Corning Cable Systems

Corning Optical Communications LLC

Corning Research & Development Corporation

David Wayne Meek

Micah Colen Isenhour

Scott Eric Semmler

Michael De Jong

Hieu Vinh Tran

Bradley Scott Billman

Brandon Andrew Barnes

Daniel Leyva, Jr

Ray Samuel Barnes

Kevin C Beach

Kristine A McEvoy

Ashley Wesley Jones

Joshua Douglas Raker

Alvin John McDonald

Kevin Charles Beach

Donald G Doss

Jason F Forsberg

Brad S Billman

Jackie E Thomison

Jonathan Edward DeCortin

A fiber optic connector comprises a shell, an insert, and at least one terminus sub-assembly. The shell defines an interior space and has a front portion. The insert is retained in the front portion of the shell. The at least one terminus sub-assembly at least partially received and retained in the insert. The at least one terminus sub-assembly includes a ferrule, a stub optical fiber secured to the ferrule, and a holder in which the stub optical fiber terminates. At least one splice component is retained with the holder and configured to be actuated and apply a clamping force to the stub optical fiber within the holder.

Fiber optic connectors with at least one field-installable termini

A fiber optic connector includes a ferrule, a housing received over the ferrule, and a slider assembly mounted to the housing. The housing includes left and right sides each having a latch receptacle for receiving at least a portion of an adapter latch. The slider assembly includes a first unit movable relative to the housing between a forward position and a rearward position, wherein the first unit at least partially obstructs the latch receptacles when the first unit is in its forward position, and each of the latch receptacles is at least partially unobstructed by (e.g., substantially not obstructed by) the first unit when the first unit is in its rearward position. The slider assembly also includes a second unit movable relative to the housing between a forward position and a rearward position.

Fiber optic connector with slider assembly for push-pull latching

A fiber cleaver having a displaceable fiber guide for aligning and guiding an optical fiber. Generally, the fiber cleaver includes a pair of clamps that may articulate between a retracted position and a clamping position. A displaceable fiber guide directs the optical fiber as it travels along an internal path of the fiber cleaver. The fiber guide translates between a loading position and a clamping position. When the clamps are securing the optical fiber to the internal path, a linear actuator may be depressed in order to translate the fiber guide and ultimately direct the optical fiber toward a scoring blade to cleave the fiber. The fiber guide is sized and shaped such that a predetermined length of optical fiber will remain after cleaving.

Fiber devices with displaceable fiber guide

Disclosed is a passive illumination apparatus for improving the visibility of an optical fiber by projecting reflected light to passively illuminate an optical fiber for allowing the user improved visibility for inserting the optical fiber into an orifice. One embodiment of the concept uses a passive illumination apparatus having a pattern of one or more colors for reflectively transmitting chromatic light along with an optional contrast surface such as a gray or black stripe for providing a highly contrasting background for the user to view the optical fiber against. The ambient light is transmitted or directed from a reflective surface such as a concave curved region for passively illuminating the optical fiber. The passive illumination apparatus may be used on any suitable device such as a connector installation tool, a splicer, a stripper for an optical fiber coating or a cleaver as desired.

Optical fiber installation tool having a passive illumination feature

A fiber handler for handling a plurality of different fiber optic cable constructions is disclosed. Generally, the fiber handler comprises a first face that accepts a fiber optic cable of a first construction and a second face that accepts a fiber optic cable of a second construction. An alternate embodiment is disclosed that can accommodate up to four different fiber optic cable constructions. The fiber handler may interface with a fiber optic installation tool such as a fiber cleaving tool or a fiber splicing tool where it functions to align an optical fiber of the cable with functional components of the tool to be cleaved, fused, or the like.

Fiber handler having multiple sides

A mechanical splice fiber optic connector installation tool operable for performing splice terminations and verifying an acceptable splice termination includes a power source, a connector holder, an integrated Visual Fault Locater having an optical transmission element and a display for displaying the status of the termination. An adapter configured to receive the connector and align the connector with the optical transmission element, such that the optical transmission element is spaced apart from the connector at a predetermined distance and is in optical communication with the connector for propagating light energy through the adapter and along the stub optical fiber to a termination area of the connector.

Installation tool with integrated visual fault indicator for field-installable mechanical splice connector

Apparatus and methods for verifying an acceptable splice termination include propagating light energy into the stub optical fiber of a fiber optic connector, detecting and collecting the amount of optical power emanating from the stub optical fiber at a termination area of the connector, converting the optical power to an electrical signal proportional to the amount of collected optical power, and displaying the electrical signal on a feedback monitor, such as an optical power meter, an LCD bar graph, or an LED. An initial (i.e., reference) value is obtained with the field optical fiber not in physical contact with the stub optical fiber. A final (i.e., terminated) value is obtained with the field optical fiber in physical contact with the stub optical fiber and terminated to the connector. The final value is compared to the initial value to determine whether the change (i.e., difference) is sufficient. Alternatively, the final value is compared to a predetermined limit or threshold.

Apparatus and methods for verifying an acceptable splice termination

A strain-relief assembly for a field-installable fiber optic connector is disclosed, wherein the assembly includes a ferrule holder, an intermediate sleeve, and a crimp sleeve. The ferrule holder back section holds a buffered section of a fiber optic cable, while the ferrule holder front end holds a ferrule and a splice assembly. A stub fiber is held within the ferrule and the splice assembly so as to interface with a section of field optical fiber protruding from the buffered section. The intermediate sleeve engages and generally surrounds a portion of the ferrule holder back section and thus surrounds a portion of the buffered layer. An intermediate sleeve handler may be used to handle the intermediate sleeve and attached the intermediate sleeve to the ferrule holder back section. Stress-relief strands from the fiber optic cable are flared around the outer surface of the intermediate sleeve. A crimp sleeve is placed over the intermediate sleeve to hold the ends of the stress-relief strands in place. The crimp sleeve is then crimped, which fixes the strand ends in place and also fixes the intermediate sleeve in place on the ferrule back section.

Strain-relief assemblies and methods for a field-installable fiber optic connector

A mechanical splice connector is shown and described for sequentially performing a splice actuation followed by a strain relief actuation by rotating a single, multiple-position cam member or multiple cam members from an unactuated position to a first actuated position and a second actuated position. The mechanical splice connector aligns and retains at least one stub optical fiber and the bare glass portion of at least one adjoining field optical fiber, as well as strain relieving a coated portion of the field optical fiber, or alternatively, a buffered portion of the field optical fiber. A method is also described for sequentially performing a splice actuation followed by a strain relief actuation, wherein the splice actuation is reversible prior to performing the strain relief actuation in the event that the optical continuity of the splice coupling is unacceptable, thereby avoiding potential damage to the field optical fiber or the connector.

Mechanical splice connector with sequential splice and strain relief

The present invention provides a non-physical contact (non-PC) visual fault locator (VFL) coupler that functions with fewer components and reduces handling, and without ferrule-to-ferrule contact, thereby reducing endface wear degradation and other problems. Specifically, the non-PC VFL coupler incorporates an alignment sleeve retainer that includes a connector stop, such that, when a field-installable fiber optic connector engages the alignment sleeve retainer of the non-PC VFL coupler, the endfaces of the ferrules of the non-PC VFL coupler and the field-installable fiber optic connector do not physically contact one another. Both 1.25 mm and 2.5 mm versions are contemplated, among others.

Non-physical contact visual fault locator coupler

A splice connector for verifying an acceptable splice termination includes a ferrule having a stub optical fiber, a ferrule holder for receiving the ferrule, opposed splice components within the ferrule holder for receiving and aligning the stub optical fiber and a field optical fiber, a cam member for engaging one of the splice components to terminate the field optical fiber, and means for viewing an amount of glow emanating from a termination area. In one embodiment, a splice component and the portion of the ferrule holder disposed between the splice component and the cam member are optically transmissive. The cam member has a first array of wells and a second array of wells for viewing the amount of glow before and after the field optical fiber is terminated. In another embodiment, the ferrule holder is opaque and has a view port, while the cam member has a first well having a first depth and a second well having a second depth.

Splice connector for verifying an acceptable splice termination

A field installable fiber optic connector includes a housing and a ferrule holder inserted from the rearward end of the housing. A spring element inserted into the front of the housing and a spring element retainer attached to the ferrule holder bias the ferrule holder forward. An optical fiber stub is disposed between opposed splice members and a field fiber is inserted between the splice members and guided by a groove into abutment with the end of the optical fiber stub. A cam disposed about the ferrule holder is movable to facilitate insertion of the field fiber and to clamp the field fiber and the optical fiber stub between the splice members. In one embodiment, a trigger is coupled to the housing. The trigger is disposed about and slides relative to the ferrule holder, thereby biasing the housing forward relative to the ferrule holder to aid in latching the connector.

Growing community of inventors

Ft. Worth, TX, United States of America

David Wayne Meek