is sensed by the position detector.• The optical fiber connector system, where, when the robotic gripper moves the latchrelease sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is disengaged from the mating receptacle.• The optical fiber connector system, where, when the robotic gripper moves the latchrelease sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector.• The optical fiber connector system, in which, when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the latch-release sleeve moves along its longitudinal axis away from the mating receptacle.• The optical fiber connector system may include first and second gripper engagement features on the connector body configured to be held by the robotic gripper.• The optical fiber connector system, where the first gripper engagement feature is located at a forward position on the connector body, and the second engagement feature is located at a rear position on the connector body.• The optical fiber connector system may include a magnet on the connector body configured to interface with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.• The optical fiber connector system, in which the magnet is configured at the rear end of the connector body, opposite the fiber-optical interface.
[0025] In another general aspect, a method may include grasping an optical fiber connector body with a robotic gripper. The method may also include engaging a movable latch element on the robotic gripper with a gripping mechanism on a latch-release sleeve configured on the optical fiber connector body, the latch-release sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector body in the mating receptacle. The method may furthermore include moving the latch element to move the latchrelease sleeve from a first position to a second position. The method may, in addition, include sensing a position of a first surface on the latch-release sleeve using a position detector configured with the robotic gripper as the latch-release sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position. The method may moreover include where, when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, the connector body is disengaged from the mating receptacle.
[0026] Implementations may include one or more of the following features, alone or in combination(s):• The method, where, when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, a corresponding movement of the first surface is sensed by the position detector.• The method, where, when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, the connector body is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector.• The method, where the position detector is an optical detector.• The method, in which the first surface is reflective, and the optical detector is configured to detect an optical reflection from the first surface as the latch-release sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position.• The method, in which the first surface on the latch-release sleeve is sensed relative to a second surface on the connector body by the position detector on the robotic gripper.• The method in which the first surface has a first reflectivity and the second surface has a second reflectivity different from the first reflectivity.• The method, in which the first surface has a first reflectivity and the second surface has a second reflectivity less than the first reflectivity.• The method, where the first surface is white and the second surface is black.• The method, where the position detector may include one or more optical sensors. • The method, in which the first surface may include a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface may include a low IR reflectivity surface, wherein the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.• The method, where the connector body includes a first gripper engagement feature located at a forward position on the connector body and a second engagement feature located at a rear position on the connector body, and the robotic gripper grasps the optical fiber connector body by engaging the first and second engagement features.• The method may include engaging a magnet on the connector body with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.Brief Description of the Drawings
[0027] Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as the methods of operation and functions of the related elements of structure and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, all of which form a part of this specification. None of the drawings is to scale unless specifically stated otherwise.
[0028] FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate the multi-fiber connector with the addition of mechanical features to enable precise and repeatable engagement and disengagement by a robotic gripper.
[0029] FIGS. 2A and 2B depict the reflective (white) and non-refl ective (black) surfaces of the multi-fiber connector to enable precise optical sensing of the location of the connector and its sliding latch sleeve;
[0030] FIG. 3A is an example reflective-mode phototransistor that emits light in the near infrared and detects scattered and reflected light from a reflective surface, such as the multi-fiber connector, when engaged by the gripper.
[0031] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate one of the shiftable rows stacked to form a 2D connector receptacle array at which the connectors are plugged / unplugged and rearranged by the gripper.
[0032] FIGS. 5A-5F illustrate views of the gripper with and without the multi-fiber connector;
[0033] FIG. 6 shows an example of a connector aligned with the gripper of FIG. 5F; and
[0034] FIGS. 7A-7F are a series of diagrams illustrating the relation between the gripper, multi-fiber connector, and shiftable row in various steps of the robotic cross-connect process.Detailed Description
[0035] In the following, exemplary embodiments are described, referring to the figures. These examples are provided to further illustrate the invention without limiting its scope.
[0036] The following detailed description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate example embodiments and are not necessarily to scale. Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiments are illustrative, not limiting, and are not restricted to the particular arrangements shown.
[0037] Reference numerals have been referred to for quicker understanding and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention in any manner.Glossary and Abbreviations
[0038] As used herein, unless used otherwise, the following terms or abbreviations have the following meanings:
[0039] ID means inner diameter.
[0040] OD means outer diameter.
[0041] MPO means multi-fiber push-on.
[0042] MTP means multi-fiber termination push-on.
[0043] EBO means expanded-beam optical.
[0044] EBC means expanded-beam connector.
[0045] SN-MT means Senko multi-termination.
[0046] MMC means mechanical multi-fiber connector.
[0047] MDC means miniature duplex connector.Description
[0048] FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate a multi-fiber connector 10 with mechanical features to enable precise and repeatable engagement and disengagement by a robotic gripper 100 (see, e.g., FIGS. 5A-5F and 7A-7F). A gripping mechanism 12 enables the robot to reliably grab and actuate the connector 10. The gripping mechanism 12 includes a pocket 14 (the gripper latch-pocket) integrated into the connector’s sliding latch actuation sleeve 16 that surrounds the multi-fiber ferrule 18. The robotic gripper 100 can precisely hold the connector 10 at two locations on the body of the connector 10, at the gripper front engagement element 20 and at the gripper rear engagement element 22. The connector 10 may be held in place at any of the ports within a cross-connect system through a combination of the sliding sleeve 16 at the front of the connector 10 engaging with a corresponding receptacle 200 (FIGS. 4A-4C) on the cross-connect system and a magnet assembly 24 at the rear of the connector body. To facilitate the robotic actuation process, the robot’s gripper 100 has a solenoid-driven blade or latch that drops into the gripper latch pocket 14 so that the gripper 100 can pull back the sliding sleeve 16 during a disconnect step. These various features are situated to allow the robotic system to apply the necessary forces to insert, lock, and disconnect the connector with precision.
[0049] The exit fibers 30 exit the connector 10 at the end of the connector 10, generally opposite the ferrule 18.
[0050] In a further example, the connector 10 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C is equipped with a multi-fiber ferrule 18 or MT ferrule having 8 to 48 optical fibers bonded within. The fibers are arranged in a specific order along a line or pair of lines between the mating pin / hole features. The fiber endfaces are polished to provide low loss and high performance when connected to a mating connector within a mating receptacle 200 or adapter. The MT ferrule 18 accommodates a variety of fiber types, such as single-mode, multi-mode, air core, and multi-core fiber with cladding outer diameters of 80 or 125 microns. The connector ferrule 18 is constructed from durable, high-strength materials to withstand the mechanical forces applied during robotic handling. The housing further includes strategically placed alignment pins that facilitate proper positioning during insertion and extraction, ensuring that the connector 10 aligns with its mating connector receptacle 200 without requiring manual intervention.
[0051] With reference now to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the connector housing, body, and latch sleeve 16 are formed (e.g., injection molded) from a material selected to provide firstand second surfaces with differing reflective properties. For example, the latch-sleeve 16 may include a first reflective surface 26 (e.g., white) and the connector 10 may include other lesser-reflective or non-refl ective surfaces 28 (e.g., black) that enable precise optical sensing of the location of the sliding latch sleeve 16 with respect to and / or relative to other portions of the connector 10. In some embodiments, the first and second surfaces 26, 28 may be upper or top surfaces, so that the surfaces 26, 28 may be sensed from above. However, it is appreciated that the surfaces 26, 28 may be located on other sides and / or at other orientations and thusly be sensed from those sides and / or orientations.
[0052] An example of the relative location of the reflective and non-reflection elements 26 and 28, respectively, is shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B. The sleeve 16 is normally spring-loaded in a forward position, as shown in FIG. 2A. To unlatch the connector 10 from a mating receptacle 200, the sleeve 16 may be pulled back by about 3 to 5 mm (as shown in FIG. 2B) to allow the latch arms 212 of the receptacle 200 to spread so the connector 10 is freed. The gripper 100 (FIGS. 5A-5F) may include one or more position sensors 102 (e.g., reflective photointerrupter(s)) that detect reflections or a lack of reflections from these surfaces in order to detect this movement and thereby confirm that the sleeve 16 has been properly moved for removal of the connector 10.
[0053] FIG. 3A shows an example position sensor 102 (e.g., a reflective photointerrupter) with a photoemitter 103 (e.g., a phototransistor) that emits light in the nearinfrared and a photodetector 105 that detects scattered and reflected light from the reflective surface 26 on the connector 10 when the connector 10 is engaged by the gripper 100. The operating spectra of the position sensor 102 are preferably broad, e.g., centered at around 900 nm (e.g., as shown in the graph in FIG. 3C). An example position sensor 102 is a Sharp GP2S60 as shown in FIG. 3B. The reflective surfaces 26 of the connector 10 may preferably be located about 0.25 to 1.00 mm away from the position sensor 102 to ensure that the light emitted by the photoemitter 103 is captured on the photodetector 105.
[0054] FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a plurality of connector receptacles 200 arranged to form a shiftable 2D connector receptacle array or row 202 at which the connectors 10 are plugged / unplugged into / from any of a multiplicity of connector receptacles 200 and rearranged by the gripper 100. As shown in FIG. 4 A, each row 202 is supported at either end by a right fixed support 204 and a left fixed support 206, and free to slide along the line joining the two supports 204, 206 when driven by a linear actuator such as a linear stepper motor (not shown). The connectors 10 are retained on rear extensions 214, each coupled to acorresponding rear portion 210 of a corresponding receptacle 200 within the row 202 by engaging the front of the connector 10 into the rear portion 210 of the receptacle 200. In addition, the connector’s magnet 24 may be mated with a corresponding magnet assembly 216 at the rear 210 of the extension 214. As shown in FIG. 4B, a connector receptacle 200 includes receptacle latch arms 212 that engage the connector, which is internal to the sliding latch-sleeve 16. Fiber optic cables connected to the outside of the robotic cross-connect are plugged into the front part 208 of the receptacle 200.
[0055] Several considerations ensure smooth and accurate mating when a robot's gripper 100 plugs a connector 10 into a mating receptacle 200 on the shiftable rows 202 during the insertion process. First, the connectors 10 have keying features (such as a notch or ridge) that help guide a connector 10 into the receptacle 200 in only one orientation. Second, guide pins or holes (shown, e.g., in FIG. 1A) are integrated into the connector 10 to physically align the connector 10 on one side of the receptacle 200 with another opposing connector inserted into the opposite side of the receptacle 200. Third, the connector 10 preferably has a slightly tapered or beveled edge on its front side. This taper helps the connector 10 gradually enter the receptacle 200, reducing the likelihood of jamming by guiding the pins into their correct alignment with the corresponding slots in the receptacle 200.
[0056] With reference to FIGS. 5A-5F, the gripper 100 can directly engage the multifiber connector’s latch release sleeve 16 using a latching element (or latch, blade, or tab) 104 (FIGS. 5B-5F) driven by its gripper actuator 106 (e.g., a solenoid), which moves the latching element 104 into the gripper latch pocket 14 on the sliding sleeve 16 of the connector 10. As shown in FIG. 5C, the gripper latching element 104 is driven up by the solenoid 106 with a spring return that biases the latch 104 in the lower position. When the latch 104 is in the lower position, it can engage the pocket 14 on the sliding sleeve 16, as shown in FIGS. 5D and 5E. This ability to lock onto the connector 10 allows the gripper 100 to push or pull on the sleeve 16 and / or the connector body. The gripper 100 includes a top slide rod 108 and a bottom slide rod 110 to allow the front connector engagement feature 112 and the rear connector engagement feature 114 to slide when driven by a stepper motor 116, enabling the gripper 100 to lock around the connector 10. The gripper latch 104 may be a flat, blade-like element that fits within a slotted pocket 14 in the release sleeve 16. By dropping the flat latching element 104 into the pocket 14 and then moving it in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal axis of the connector 10 and away from the receptacle 200, the robot retracts the release sleeve 16 to unlatch the connector 10 from the latch arms 212 of the receptacle 200.
[0057] FIGS. 5B and 5F show the position detector(s) 102 configured on the gripper 100. As mentioned elsewhere herein, the position detector(s) 102 may be configured to detect reflections from the surfaces 26, 28 of the connector 10 during engagement and / or disengagement of the connector 10 to ensure that the connector 10 is properly held by the gripper 100 and that the connector’s sleeve 16 has been properly positioned.
[0058] In some embodiments, the position sensors 100 may include a first sensor 118 and a second sensor 120 that provide feedback to the robotic control system to ensure that the connector’s sleeve 16 is moved the correct distance and that the gripper’s latch 104 has been properly engaged or properly released. In some embodiments, the first sensor 118 may be configured to detect reflections from the reflective surfaces 26 when the connector 10 is properly engaged with the robotic gripper 100 and during movement of the connector’s sliding sleeve 16. The second sensor 120 may detect a change in reflections, e.g., from low reflections to higher reflections or vice versa, during movement of the connector’s sliding sleeve 16.
[0059] FIG. 6 shows an example of the connector 10 and its surfaces 26, 28 of FIGS.2A and 2B aligned with the gripper 100 of FIG. 5F and its position sensors 118, 120 to show the portions of the surfaces 26, 28 detected by the sensors 118, 120 as the connector’s sliding sleeve 16 is moved from a first position backwards to a second position to disengage the connector 10 from the receptacle 200. As depicted by the alignment line A, the first sensor 118 may be aligned to sense the reflections of the reflective surface 26 when the connector’s sliding latch sleeve 16 is in either the forward position (upper image of the connector 10) and / or in the rear position (lower image of the connector 10). In this way, the first sensor 118 may detect that the connector 10 and its sliding sleeve 16 are properly aligned and engaged with the gripper 100. In addition, as depicted by the alignment line B, the second sensor 120 may sense lesser reflections from the lesser reflective surface 28 when the connector’s sliding sleeve 16 is in the forward position (upper image of the connector 10), e.g., when the connector 10 is engaged with the receptacle 200, and higher reflections from the higher reflective surface 26 when the connector’s sliding sleeve 16 has been moved to the rear position (lower image of the connector 10) for the disengagement of the connector 10 from the receptacle 200. In this way, the gripper 100 may directly sense and confirm the positionand proper engagement and / or disengagement of the connector 10 with the gripper 100 and with the receptacle 200.
[0060] The robot is pre-programmed with specific movements to actuate the release sleeve 16 in an automated routine. For example, in a high-density data center, the robot is programmed to grab the connector 10 and slide the latch release sleeve 16 in one fluid motion as part of the connection or disconnection process. Once programmed, the robot can consistently repeat the task with high accuracy, improving efficiency and minimizing human error. The gripper 100 also includes a home sensor 122 (FIG. 5F), which detects the edge of the finger-like tracks of the connector row 202 to ensure the gripper 100 is in alignment with the receptacle port 200.
[0061] The robotic gripper 100 may also be equipped with force sensors to monitor the insertion force during the mating process. This allows the robot to apply only the necessary force, preventing excessive force that could cause jamming or damage. A slow, controlled speed during the initial insertion phase is typical. If the male connector 10 is inserted too quickly, it might not align properly, leading to misalignment or jamming. By controlling the speed at which the connector 10 is inserted, the robot can ensure a more precise and controlled engagement. A force-limiting mechanism on the gripper can prevent over-insertion or excessive force that could cause the connectors to jam.
[0062] FIGS. 7A-7F are a series of diagrams illustrating the relation between the gripper 100, one of the many multi-fiber connectors 10, and one of the many shiftable rows 202 that comprise the robotic cross-connect system. In a particular example, the system includes an automated docking mechanism where the gripper 100 can automatically align the connector 10 with the receptacle 200 (e.g., using the home sensor 122 shown in FIG. 5F), vision systems such as cameras, or laser-based sensors to ensure alignment before the connector insertion or extraction process starts. This provides the robot with feedback on the exact alignment of the connectors 10 before insertion so that the robot adjusts its positioning and prevents any misalignment. Proximity sensors on the robot gripper 100 or the receptacle 200 detect when the connector 10 is approaching its proper mating position. This can help guide the gripper 100 to stop at the right moment or adjust the approach to avoid jamming. Closed-loop control in the robot’s motion system can help correct any small errors during the insertion process. If the robot detects excessive resistance, it can make realtime adjustments to prevent jamming.
[0063] FIG. 7B illustrates the spatial relations between the gripper 100, one of the many multi-fiber connectors 10, and one of the many shiftable rows 202 when moving the gripper 100 and connector 10 forward to unallocate (i.e., partially unplug) the connector 10 from a mating receptacle 200 while still retaining it in the port.
[0064] FIG. 7C illustrates the spatial relations between the gripper 100, one of the many connectors 10, and one of the many shiftable rows 202 when moving the gripper 100 and connector 10 forward to fully allocate (i.e., fully plug-in) the connector 10 into a mating receptacle 200.
[0065] FIGS. 7D, 7E, and 7F illustrate the spatial relations between the gripper 100, one of the many connectors 10, and one of the many shiftable rows 202 when moving the gripper 100 and connector 10 forward to fully unplug the connector 10 from the mating receptacle 200 so that the gripper 100 can move above the port without interference.
[0066] It is understood that any aspect or element of any embodiment of the connector or gripper described herein may be combined with any other embodiment of the connector or gripper to form additional embodiments of the connector or gripper, all of which are within the scope hereof.Discussion
[0067] By applying these strategies, a robot can effectively and reliably plug a multifiber connector 10 into a mating female receptacle 200 while preventing jamming or misalignment, ensuring consistent and efficient performance in automated fiber management. The robot’s arm 124 is designed with sufficient compliance to enable it to compensate for small misalignments in the vertical and / or lateral direction at the interface of the gripper 100 to the connector body and connector row 202. The gripper 100 can adjust to prevent jamming during insertion in case of a slight tilt or lateral misalignment.
[0068] At the overall system level, the robotic cross-connect system uses a robotic arm 124 equipped with a specialized gripper 100. The gripper 100 includes sensors and actuators that enable it to manipulate connectors 10 automatically. The connector 10 is designed to fit seamlessly into the robotic system, allowing for high-speed, low-latency fiber optic patching and unpatching in data centers. The integration of robotic cross-connect technology with the connector 10 enhances network management by reducing human errors, increasing operational efficiency, and improving network scalability.
[0069] The design of the connector 10 for robotic actuation significantly reduces the need for manual intervention in fiber optic testing, patching, and unpatching, thereby enabling fully automated operations in data centers. The connector’s actuation features allow for precise handling by robotic systems, reducing the potential for misconnects or connection errors. Robotic cross-connect systems utilizing the designed multi-fiber connector 10 can operate at much higher speeds than manual methods, resulting in faster deployment and error-free management of fiber optic networks. Moreover, the materials and mechanical features of the multi-fiber connector 10 are designed to withstand repeated robotic handling cycles, ensuring long-term performance.Numbered Examples
[0070] A set of examples is given in the following numbered example clauses A to AAE:Example Clause A: A multi-fiber connector, may include: a housing with a sliding latch feature designed to engage a moving latch attached to a core of a gripper solenoid; a pair of gripper actuation points configured to interface with holding features in the gripper; a magnet to facilitate reliable latching of the connector into any of many multi-fiber connector receptacles arranged within a stacked array of individually and independently shifting rows; and a multi-color combination of parts to aid in determining a position of the connector relative to the gripper. Example Clause B: The multi-fiber connector of Example Clause A, further including an MT ferrule for multiple fiber terminations.Example Clause C: The multi -fib er connector of Example Clause A or Example Clause B,where the ferrule is an MT- 16 ferrule accepting 16 optical fibers with 80 micron or 125-micron glass cladding.Example Clause D: The multi-fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses A-C, where the ferrule includes a pair of precision guide holes to accept the male pins of a mating multi-fiber ferrule.Example Clause E: The multi-fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses A-D, where the multi-fiber connector is mateable to MPO connector receptacles.Example Clause F: The multi-fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses A-E, further including an expanded beam lens array for multiple fiber terminations.Example Clause G: The multi-fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses A-F, where the connector is an expanded-beam type connector with low insertion force and non-connect optical surfaces that are relatively insensitive to contamination. Example Clause H: The multi-fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses A-G, where the housing includes both high IR reflectivity and low IR reflectivity surfaces that are detected by one or more optical sensors within the gripper.Example Clause I: A method of using a multi-fiber connector with a multi-fiber ferrule and an elongated body having gripper latching features in a robotic cross-connect system, the method may include: grasping the connector with a robotic gripper; positioning the gripper along the body of the connector; dropping a gripper latch into a matching pocket of a slidable latch sleeve of the connector; aligning the connector with a corresponding port; and actuating a connector slidable sleeve to establish or disconnect a fiber optic connection.Example Clause J: The method of Example Clause I may further include: cleaning an endface of the multi-fiber ferrule by contacting the endface with a dry-cleaning fabric and sliding the endface with contact pressure along the fabric.Example Clause K: An optical fiber connector may include: a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be grasped by a robotic gripper; a fiber optical interface supported by the connector body; a latch-release sleeve supported by the connector body and movable relative to the connector body, the latchrelease sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector in the mating receptacle; a gripping mechanism configured with the latch-release sleeve to receive a latch element of the robotic gripper such that the robotic gripper can move the latch-release sleeve between a first position and a second position; and a first surface on the latch-release sleeve configured to be sensed relative to a second surface on the connector by a position detector configured on the robotic gripper.Example Clause L: The optical fiber connector of Example Clause K, where the gripping mechanism includes a latch pocket formed in or on the latch-release sleeve.Example Clause M: The optical fiber connector of Example Clause K or Example Clause L, where the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed optically by the position detector.Example Clause N: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-M where the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed by a position detector sensing optical reflections.Example Clause O: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-N, where the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity different than the first reflectivity.Example Clause P: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-O, where the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity lesser than the first reflectivity.Example Clause Q: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-P, where the first surface is white and the second surface is black.Example Clause R: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-Q, where the position detector may include one or more optical sensors.Example Clause S: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-R, where the first surface may include a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface may include a low IR reflectivity surface, where the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.Example Clause T: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-S, where when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, a corresponding movement of the first surface is sensed by the position detector.Example Clause U: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-T, where when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is disengaged from the mating receptacle. Example Clause V: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-U, where when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector.Example Clause W: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-V, where when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the latch-release sleeve moves along the longitudinal axis away from the mating receptacle.Example Clause X: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-W may further include first and second gripper engagement features on the connector body configured to be held by the robotic gripper.Example Clause Y: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-X. where the first gripper engagement feature is located at a forward position on the connector body and the second engagement feature is located at a rear position on the connector body.Example Clause Z: The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-Y may further include a magnet on the connector body configured to interface with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.Example Clause AA . The optical fiber connector of any one of Example Clauses K-Z, where the magnet is configured at a rear end of the connector body opposite the fiber optical interface.Example Clause AB . An optical fiber connector system may include: a robotic gripper including a movable latch element and a position detector; a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be grasped by the robotic gripper; a fiber optical interface supported by the connector body; a latch-release sleeve supported by the connector body and movable relative to the connector body, the latch-release sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector in the mating receptacle; a gripping mechanism configured with the latch-release sleeve to receive the latch element of the robotic gripper such that the robotic gripper can move the latch-release sleeve between a first position and a second position; and a first surface on the latchrelease sleeve configured to be sensed relative to a second surface on the connector by the robotic gripper’s position detector.Example Clause AC: The optical fiber connector system of Example Clause AB, where the gripping mechanism includes a latch pocket formed in or on the latch-release sleeve.Example Clause AD The optical fiber connector system of Example Clause AB or Example Clause AC, where the position detector includes an optical sensor and the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed optically.Example Clause AE: The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AD, where the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed by sensing optical reflections.Example Clause AF: The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AE, where the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity different than the first reflectivity.Example Clause AG The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AF, where the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity lesser than the first reflectivity.Example Clause AH. The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AG, where the first surface is white and the second surface is black. Example Clause Al The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AH, where the position detector may include one or more optical sensors. Example Clause AJ . The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AI, where the first surface may include a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface may include a low IR reflectivity surface, where the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.Example Clause AK. The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AJ, where when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, a corresponding movement of the first surface is sensed by the position detector.Example Clause AL. The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AK, where when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is disengaged from the mating receptacle.Example Clause AM'. The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AL, where when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector.Example Clause AN The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AM, where when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the latch-release sleeve moves along the longitudinal axis away from the mating receptacle.Example Clause AO The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AN may further include first and second gripper engagement features on the connector body configured to be held by the robotic gripper.Example Clause AP The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AO, where the first gripper engagement feature is located at a forward position on the connector body and the second engagement feature is located at a rear position on the connector body.Example Clause AQ The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AP may further include a magnet on the connector body configured to interface with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.Example Clause AR. The optical fiber connector system of any one of Example Clauses AB-AQ, where the magnet is configured at a rear end of the connector body opposite the fiber optical interface.Example Clause AS. A method of using an optical fiber connector system, the method may include: grasping an optical fiber connector body with a robotic gripper; engaging a movable latch element on the robotic gripper with a gripping mechanism on a latch-release sleeve configured on the optical fiber connector body, the latchrelease sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector body in the mating receptacle; moving the latch element to move the latch-release sleeve from a first position to a second position; and sensing a position of a first surface on the latch-release sleeve using a position detector configured with the robotic gripper as the latch-release sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position, where when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, the connector body is disengaged from the mating receptacle.Example Clause AT. The method of Example Clause AS, where when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, a corresponding movement of the first surface is sensed by the position detector.Example Clause AU The method of Example Clause AS or Example Clause AT, where when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, the connector body is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector. Example Clause AV The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-AU, where the position detector is an optical detector.Example Clause A W The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-A V, where the first surface is reflective, and the optical detector is configured to detect an optical reflection from the first surface as the latch-release sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position.Example Clause AX The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-A W, where the first surface on the latch-release sleeve is sensed relative to a second surface on the connector body by the position detector configured on the robotic gripper.Example Clause AY The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-AX, where the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity different than the first reflectivity.Example Clause AZ: The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-AY, where the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity lesser than the first reflectivity.Example Clause AAA : The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-AZ, where the first surface is white and the second surface is black.Example Clause AAB: The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-AAA, where the position detector may include one or more optical sensors.Example Clause AAC: The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-AAB, where the first surface may include a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface may include a low IR reflectivity surface, where the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.Example Clause AAD : The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-AAC, where the connector body includes a first gripper engagement feature located at a forward position on the connector body and a second engagement feature located at a rear position on the connector body, and the robotic gripper grasps the optical fiber connector body by engaging the first and second engagement features. Example Clause AAE: The method of any one of Example Clauses AS-AAD may further include engaging a magnet on the connector body with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.Conclusion
[0071] As used herein, including in the claims, the phrase “at least some” means “one or more” and includes the case of only one. Thus, e.g., the phrase “at least some ABCs” means “one or more ABCs” and includes the case of only one ABC.
[0072] As used herein, including in the claims, the term “at least one” should be understood as meaning “one or more,” and therefore includes both embodiments that include one or multiple components. Furthermore, dependent claims that refer to independent claimsthat describe features with “at least one” have the same meaning, both when the feature is referred to as “the” and “the at least one.”
[0073] As used herein, including in the claims, the term “portion” means some or all. So, for example, “A portion of X” may include some of “X” or all of “X.” In the context of a thing, the term “portion” means some or all of the thing (e.g., a portion of a tube means some or all of the tube).
[0074] In general, as used herein, including in the claims, unless the word “only” is specifically used in a phrase, it should not be read into that phrase. Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used.
[0075] As used herein, including in the claims, the terms “multiple” and “plurality” mean “two or more” and include the case of “two.” Thus, e.g., the phrase “multiple ABCs” means “two or more ABCs” and includes “two ABCs.” Similarly, e.g., the phrase “multiple PQRs” means “two or more PQRs” and includes “two PQRs.”
[0076] As used herein, including in the claims, the term “automatic,” with respect to an action, generally means that the action occurs with little or no human control or interaction. The term “automatic” also includes cases with no human control or interaction. Thus, e.g., the term “triggered automatically” means “triggered with little or no human control or interaction” and includes the case “triggered with no human control or interaction.”
[0077] As used herein, including in the claims, singular forms of terms are to be construed as also including the plural form and vice versa unless the context indicates otherwise. Thus, it should be noted that as used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0078] Throughout the description and claims, the terms “comprise,” “including,” “having,” and “contain” and their variations should be understood as meaning “including but not limited to” and are not intended to exclude other components unless expressly so stated.
[0079] Although particular feature combinations are recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various implementations. Many of these features may be combined in ways not explicitly recited in the claims and / or disclosed in the specification.
[0080] Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various implementations includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set.
[0081] No element, act, or instruction used herein should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such.
[0082] As used herein, the term “or” is intended to be inclusive when used in a series and may be used interchangeably with “and / or,” unless explicitly stated otherwise (e.g., if used in combination with “either” or “only one of’). As used herein, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” or the like are intended to be open-ended terms.
[0083] It will be appreciated that variations to the embodiments of the invention can be made while still falling within the scope of the invention. Alternative features serving the same, equivalent, or similar purpose can replace features disclosed in the specification, unless otherwise stated. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed represents one example of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.
[0084] The present invention also covers the exact terms, features, values, and ranges, etc., in case these terms, features, values, and ranges, etc. are used in conjunction with terms such as about, around, generally, substantially, essentially, at least, etc. (i.e., “about 3” shall also cover exactly 3 or “substantially constant” shall also cover exactly constant).
[0085] Use of exemplary language, such as “for instance,” “such as,” “for example” (“e.g.”), and the like, is merely intended to illustrate the invention better and does not indicate a limitation on the scope of the invention unless specifically so claimed.
[0086] The words “first” and “second” in the description and claims are used to distinguish or identify and not to show a serial or numerical limitation. Similarly, letter or numerical labels (such as “(a),” “(b),” and the like) are used to help distinguish and / or identify, and not to show any serial or numerical limitation or ordering.
[0087] Thus, are described, inter alia, novel multifiber connector designs that enable reliability and repeatable robotic manipulation.
[0088] While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiment but, on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
[0089] Although certain presently preferred embodiments of the invention have been described herein, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains that variations and modifications of the described embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
Claims
ClaimsI / We Claim:
1. A multi -fib er connector, comprising:a housing with a sliding latch feature designed to engage a moving latch attached to a core of a gripper solenoid;a pair of gripper actuation points configured to interface with holding features in the gripper;a magnet to facilitate reliable latching of the connector into any of many multi-fiber connector receptacles arranged within a stacked array of individually and independently shifting rows; anda multi-color combination of parts to aid in determining a position of the connector relative to the gripper.
2. The multi -fiber connector of claim 1, further including an MT ferrule for multiple fiber terminations.
3. The multi -fiber connector of claim 1, wherein the multi-fiber connector is mateable to MPO connector receptacles.
4. The multi -fiber connector of claim 1, further including an expanded beam lens array for multiple fiber terminations.
5. The multi -fiber connector of claim 1, wherein the housing includes both high IR reflectivity and low IR reflectivity surfaces that are detected by one or more optical sensors within the gripper.
6. The multi-fiber connector of claim 2, wherein the ferrule is an MT-16 ferrule accepting 16 optical fibers with 80 micron or 125-micron glass cladding.
7. The multi-fiber connector of claim 2, wherein the ferrule includes a pair of precision guide holes to accept the male pins of a mating multi-fiber ferrule.
8. The multi-fiber connector of claim 4, wherein the connector is an expanded beam type connector with low insertion force and non-connect optical surfaces that are relatively insensitive to contamination.
9. A method of using a multi-fiber connector with a multi-fiber ferrule and an elongated body having gripper latching features in a robotic cross-connect system, the method comprising:grasping the connector with a robotic gripper;positioning the gripper along the body of the connector;dropping a gripper latch into a matching pocket of a slidable latch sleeve of the connector;aligning the connector with a corresponding port; andactuating a connector slidable sleeve to establish or disconnect a fiber optic connection.
10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:cleaning an endface of the multi-fiber ferrule by contacting the endface with a drycleaning fabric and sliding the endface with contact pressure along the fabric.
11. An optical fiber connector comprising:a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be grasped by a robotic gripper;a fiber optical interface supported by the connector body;a latch-release sleeve supported by the connector body and movable relative to the connector body, the latch-release sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector in the mating receptacle;a gripping mechanism configured with the latch-release sleeve to receive a latch element of the robotic gripper such that the robotic gripper can move the latch-release sleeve between a first position and a second position; anda first surface on the latch-release sleeve configured to be sensed relative to a second surface on the connector by a position detector configured on the robotic gripper.
12. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein the gripping mechanism includes a latch pocket formed in or on the latch-release sleeve.
13. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed optically by the position detector.
14. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed by a position detector sensing optical reflections.
15. The optical fiber connector of claim 14, wherein the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity different than the first reflectivity.
16. The optical fiber connector of claim 14, wherein the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity lesser than the first reflectivity.
17. The optical fiber connector of claim 14, wherein the first surface is white and the second surface is black.
18. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein the position detector comprises one or more optical sensors.
19. The optical fiber connector of claim 18, wherein the first surface comprises a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface comprises a low IR reflectivity surface, wherein the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.
20. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, a corresponding movement of the first surface is sensed by the position detector.
21. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is disengaged from the mating receptacle.
22. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector.
23. The optical fiber connector of claim 11, wherein when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the latch-release sleeve moves along the longitudinal axis away from the mating receptacle.
24. The optical fiber connector of claim 11 further comprising first and second gripper engagement features on the connector body configured to be held by the robotic gripper.
25. The optical fiber connector of claim 24, wherein the first gripper engagement feature is located at a forward position on the connector body, and the second engagement feature is located at a rear position on the connector body.
26. The optical fiber connector of claim 11 further comprising a magnet on the connector body configured to interface with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.
27. The optical fiber connector of claim 26, wherein the magnet is configured at a rear end of the connector body opposite the fiber optical interface.
28. An optical fiber connector system comprising:a robotic gripper including a movable latch element and a position detector;a connector body extending along a longitudinal axis and configured to be grasped by the robotic gripper;a fiber optical interface supported by the connector body;a latch-release sleeve supported by the connector body and movable relative to the connector body, the latch-release sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector in the mating receptacle;a gripping mechanism configured with the latch-release sleeve to receive the latch element of the robotic gripper such that the robotic gripper can move the latch-release sleeve between a first position and a second position; anda first surface on the latch-release sleeve configured to be sensed relative to a second surface on the connector by the robotic gripper’s position detector.
29. The optical fiber connector system of claim 28, wherein the gripping mechanism includes a latch pocket formed in or on the latch-release sleeve.
30. The optical fiber connector system of claim 28, wherein the position detector includes an optical sensor, and the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed optically.
31. The optical fiber connector system of claim 30, wherein the first surface and / or the second surface is sensed by sensing optical reflections.
32. The optical fiber connector system of claim 31, wherein the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity different than the first reflectivity.
33. The optical fiber connector system of claim 31, wherein the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity lesser than the first reflectivity.
34. The optical fiber connector system of claim 31, wherein the first surface is white and the second surface is black.
35. The optical fiber connector system of claim 34, wherein the position detector comprises one or more optical sensors.
36. The optical fiber connector system of claim 35, wherein the first surface comprises a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface comprises a low IR reflectivity surface, wherein the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.
37. The optical fiber connector system of claim 28, wherein when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, a corresponding movement of the first surface is sensed by the position detector.
38. The optical fiber connector system of claim 28, wherein when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is disengaged from the mating receptacle.
39. The optical fiber connector system of claim 2,8, wherein when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the connector is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector.
40. The optical fiber connector system of claim 28, wherein when the robotic gripper moves the latch-release sleeve from the first position to the second position, the latchrelease sleeve moves along the longitudinal axis away from the mating receptacle.
41. The optical fiber connector system of claim 28 further comprising first and second gripper engagement features on the connector body configured to be held by the robotic gripper.
42. The optical fiber connector system of claim 4,1 wherein the first gripper engagement feature is located at a forward position on the connector body and the second engagement feature is located at a rear position on the connector body.
43. The optical fiber connector system of claim 28 further comprising a magnet on the connector body configured to interface with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.
44. The optical fiber connector system of claim 43, wherein the magnet is configured at a rear end of the connector body opposite the fiber optical interface.
45. A method of using an optical fiber connector system, the method comprising: grasping an optical fiber connector body with a robotic gripper;engaging a movable latch element on the robotic gripper with a gripping mechanism on a latch-release sleeve configured on the optical fiber connector body, the latch-release sleeve being configured to cooperate with a mating receptacle to selectively retain the connector body in the mating receptacle;moving the latch element to move the latch-release sleeve from a first position to a second position; andsensing a position of a first surface on the latch-release sleeve using a position detector configured with the robotic gripper as the latch-release sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position,wherein, when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, the connector body is disengaged from the mating receptacle.
46. The method of claim 45, wherein when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, a corresponding movement of the first surface is sensed by the position detector.
47. The method of claim 45, wherein when the latch-release sleeve is moved to the second position, the connector body is sensed to be disengaged from the mating receptacle by the position detector.
48. The method of claim 45, wherein the position detector is an optical detector.
49. The method of claim 48, wherein the first surface is reflective, and the optical detector is configured to detect an optical reflection from the first surface as the latch-release sleeve is moved from the first position to the second position.
50. The method of claim 49, wherein the first surface on the latch-release sleeve is sensed relative to a second surface on the connector body by the position detector configured on the robotic gripper.
51. The method of claim 50, wherein the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity different than the first reflectivity.
52. The method of claim 50, wherein the first surface includes a first reflectivity and the second surface includes a second reflectivity lesser than the first reflectivity.
53. The method of claim 50, wherein the first surface is white and the second surface is black.
54. The method of claim 53, wherein the position detector comprises one or more optical sensors.
55. The method of claim 54, wherein the first surface comprises a high IR reflectivity surface and the second surface comprises a low IR reflectivity surface, wherein the high IR reflectivity surface is detectable by the one or more optical sensors.
56. The method of claim 45, wherein the connector body includes a first gripper engagement feature located at a forward position on the connector body and a second engagement feature located at a rear position on the connector body, and the robotic gripper grasps the optical fiber connector body by engaging the first and second engagement features.
57. The method of claim 45 further comprising engaging a magnet on the connector body with a magnet assembly on an extension of the mating receptacle.