BACKGROUND

Optical adapters are used to optically couple together optical fiber tips of optical connectors. The optical adapters include alignment structure that aligns the fiber tips to enable the transfer of optical signals therebetween. Optical connectors can be secured to the optical adapters when received at the ports of the optical adapters.

In certain examples, the optical connectors include ferrule-less optical connectors. For example, an example ferrule-less optical connector300known in the art is shown atFIG. 1. The optical connector300includes a connector body322having a front mating end324and a rear cable terminating end326. An optical fiber extends forwardly through the connector body322and has a ferrule-less end portion that is accessible at the front mating end324of the connector body322. The optical fiber is anchored adjacent the rear cable terminating end326against axial movement relative to the connector body322. When two connectors300are coupled together, the end faces of the ferrule-less end portions abut one another, thereby causing the optical fibers to be forced rearwardly into the connector bodies322and to buckle/bend within fiber buckling regions of the connector bodies322. A shutter328moves between closed and open positions. The shutter328protects the ferrule-less end portion of the optical fiber from contamination when shut and allows access to the ferrule-less end portion when open.

The connector300also includes a latch330that engages a catch355of a fiber optic adapter350(seeFIG. 2). The latch330includes a resilient cantilever style latch. When the connectors300are inserted within the coaxially aligned ports of the adapter350, the shutters328of the connectors300are retracted, thereby exposing the ferrule-less ends of the optical fibers. Continued insertion causes the ferrule-less ends to enter an optical fiber alignment device. In an example, the fiber alignment device includes funnels leading to a fiber alignment groove, and spring-biased balls pressing the fibers into the groove. Other examples of ferrule-less optical connectors and corresponding optical adapters can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/377,189, filed Aug. 7, 2014, and titled “Optical Fiber Connection System Including Optical Fiber Alignment Device,” the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

Other ferrule-less fiber optic connection systems are disclosed by United States Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2013/0216186 and US 2014/0072265. The '186 publication discloses a ferrule-less connector with a retractable nose piece. The '265 publication discloses an alignment system for multi-fiber connectors. Improvements are needed in the areas of enhanced fiber end protection and fiber alignment in the areas of single fiber and multi-fiber fiber optic connectors.

SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure relate to features for enhancing fiber protection in ferrule-less connectors. In certain examples, a fiber optic connector in accordance with the principles of the present disclosure can include a shutter for providing initial protection of a fiber end, and a retractable nose piece for providing secondary protection of the fiber end. In certain examples, the nose piece can also be configured to assist in directing the fiber end into a corresponding alignment feature of a fiber optic adapter. In certain examples, the shutter and the nose piece are both automatically opened as the fiber optic connector is inserted within a corresponding fiber optic adapter. In certain examples, the shutter can include a latch that retains the shutter in a closed position until the fiber optic connector is inserted within the corresponding fiber optic adapter.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a multi-fiber, ferrule-less connector having a retractable nose piece for protecting end portions of optical fibers of the fiber optic connector. In certain examples, the nose piece can assist in registering the end portions of the optical fibers with alignment features of a corresponding fiber optic adapter. In certain examples, the fiber optic adapter can include an array of V-grooves that receive the end portions of the optical fibers.

A further aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber optic connector including a connector body having a front end and an opposite rear end. The connector body defines a longitudinal axis that extends through the connector body in an orientation that extends from the front end to the rear end of the connector body. An optical fiber extends through the connector body from the rear end to the front end. The optical fiber has a fiber end that is accessible at the front end of the connector body. The fiber optic connector also includes a nose piece mounted at the front end of the connector body. The nose piece defines a fiber passage through which the optical fiber extends. The nose piece is movable along the longitudinal axis between an extended position where a front end portion of the optical fiber is protected within the fiber passage and a retracted position where the front end portion of the optical fiber projects forwardly beyond the nose piece. The fiber optic connector further includes a shutter mounted at the front end of the connector body. The shutter is movable between a first position where the shutter covers the nose piece and a second position where the nose piece is exposed. The nose piece provides protection to the front end portion of the optical fiber in the event the shutter is opened prior to insertion within a fiber optic adapter. Additionally, the nose piece can assist in registering the front end portion of the optical fiber with a corresponding alignment feature of the fiber optic adapter.

Another aspect of the present disclosure relates to a fiber optic connector including a connector body having a front end and an opposite rear end. The connector body defines a longitudinal axis that extends through the connector body in an orientation that extends from the front end to the rear end of the connector body. A plurality of optical fibers extend through the connector body from the rear end to the front end. The optical fibers have fiber ends accessible at the front end of the connector body. The fiber optic connector also includes a nose piece mounted at the front end of the connector body. The nose piece defines a plurality of fiber passages through which the optical fibers extend. The nose piece is movable along the longitudinal axis between an extended position where front end portions of the optical fibers are protected within the fiber passages and a retracted position where the front end portions of the optical fibers project forwardly beyond the nose piece.

A variety of additional inventive aspects will be set forth in the description that follows. The inventive aspects can relate to individual features and to combinations of features. It is to be understood that both the forgoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only and are not restrictive of the broad inventive concepts upon which the embodiments disclosed herein are based.

