Corning Optical Communications LLC

Corning Cable Systems

Dennis Craig Morrison

Darrin Max Miller

Jeffrey Dean Danley

Robert Bruce Elkins, Ii

Adra Smith Baca

Rebecca Lynn Burt

Kipp David Yeakel

Robert Bruce Elkins Ii

Robert Bruce Ii Elkins

A fiber optic connector sub-assembly includes a ferrule having a front end, a rear end, and a ferrule bore extending between the front and rear ends along a longitudinal axis. The fiber optic connector sub-assembly also includes a bonding agent disposed in the ferrule bore and having first and second ends along the longitudinal axis. The bonding agent has been melted and solidified at the first and second ends without there being an optical fiber present in the ferrule bore.

Fiber optic connector sub-assemblies and fiber optic connectors including the same

A fiber optic connector sub-assembly includes a ferrule having a front end, a rear end, and a ferrule bore extending between the front and rear ends along a longitudinal axis. The fiber optic connector sub-assembly also includes a bonding agent disposed in the ferrule bore and having first and second ends along the longitudinal axis. The bonding agent has been melted and solidified at the first and second ends.

Fiber optic connector sub-assemblies including a bonding agent, along with related methods

A fiber optic connector sub-assembly includes a ferrule having a front end, a rear end, and a ferrule bore extending between the front and rear ends along a longitudinal axis. The ferrule bore has a first section extending inwardly from the rear end of the ferrule, a second section extending inwardly from the front end of the ferrule and having a width that is less than the first section, and a transition section located between the first and second sections. The fiber optic connector sub-assembly also includes a bonding agent disposed in at least a portion of both the transition section and the second section of the ferrule bore. At least some of the bonding agent in the second section of the ferrule bore has been melted and solidified.

Fiber optic connector sub-assemblies and related methods

A method of making a fiber optic connector sub-assembly involves: initially disposing a bonding agent in a ferrule bore of a ferrule; heating at least a portion of the ferrule above a melting temperature of the bonding agent so that some of the bonding agent melts; and solidifying the bonding agent that has melted to form the fiber optic connector sub-assembly, all without an optical fiber being disposed within the ferrule bore.

Methods of making fiber optic connector sub-assemblies

A method of forming an optical fiber connector comprises preloading an adhesive plug into a ferrule bore of a ferrule. The ferrule bore extends between a first face and a second face of the ferrule and includes a large diameter bore section extending inwardly from the first face, a micro-hole section extending inwardly from the second face, and a transition section located between the large diameter bore section and the micro-hole section. The adhesive plug: a) is coupled to at least the transition section during the preloading, b) comprises an adhesive composition in a stable form, and c) blocks an entrance into the micro-hole section from the transition section. The method also comprises storing the adhesive plug in the ferrule bore for at least one day without coupling the optical connector to an optical fiber.

Method of forming an optical connector

A method of forming an optical fiber connector is provided. The optical connector includes a body having a passage with a first section extending inwardly from a first face of the body, a second section extending inwardly from a second face from the body, and a transition section located between the first and second sections. The first section of the passage has a first width and the second section of the passage has a second width that is less than the first width. The method comprises loading an adhesive composition into the passage and storing the adhesive composition for at least one day without coupling the optical connector to an optical fiber. The adhesive composition is a meltable, substantially solid material maintained the first passage section, transition section, or both the second passage section and transition section.

A method of terminating an optical fiber involves providing a ferrule having a front end, a rear end, a ferrule bore extending between the front and rear ends, and a bonding agent disposed in at least a portion of the ferrule bore. The method also involves applying energy to heat the bonding agent. An end section of an optical fiber is inserted into the ferrule bore and through the bonding agent when the bonding agent is heated. The end section of the optical fiber includes a primary coating prior to insertion into the ferrule bore. During insertion of the end section of the optical fiber through the bonding agent, the heated bonding agent thermally removes at least a portion of the primary coating during so that the optical fiber can be secured in the ferrule bore with the bonding agent.

Methods of terminating one or more optical fibers

An optical fiber connector preloaded with an adhesive is provided. The optical connector includes a body having a passage with a first section extending inwardly from a first face of the body, a second section extending inwardly from a second face from the body, and a transition section located between the first section and the second section. The first section of the passage has a first width and the second section of the passage has a second width that is less than the first width. An adhesive composition is located within the transition section of the passage and is configured to bind an optical fiber to an inner surface of the second section following melting and solidification of the adhesive composition.

Optical connector with adhesive material

Thermal removal of optical fiber coatings by insertion through heated ferrules to form ferrule assemblies for fiber optic connectors, and related assemblies are disclosed. An optical fiber includes a glass fiber, having a cladding and core, surrounded by a protective coating. By removing the coating at an end portion of the optical fiber, the end portion may be precisely positioned and secured within a ferrule to enable reliable optical communications. The coating may be thermally removed, or substantially thermally removed, by inserting the optical fiber through a rear opening of the ferrule which has been heated above a temperature sufficient to change the coating to a non-solid state. In this manner, the coating may be efficiently removed from the end portion of the optical fiber while being inserted into the ferrule bore of the ferrule to enable efficient forming of a ferrule assembly for a fiber optic connector.

Thermal removal of optical fiber coatings by insertion through heated ferrules to form ferrule assemblies for fiber optic connectors, and related assemblies

An optical fiber connector includes a ferrule configured to receive an optical fiber. The ferrule has a fiber bore and a storage location interior to the ferrule and adjacent to the fiber bore. The storage location comprises a funnel-shaped portion that is directed toward the fiber bore. An adhesive material is positioned in the storage location of the ferrule. The adhesive material is a dry and solid material.

An optical fiber connector preloaded with an adhesive is provided. The optical connector includes an optical fiber-receiving passage. The passage includes a first passage section extending inwardly from the first face, and the first passage section has a first width. The passage includes a second passage section extending inwardly from the second face, and the second passage section has a second width. The second width is less than the first width. The passage includes a transition passage section located between the first passage section and the second passage section. The transition passage has a variable width, and the variable width of the transition section decreases as the distance to the second face decreases. A meltable adhesive composition is located within the transition passage section and is configured to bind an optical fiber to an inner surface of the second passage following melting and solidification of the adhesive composition.

Growing community of inventors

Lincolnton, NC, United States of America

Dennis Craig Morrison