Patent 9448367B2

Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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Prior art

Earlier patents, publications, and products that may anticipate or render the claims unpatentable.

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The USPTO defines "prior art" as existing technology or inventions that demonstrate similar or related functionality to a claimed invention. It is used to determine if an invention is novel and non-obvious. Prior art is not limited to granted patents but includes any publicly available information before a patent application is filed, such as published patents, patent applications, research papers, or commercial products.

I will now list the prior art cited in US Patent 9448367B2, along with their publication/filing dates, a brief description, and which claims they potentially anticipate under 35 U.S.C. § 102.

Cited Prior Art for US9448367B2:

  1. US5363460A

    • Full Citation: US5363460A - Sleeve portion for an optical fibre plug connector
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 1994-11-08; Priority: 1992-11-26
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a sleeve portion for an optical fiber plug connector. It focuses on the mechanical aspects of aligning and connecting optical fibers within a connector system.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. This patent could potentially anticipate elements related to the mechanical coupling means, sleeves, and ferrules for optical fibers, as described in these claims, particularly those focusing on the structural components of the direct link connector assemblies and their interaction with an LC connector.

  2. US5909526A

    • Full Citation: US5909526A - Fiber optic connector assembly
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 1999-06-01; Priority: 1998-04-08
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a fiber optic connector assembly, detailing a housing, ferrule, and means for securing an optical fiber within the ferrule.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Claims 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. This patent potentially anticipates the general concept of a connector assembly with a ferrule and housing for an optical fiber, which is a foundational element in US9448367B2's direct link connector assemblies.

  3. US6247849B1

    • Full Citation: US6247849B1 - Protection cap for fiber coupler
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2001-06-19; Priority: 1997-09-13
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a protection cap for a fiber coupler, designed to protect the optical fibers and ferrules within a connector.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent primarily relates to protection mechanisms, which are not explicitly detailed in the independent claims of US9448367B2. Therefore, it is less likely to directly anticipate claims under § 102, but could be relevant for obviousness arguments under § 103 if features related to protection were broadly claimed.

  4. US20020090177A1

    • Full Citation: US20020090177A1 - Duplex optical connector
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2002-07-11; Priority: 2001-01-10
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a duplex optical connector, suggesting mechanisms for connecting two optical fibers.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Claims 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9. This patent could anticipate the concept of a dual fiber connector and the mechanical arrangements for coupling, particularly if it describes features similar to the "first and second LC connector receiving regions" and the associated mechanical coupling aspects.

  5. US7029322B2

    • Full Citation: US7029322B2 - Connector panel mount system
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2006-04-18; Priority: 2003-02-27
    • Brief Description: This patent describes a connector panel mount system, focusing on how connectors are mounted to a panel.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent primarily addresses mounting systems rather than the internal structure and direct link aspects of the adapter. While relevant for broader optical connector systems, it is less likely to directly anticipate the specific structural claims of US9448367B2 under § 102.

  6. US20060204200A1

    • Full Citation: US20060204200A1 - Dust shutter for an optical adapter
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2006-09-14; Priority: 2005-03-10
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a dust shutter mechanism for an optical adapter.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to US6247849B1, this reference focuses on a protective feature (a dust shutter) which is not a core element of the claims in US9448367B2. It would be more relevant for obviousness arguments.

  7. US20060215970A1

    • Full Citation: US20060215970A1 - Optical transceiver with optical subassemblies optionally fixed to housing
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2006-09-28; Priority: 2005-03-15
    • Brief Description: This patent application discusses an optical transceiver where optical subassemblies can be optionally fixed to the housing.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this patent deals with an optical transceiver and its subassemblies within a housing, it is less specific about the "dual fiber type direct link LC adapter" itself and its particular structural elements as claimed in US9448367B2. It might be relevant for broader context or obviousness.

  8. US20090074359A1

    • Full Citation: US20090074359A1 - Shuttered adapter
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2009-03-19; Priority: 2007-09-19
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes an optical adapter that includes a shutter.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This, again, focuses on a shutter mechanism, which is not claimed in US9448367B2.

  9. US20090226141A1

    • Full Citation: US20090226141A1 - Optical fiber adapter with shutter member
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2009-09-10; Priority: 2009-01-21
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes an optical fiber adapter equipped with a shutter member.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Similar to the previous two shutter-related references, this is unlikely to directly anticipate the structural claims of US9448367B2 under § 102.

  10. US20110038581A1

    • Full Citation: US20110038581A1 - Shutter for a fiber optic component and a fiber optic component including the shutter
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2011-02-17; Priority: 2009-08-13
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a shutter specifically designed for a fiber optic component.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): Again, focused on a shutter, not directly anticipating the structural claims of US9448367B2.

  11. US20110103797A1

    • Full Citation: US20110103797A1 - Pluggable optical transceiver and method for manufacturing the same
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2011-05-05; Priority: 2009-10-29
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a pluggable optical transceiver and its manufacturing method, potentially including optical connections.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference might be relevant for broader aspects of pluggable optical transceivers. Depending on the specifics of its optical coupling mechanism, it could potentially anticipate certain elements of Claim 1 of US9448367B2, especially if it describes an adapter structure that provides a direct link between internal subassemblies and external pluggable connectors.

  12. US20110217008A1

    • Full Citation: US20110217008A1 - Fiber optic connector assembly employing fiber movement support and method of assembly
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2011-09-08; Priority: 2008-09-29
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a fiber optic connector assembly that includes support for fiber movement during assembly.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This could be relevant for elements in Claims 1, 2, and 4 concerning how optical fibers are mechanically coupled to the direct link connector assemblies and ferrules, particularly if it describes features similar to the securing of the optical fiber within the ferrule.

  13. US20120275784A1

    • Full Citation: US20120275784A1 - System and Method for Optical Layer Management in Optical Modules and Remote Control of Optical Modules
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2012-11-01; Priority: 2003-06-10
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a system and method for managing optical layers and remote control in optical modules.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent deals with higher-level system functionality rather than the specific physical structure of a direct link adapter. Therefore, it is unlikely to anticipate any claims of US9448367B2 under § 102.

  14. US20130156418A1

    • Full Citation: US20130156418A1 - Chip on flex optical subassembly
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2013-06-20; Priority: 2011-12-14
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a chip on flex optical subassembly, focusing on the packaging of optical components.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This patent focuses on optical subassembly packaging, which is upstream from the adapter itself. It is unlikely to directly anticipate the claims of US9448367B2, which are directed to the adapter structure.

  15. US20130195405A1

    • Full Citation: US20130195405A1 - Shuttered LC Adapter
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2013-08-01; Priority: 2011-11-10
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes an LC adapter that includes a shutter.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): While this reference is for an "LC Adapter," its primary distinguishing feature appears to be the shutter, which is not a part of the independent claims of US9448367B2.

  16. US20140147082A1

    • Full Citation: US20140147082A1 - Mono-block type optical fiber adapter
    • Publication/Filing Date: Publication: 2014-05-29; Priority: 2012-11-23
    • Brief Description: This patent application describes a mono-block type optical fiber adapter, which suggests an integrated or single-piece design for an optical fiber adapter.
    • Potential Anticipated Claims (35 U.S.C. § 102): This reference is highly relevant as it describes an "optical fiber adapter." Depending on the details of its "mono-block" construction and how it accommodates optical fibers and connectors, it could potentially anticipate several elements of Claim 1, especially if it describes an adapter body with receiving regions and slots for connector assemblies and a cover.

Most Relevant Prior Art:

Based on the descriptions and the claims of US9448367B2, the following prior art references appear most relevant under 35 U.S.C. § 102 for potentially anticipating the claimed subject matter:

  • US5363460A (Sleeve portion for an optical fibre plug connector): Directly addresses fundamental mechanical coupling means like sleeves and ferrules, which are central to claims 1, 2, and 4.
  • US5909526A (Fiber optic connector assembly): Similar to US5363460A, it discloses a connector assembly with a ferrule and housing, directly relevant to the structure of the direct link connector assemblies in US9448367B2.
  • US20020090177A1 (Duplex optical connector): This reference likely discloses a two-fiber connector arrangement, which is a core aspect of the "dual fiber type" adapter in US9448367B2, making it relevant for claims pertaining to the dual nature of the adapter.
  • US20110103797A1 (Pluggable optical transceiver and method for manufacturing the same): This reference describes a pluggable optical transceiver, and if it details an internal adapter for direct optical linkage to subassemblies and external connectors, it could be highly anticipatory of the overall adapter concept.
  • US20140147082A1 (Mono-block type optical fiber adapter): As it describes an "optical fiber adapter" with a potentially integrated design, its structural details could directly overlap with the adapter body, receiving regions, slots, and cover of Claim 1.

These references are particularly relevant because they describe elements or concepts that are fundamental to the "dual fiber type direct link LC adapter" of US9448367B2, including mechanical coupling, connector assemblies, multi-fiber arrangements, and the overall adapter structure.

Generated 5/25/2026, 4:38:20 PM