Fiber optic connection system and hybrid fiber optic connection system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a fiber optic connection system that uses a slide clip to provide robust retention of a fiber optic connector within a mating fiber optic adapter. In certain examples, the fiber optic connector may be a hybrid connector that provides both electrical and optical connectivity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid fiber optic connector comprising:
 a connector body having a transverse cross-sectional shape, the connector body including two generally cylindrical sleeves at a front of the connector body, the two generally cylindrical sleeves each including a separate ferrule mounted therein;   electrical contacts that at least partially mount over the two generally cylindrical sleeves so as to be carried with the connector body; and   an adapter configured to mate with the connector body for optically coupling optical fibers supported by the connector body to responding optical fibers of other optical connectors, wherein the adapter defines a port for receiving the connector body;   wherein a robust active coupler is included with the adapter and not carried with the connector body, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the port of the adapter and being configured to retain the connector body within the port.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 1 , wherein the robust active coupler is a slide clip, the slide clip including a release tab that is intersected by a reference plane, the release tab being adapted to be manually depressed downwardly to move the slide clip from a coupling position to a non-coupling position. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical contacts are electrically conductive bands. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the adapter includes a spring that mounts within an elongate pocket defined within the release tab, the spring being configured to bias the slide clip toward the coupling position. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , wherein the spring flexes as the release tab is depressed downwardly to move the slide clip from the coupling position to the non-coupling position, when the release tab is released, the elasticity of the spring causes the slide clip to return to the coupling position from the non-coupling position. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 2 , wherein the slide clip includes rails that slide within corresponding channels defined by the adapter, and wherein the slide clip defines an opening for receiving the hybrid fiber optic connector when the hybrid fiber optic connector is inserted into the adapter. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 6 , wherein the slide clip includes retention structures positioned on opposite sides of the reference plane, the retention structures being positioned at major sides of the opening and the retention structures being adapted to engage the connector body on opposite major sides of the connector body. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 7 , wherein each of the retention structures includes a ramp that faces at least partially in an outward direction, and each of the retention structures also includes a retention surface that faces in an inward direction. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 8 , wherein when the hybrid fiber optic connector is inserted axially along a connector insertion axis into the adapter, ramps at side notches of the hybrid fiber optic connector engage the ramps of the retention structures of the adapter. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 4 , wherein the adapter includes a spring reaction structure that cooperates with the spring to bias the slide clip toward the coupling position. 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid fiber optic connector of  claim 10 , wherein the slide clip includes a slot for allowing the spring reaction structure to pass through the slide clip as the slide clip is moved upwardly, wherein contact between the spring reaction structure and the spring prevents the slide clip from being removed downwardly from the adapter. 
     
     
         12 . A fiber optic connection system comprising:
 a connector body that supports at least one ferrule supporting at least one optical fiber;   a fiber optic adapter defining a port for receiving the connector body;   an environmental seal for providing a seal between the connector body and the fiber optic adapter; and   a robust active coupler included with the fiber optic adapter and not carried with the connector body, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the port of the fiber optic adapter and being configured to retain the connector body within the port, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the connector body within the port so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds;   wherein the robust active coupler is slidably movable between a coupling position and non-coupling position.   
     
     
         13 . The fiber optic connection system of  claim 12 , wherein the robust active coupler engages the connector body at retention locations positioned at opposite sides of the connector body, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the connector body within the port when in the coupling position, and the robust active coupler being configured to allow removal of the connector body from the port when in the non-coupling position. 
     
     
         14 . The fiber optic connection system of  claim 13 , wherein the robust active coupler is a slide clip, wherein the slide clip is spring biased toward the coupling position by a spring. 
     
     
         15 . The fiber optic connection system of  claim 12 , wherein the connector body has a transverse cross-sectional shape, wherein the transverse cross-sectional shape of the connector body has a small form-factor with a maximum width less than 2 centimeters along the major axis and a maximum height less than 1.5 centimeters along a minor axis. 
     
     
         16 . The fiber optic connection system of  claim 14 , further comprising a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the robust active coupler against the bias of the spring from the coupling position to the non-coupling position while the connector body is being inserted in the port, wherein the spring returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the connector body has been fully inserted in the port. 
     
     
         17 . A fiber optic connection system comprising:
 a connector body that supports at least two ferrules positioned along a major axis, the at least two ferrules each supporting at least one optical fiber;   a fiber optic adapter defining a port for receiving the connector body; and   a slide clip included with the fiber optic adapter and not carried with the connector body, the slide clip being movable relative to the port of the fiber optic adapter between a coupling position and non-coupling position, the slide clip being configured to retain the connector body within the port when in the coupling position, and the slide clip being configured to allow removal of the connector body from the port when in the non-coupling position;   wherein when the slide clip is in the coupling position, the slide clip engages the connector body at retention locations positioned at opposite sides of the connector body, and wherein the slide clip is spring biased toward the coupling position by a spring.   
     
     
         18 . The fiber optic connection system of  claim 17 , wherein a transverse cross-sectional shape of the connector body has a small form-factor with a maximum width less than 2 centimeters along the major axis and a maximum height less than 1.5 centimeters along a minor axis. 
     
     
         19 . The fiber optic connection system of  claim 17 , further comprising a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the slide clip against the bias of the spring from the coupling position to the non-coupling position while the connector body is being inserted in the port, wherein the spring returns the spring clip to the coupling position once the connector body has been fully inserted in the port. 
     
     
       20. A fiber optic connection system comprising:
 a fiber optic connector including:
 a connector body having a peripheral retention flange that extends about a circumference of the connector body, wherein the peripheral retention flange defines side notches, and ramps are provided at the side notches; and 
 at least one ferrule supporting at least one optical fiber; and 
   an adapter defining a connector insertion axis that extends through the adapter, the adapter including:
 a housing defining a port sized for receiving the fiber optic connector; 
 a robust active coupler slidably moveable relative to the housing between a coupling position and a non-coupling position in a direction that is transverse relative to the connector insertion axis, the robust active coupler configured to retain the fiber optic connector within the port of the housing when in the coupling position, the robust active coupler defining an opening for receiving the fiber optic connector, and retention structures are positioned at opposite sides of the opening, each of the retention structures includes a ramp that faces at least partially in an outward direction and a retention surface that faces in an inward direction; and 
 a spring configured to bias the robust active coupler toward the coupling position; 
   wherein, when the fiber optic connector is inserted axially along the connector insertion axis into the adapter, the peripheral retention flange engages the retention structures of the robust active coupler to move the robust active coupler to the non-coupling position until the peripheral retention flange moves inwardly past the retention structures such that the robust active coupler moves back toward the coupling position.    
     
     
       21. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 20 , wherein the spring mounts within a pocket of a release tab, the release tab configured to be manually depressed to move the robust active coupler from the coupling position to the non-coupling position.  
     
     
       22. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 20 , wherein, when the fiber optic connector is inserted axially along the connection insertion axis into the adapter, the ramps at the side notches of the fiber optic connector engage the ramps of the retention structures of the robust active coupler.  
     
     
       23. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 20 , wherein interference between the peripheral retention flange and the retention surfaces of the retention structures of the robust active coupler prevents the fiber optic connector from being withdrawn from the adapter.  
     
     
       24. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 20 , further comprising an environmental seal for providing a seal between the connector body and the adapter.  
     
     
       25. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 24 , wherein the environmental seal is received on the connector body.  
     
     
       26. A hybrid fiber optic connection system comprising the connection system of  claim 20 , wherein the fiber optic connector includes cylindrical front sleeves and electrical contacts, the at least one ferrule comprises two ferrules mounted within respective ones of the cylindrical front sleeves, and the electrical contacts are mounted over the cylindrical front sleeves.  
     
     
       27. The hybrid fiber optic connection system of  claim 26 , wherein the adapter further includes adapter electrical contacts mounted to the housing.  
     
     
       28. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 20 , wherein the connector body has an elongate transverse cross-sectional shape.  
     
     
       29. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 28 , wherein the retention structures are positioned at major sides of the opening.  
     
     
       30. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 20 , wherein the robust active coupler is configured to retain the connector body within the port so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds.  
     
     
       31. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 20 , wherein the robust active coupler is configured to retain the connector body within the port so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 50 pounds.  
     
     
       32. A fiber optic connection system comprising:
 a fiber optic connector including at least one ferrule supporting at least one optical fiber;   a housing defining a port for receiving the fiber optic connector;   an environmental seal for providing a seal around the fiber optic connector within the port;   a robust active coupler carried by the housing and not carried with the fiber optic connector, the robust active coupler being movable relative to the port and being configured to retain the fiber optic connector within the port, the robust active coupler being configured to retain the fiber optic connector within the port so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 25 pounds,   wherein the robust active coupler is slidably movable between a coupling position and a non-coupling position, wherein the robust active coupler is spring biased toward the coupling position; and   a ramp arrangement for automatically moving the robust active coupler against the spring bias from the coupling position to the non-coupling position when the fiber optic connector is being inserted into the port, wherein the spring bias returns the robust active coupler to the coupling position once the fiber optic connector has been fully inserted into the port.    
     
     
       33. The fiber optic connection system of  claim 32 , wherein the fiber optic connector is insertable into the port along a connector insertion axis, wherein the robust active coupler defines a connector opening for receiving the fiber optic connector, and wherein the connector opening has a matching transverse cross-sectional shape with the fiber optic connector.  
     
     
       34. The fiber optic connector system of  claim 33 , wherein the ramp arrangement includes at least one ramp positioned at the connector opening of the robust active coupler.  
     
     
       35. The fiber optic connector system of  claim 32 , wherein the robust active coupler is pressed to move the robust active coupler against the spring bias from the coupling position to the non-coupling position.  
     
     
       36. The fiber optic connector system of  claim 32 , wherein the robust active coupler is configured to retain the fiber optic connector within the port so as to withstand a pull-out force of at least 50 pounds.