US 12,353,022 B2
Multi-fiber ferrule with improved eye safety
Darrell R. Childers, Hickory, NC (US); Michael E. Hughes, Hickory, NC (US); and Daniel D. Kurtz, Huntersville, NC (US)
Assigned to US Conec Ltd., Hickory, NC (US)
Filed by US Conec Ltd., Hickory, NC (US)
Filed on May 31, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/680,536.
Application 18/680,536 is a continuation of application No. 18/183,831, filed on Mar. 14, 2023, granted, now 12,007,608.
Application 18/183,831 is a continuation of application No. 17/116,850, filed on Dec. 9, 2020, granted, now 11,614,588, issued on Mar. 28, 2023.
Application 17/116,850 is a continuation of application No. 16/263,591, filed on Jan. 31, 2019, granted, now 10,877,222, issued on Dec. 29, 2020.
Application 16/263,591 is a continuation of application No. 15/162,089, filed on May 23, 2016, granted, now 10,197,743, issued on Feb. 5, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/165,768, filed on May 22, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2024/0319449 A1, Sep. 26, 2024
Int. Cl. G02B 6/36 (2006.01); G02B 6/38 (2006.01); G02B 6/42 (2006.01)
CPC G02B 6/3853 (2013.01) [G02B 6/3825 (2013.01); G02B 6/3885 (2013.01); G02B 2006/4297 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fiber optic connector comprising:
an inner housing having a top side, a bottom side, two opposing sides joining the top side to the bottom side, a front end, a back end, and an inside surface extending between the front and back ends defining an opening in the inner housing to receive a multi-fiber ferrule, the multi-fiber ferrule including:
a plurality of optical fiber openings extending toward a front of the multi-fiber ferrule, each of the plurality of optical fiber openings configured to receive an optical fiber,
a plurality of lenses respectively disposed forward of each of the optical fiber openings, each of the plurality of lenses being in optical alignment with a respective one of the optical fiber openings, and
wherein light incident on each of the plurality of lenses from the optical fiber respectively disposed within the optical fiber openings is directed to an inside surface of the inner housing, and
wherein the top side of the inner housing has a geometry different from a geometry of the bottom side of the inner housing at the front end of the inner housing.