Tyco Electronics Corporation

Commscope Technologies LLC

Commscope Asia Holdings B.v.

Joshua Lee Webb

Michael Lawrence Gurreri

Douglas Harold Rohde

Robert Charles Flaig

Michael Aaron Kadar-Kallen

Dwight Andrew Bretz

Paul Schneider

Randall Bobby Paul

David William Cormany

Dirk Alexander De Gast

Tom De Boer

The present disclosure relates generally to methods for processing ferrules of fiber optic connectors such that the amount of polishing that is required is eliminated or at least reduced. In one example, an energy source is used to remove excess adhesive from the end face of the fiber and likely from an end face of the ferrule.

Methods for processing ferrules and/or optical fibers

A method for preparing a ferrule assembly avoids polishing while providing adequate control over fiber end protrusion and co-planarity. A distal end of the fiber is prepared before securing the fiber in a ferrule, and before or after inserting the fiber into the ferrule. The prepared fiber is manipulated to provide a desired spatial relationship between the fiber end and the ferrule's end face, and then secured to maintain the desired spatial relationship. Preferably, the fiber end is prepared using a laser cleaving technique to provide a suitable end without abrasive polishing. An interferometer may be used to obtain measurements, during manipulation of the prepared fiber within the ferrule, that indicate whether the prepared fiber is satisfactorily positioned. In accordance with other aspects of the invention, a ferrule assembly prepared in accordance with the method, and a connector or other optical package including such a ferrule assembly are provided.

Ferrule assembly

Method for preparing a ferrule assembly

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Stewartstown, PA, United States of America

Joshua Lee Webb