Corning Cable Systems

Siecor Corporation

Corning Calde Systems LLC

Michael De Jong

Markus A Giebel

Stuart Reams Melton

Thomas A Church

Brandon Andrew Barnes

Charles A Yow, Jr

Sean M Kerr

Scott Eric Semmler

David L Dean

Ronald Lee Mudd

Rodney A Throckmorton

Michele Rene Womack

James Phillip Luther

Dennis Michael Knecht

Thomas G Knodell, Jr

Kevin L Morgan

David T Underwood

Brian A DiMarco

Rodney Throckmorton

Jeffrey D Palmer

Mark W Spriggle

Sean Michael Kerr

Methods are provided for validating the continuity of one or more optical fibers upon which a fiber optic connector is mounted. Typically, the fiber optic connector is mounted upon an optical field fiber by actuating a cam mechanism to secure the optical field fiber in position relative to an optical fiber stub. If subsequent testing indicates that the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub is unacceptable, the cam mechanism can be deactuated, the optical field fiber can be repositioned and the cam mechanism can be reactuated without having to remove and replace the fiber optic connector. In order to determine if continuity has been established between the optical field fibers and respective optical fiber stubs, a method is also provided that introduces light into at least one of each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs and that only secures the position of each optical field fiber relative to the respective optical fiber stub once the glow associated witheach pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubsthe optical field fiber and the optical fiber stubdissipates, which dissipation indicates the establishment of continuity. An improvedmultifiberconnector and installation tool are also provided to facilitate the establishment and validation of the continuity ofoptical field fibers and optical fiber stubsthe optical field fiber and optical field stubin order to reduce the time and cost required to connectorize opticalfield fibersfiberin the field.

Optical fiber connector and associated methods of validating optical fiber continuity

Methods are provided for validating the continuity of one or more optical fibers upon which a fiber optic connector is mounted. Typically, the fiber optic connector is mounted upon an optical field fiber by actuating a cam mechanism to secure the optical field fiber in position relative to an optical fiber stub. If subsequent testing indicates that the continuity of the optical field fiber and the optical fiber stub is unacceptable, the cam mechanism can be deactuated, the optical field fiber can be repositioned and the cam mechanism can be reactuated without having to remove and replace the fiber optic connector. In order to determine if continuity has been established between the optical field fibers and respective optical fiber stubs, a method is also provided that introduces light into at least one of each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs and that only secures the position of each optical field fiber relative to the respective optical fiber stub once the glow associated with each pair of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs dissipates, which dissipation indicates the establishment of continuity. An improved multifiber connector and installation tool are also provided to facilitate the establishment and validation of the continuity of optical field fibers and optical fiber stubs in order to reduce the time and cost required to connectorize optical field fibers in the field.

Multifiber connector, installation tool and associated methods of validating optical fiber continuity

A tool is provided for removing a ferrule from a receptacle that includes a handle portion having a distal end and a proximal end and a ferrule engagement portion disposed at the distal end of the handle portion. The tool also includes a latch disengagement portion disposed at the distal end of the handle portion. The tool handle may be angled for easier access if the receptacle is attached to a printed circuit board. Additionally, the tool may include an optical fiber opening to prevent the optical fibers from being bent or damaged during the ferrule removal.

Tool to remove a ferrule from a receptacle

A fixture for routing fibers to be used in a flexible fiber management solution for optical networking applications. The fixture includes first and second sides with a central region therebetween. Each of the sides has a plurality of passageways to allow optical fibers to be routed and an orientation of the optical fibers to be maintained. The central region also has a passageway in communication with the first and second sides.

Fixture for a flexible shuffle circuit

A flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper is provided with a multifiber ferrule mounted to a first end of optical fibers and at least one ferrule mounted to the second end of the optical fibers. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper also has a protective covering over at least a portion of the plurality of optical fibers with the plurality of optical fibers being free to move relative to one another within the protective covering. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper may also have a transition boot to bend it through a predetermined angle and a furcation body to allow for multiple connectors at one end.

Flexible, multi-fiber fiber optic jumper

A flexible shuffle circuit and method are provided for a flexible fiber routing management solution for optical networking applications. The flexible shuffle circuit includes a housing on a plurality of optical fibers that extend from at least two locations in the housing. The plurality of optical fibers are arranged into sets of optical fibers, each set having at least two optical fibers. The optical fibers have an end portion that is ribbonized in a predetermined orientation. A protective covering is provided to cover the optical fibers. The optical fibers are preferable buffered fibers, free to move relative to one another in the protective coverings.

Flexible shuffle circuit and method for assembling same

Devices and methods are described that permit simple correction of a fiber optic polarity reversal problem. An adapter is described having receptacles to receive a connector on a first end, or user end, and on a second end, or contractor end. Both the receptacles provide keying arrangements so that the connectors can be received only when correctly oriented with respect to the adapter. The keying arrangement on the contractor end, however, is reversable so that the connector may be inserted in one of two predetermined orientations, at the behest of the contractor or installer. Adapters are also described that receive connectors only in a physically reversed orientation to counteract a reverse polarity condition. In addition, a jumper is described that can be interposed between a connector and adapter to correct a reverse polarity condition.

Polarity reversal for fiber optic connections

A connector is provided for use in fiber to the desk applications. The connector according to the present invention includes a main housing with a passageway therethrough, a ferrule assembly mountable to the main housing, and a splice member. The connector also includes a latch on at least one exterior surface of the main housing to engage a corresponding structure in an adapter sleeve.

Removably mounted fiber optic connector and associated adapter

A fiber optic cable connector for an optical ribbon comprises a multi-fiber ferrule having a plurality of stub fibers secured therein with ends of the fibers projecting beyond the end of the ferrule. The connector also includes first and second opposed splice members extending lengthwise from a first end proximate the end of the ferrule to an opposite second end, and the ends of the stub fibers extend between the opposed splice members at the first end thereof and are disposed in fiber-aligning grooves formed in the first splice member. The splice members are arranged with a fiber-receiving space therebetween to allow the optical fibers of the fiber optic ribbon to be inserted through the fiber-receiving space such that the optical fibers engage the grooves and are guided by the grooves into optically connected relation with the ends of the stub fibers. The connector further includes a cam movable between an initial position allowing the splice members to move apart to enlarge the fiber-receiving space to facilitate insertion of the optical fibers therein, and a final position in which the cam urges the splice members in the vicinity of the ends of the stub fibers toward each other to clamp the ribbon fibers therebetween. The rear end portion of the second splice member can pivot away from the first splice member to facilitate inserting the ribbon into the connector. A tool for installing the connector in the ribbon is also disclosed.

Field-installable fiber optic ribbon connector and installation tool

A multifiber connector is provided according to one embodiment which includes a multifiber ferrule, splice components and a crimp tube that defines a lengthwise extending passageway having a lateral cross-sectional shape that is generally oval for receiving and maintaining a plurality of optical fibers in a lateral side-by-side relationship. The crimp tube therefore provides the optical fibers to the splice components in an aligned and properly spaced manner for alignment and optical interconnection with respective optical fiber stubs. According to another embodiment, a fiber optic connector is provided that includes a ferrule, mechanical splice components, an associated cam member for actuating the mechanical splice components and means for controlling the position of the cam member relative to the mechanical splice components such that the cam member can be precisely moved from a first unactuated position to a second actuated position. As such, the fiber optic connector can be mechanically spliced to a plurality of optical fibers in a reliable manner so as to facilitate the field installation of a multifiber connector. the multifiber connector can also include a ferrule holder for aligning the ferrule and the splice components.

Field installable multifiber connector

A connector is provided for use in fiber to the desk applications. The connector according to the present invention includes a main housing with a passageway therethrough, a ferrule assemble mountable to the main housing, and a splice member. The connector also includes a latch on at least one exterior surface of the main housing to engage a corresponding structure in an adapter sleeve.

The present invention provides a connector and connector sleeve assembly comprising a connector with reduced parts that is received in one side of the connector sleeve. The connector has a bayonet style protrusion that is received in a bayonet cut-out in the connector sleeve. The other side of the connector sleeve is configured to receive a standard connector design such as an SC connector or an ST type connector. The connector has an enlarged portion for being gripped by fingers such that the reduced part connector can be readily connected and disconnected from the connector sleeve in tight spaces.

Fiber optic connector and connector sleeve assembly

The present invention provides an adapter for sealingly receiving ferrules of standard optical fiber connectors such that the end faces of the ferrules are protected from moisture when inserted into the adapter. The adapter has a sealing sleeve that defines a sealing surface at each end to circumferentially seal about a ferrule. An alignment sleeve that is sized for operatively aligning the end faces of the ferrules is disposed coaxially inside the sealing sleeve. A retainer retains the sealing sleeve and allows for mounting of connectors thereto.

Sealed optical fiber connector adapter

A guide sleeve is provided for guiding a portion of a fiber optic cable through a turn and insuring that the turn radius of such portion of the cable does not decrease below the minimum bend radius of the cable. The guide comprises a curved sleeve that has a radius of curvature not less than the minimum bend radius of the fiber optic cable. The sleeve has an interior surface that defines a passageway, and the sleeve defines a slot that communicates with the passageway and extends the entire length of the sleeve such that the sleeve has an open cross-section along the entire length of the sleeve. The slot is configured to allow insertion of a length of a cable through the slot and into the passageway. The slot allows the guide to be removably installed on a cable that already has connectors and boots installed on each end of the cable without affecting the integrity of the connector/boot connection.

Growing community of inventors

Ft. Worth, TX, United States of America

Michael De Jong