Commscope, Inc of North Carolina

Brian K Bushnell

Jeffrey Dale Nielson

Earl Ryan Parsons

Scott L Lowe

Joseph C Livingston

Richard Y Mei

Chin Choi-Feng

Zuzhou Yue

A fiber optic lane changer includes a first and a second connector. A plurality of lane changer transmission paths include first ends received within the first connector and second ends received within the second connector. The first ends are arranged in respective ones of a first subset of a plurality of optical interface positions in a standardized connector configuration, and the second ends are arranged in respective ones of a second subset of the plurality of positions. In certain embodiments, the plurality of lane changer transmission paths have first ends that are aligned to optically couple with respective ones of the eight outermost optical transmission paths of the first connector. At least one of the lane changer transmission paths may have a second end that is aligned to optically couple with one of the four innermost optical transmission paths of the second connector.

Fiber optic lane changers for use with fiber optic cables having unused optical fibers and related methods

An expanded beam fiber optic array connector includes a ferrule holding ends of optical fibers in a first ordered array. A plurality of lenses packaged into a unitary structure, formed of an optical grade material, different than a material used to form the ferrule, is attached to the ferrule. The lenses are arranged into a second ordered array matching the first ordered array of the ends of the optical fibers. The lenses of the expanded beam connector associated with transmit channels can be constructed with a prescription geared specifically for transmitting light, whereas the lenses of the expanded beam connector associated with receive channels can be constructed with a prescription geared specifically for receiving light.

Expanded beam array for fiber optics

An MPO connector includes a pin configuration with an elongated shaft extending along an axis A. A first portion proximate a first end of the shaft includes a tool surface feature for engagement by a tool to impart a rotation to the shaft. A second portion proximate a second end of the shaft is cylindrical and centered on an axis B, offset relative to the axis A. A method of minimizing insertion loss between mating channels of mated MPO connectors includes inserting light into a channel of a first MPO connector, then measuring an intensity of light output from a channel of a second MPO, mated to the first MPO connector. A pin associated with one of the mated MPO connectors is rotated to a point where the measured light output from the channel of the second MPO connector is approximately maximized.

Tunable MPO connector

An optical tap includes a support with a first port facing a first ferrule supporting a first fiber along a first axis. A beamsplitter is connected to the support and intersected by the first axis. A second port is fastened to the support and facing a second ferrule supporting a second fiber along a second axis that intersects the beamsplitter. A third port is fastened to the support and facing a third ferrule supporting a third fiber along a third axis that intersects the beamsplitter, wherein the beamsplitter splits a first light signal from the first port to sends first and second portions of the first signal to the second and third ports, respectively. When the beamsplitter may optionally be configured as a polarizing element and include elements configured to rotate relative to each other to change a ratio of the first and second portions. The optical tap may optionally include a light intensity controlling device located in an optical path between the beamsplitter and at least one of the second or third ferrules. Optionally, a first collimating lens is configured to expand a first light beam that is substantially aligned with the first axis, and a second collimating lens is located between the beamsplitter and the second port, and configured to contract the second portion of the expanded first light beam to the second port.

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Wylie, TX, United States of America

Brian K Bushnell