CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of the filing date under 35 U.S.C. § 119(a)-(d) of European Patent Application No. 20305164, filed on Feb. 20, 2020.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a connector device and, more particularly, to an optical connector device for connecting optical fibers.

BACKGROUND

Fiber optic communication systems are becoming prevalent in part because service providers want to deliver high bandwidth communication capabilities (e.g., data and voice) to customers in different environments. Fiber optic communication systems employ a network of fiber optic cables to transmit large volumes of data and voice signals over relatively long distances.

Optical fiber connectors represent important parts of fiber optic communication systems. Fiber optic connectors allow two optical fibers or a plurality of optical fibers to be quickly optically connected without requiring a splice. Fiber optic connectors can be used to optically interconnect two lengths of optical fiber or to interconnect lengths of optical fiber to some equipment.

One type of fiber optic connectors can be referred to as a ferrule-less fiber optic connectors. In a ferrule-less fiber optic connector, an end portion of an optical fiber corresponding to the ferrule-less fiber optic connector is not supported by a ferrule. Instead, the end portion of the optical fiber is a free end portion. Fiber optic adapters can be used to assist in optically coupling together two ferrule-less fiber optic connectors.

Another type of conventional fiber optic connector is a ferrule assembly supported at a distal end of a connector housing. A spring is used to bias the ferrule assembly in a distal direction relative to the connector housing. The ferrule functions to support an end portion of at least one optical fiber (in the case of a multi-fiber ferrule, the ends of multiple fibers are supported). The ferrule has a distal end face at which a polished end of the optical fiber is located. When two fiber optic connectors are interconnected, the distal end faces of the ferrules abut one another and the ferrules are forced proximally relative to their respective connector housings against the bias of their respective springs. With the fiber optic connectors connected, their respective optical fibers are coaxially aligned such that the end faces of the optical fibers directly oppose one another. In this way, an optical signal can be transmitted from optical fiber to optical fiber through the aligned end faces of the optical fibers.

Despite recent engineering progress, however, the reliability of connections between individual optical fibers and appliances is still not considered sufficient, in particular in harsh environments that are characterized by vibrations, high or low temperatures, etc. Moreover, locking and unlocking the connections often represents a cumbersome task that is time consuming and demands specialized tools.

SUMMARY

A connector device includes a first connector part and a second connector part. The first connector part has a first outer housing and a first sub-assembly accommodated in the first outer housing. The first sub-assembly has a first ferrule and a first latch member fastening the first sub-assembly to the first outer housing. The second connector part has a second outer housing and a second sub-assembly accommodated in the second outer housing. The second sub-assembly having a second ferrule and a second latch member fastening the second sub-assembly to the second outer housing. The second outer housing mating with the first outer housing in a state of coupling the first connector part to the second connector part.

