Corning Cable Systems

Siecor Corporation

Siecor Operations, LLC

Corning Optical Communications LLC

Otto I Szentesi

James Phillip Luther

William James Miller

Robert Bruce Elkins, Ii

Elli Makrides-Saravanos

Costas Saravanos

Dennis Michael Knecht

Thomas Theuerkorn

Hieu Vinh Tran

Lars K Nielsen

Joseph Todd Cody

Markus A Giebel

David L Dean

Alan J Malanowski

James R Merriken

Brian J Gimbel

Michael deJong

Rodney A Throckmorton

Jon Paul Segelhorst

Thomas J McMahon

Martin J Curran

William J Miller

An optical fiber splitter has a higher density fiber optic array that allows for smaller packaging. The optical fibers that extend from the optical fiber splitter have one end connectorized and their spacing at the other end reduced, thereby eliminating components that were heretofore required. A method of making the fiber optic array includes interleaving the optical fibers to reduce the overall dimensions of the fiber optic array and the fiber optic splitter. A tool is used to reduce the spacing of the optical fibers in the fiber optic array.

Optical fiber splitter module and fiber optic array therefor

A tether assembly includes a tether cable containing optical fibers and adapted to be attached to a fiber optic distribution cable at a mid-span access location. A furcation at the end of the tether cable separates and transitions the optical fibers into furcation legs terminating in individual connector ports. Each connector port may be a receptacle for receiving a connector mounted upon one of the optical fibers and a mating connector of a drop cable, a plug mounted upon one of the optical fibers that is received within a plug alignment member operable to align the plug with a mating plug of a drop cable, or a connector that is routed to a receptacle disposed within an external wall of a network connection terminal from within the enclosure. The tether assembly provides a distribution cable assembly and method for mitigating a span length measurement difference in a pre-engineered communications network.

Tether assembly having individual connector ports

A pin retainer for a fiber optic connector includes a ferrule having a front face defining a hole for receiving a guide pin. The pin retainer permits the guide pin to be inserted in the field following assembly of the connector and polishing the front face of the ferrule. The pin retainer includes a frame and at least one retaining tab for engaging the guide pin when the guide pin is inserted into the hole from the front face. The frame may have an open side for permitting the pin retainer to be fabricated using a highly efficient wire EDM process. The pin retainer provides a pin retention force of at least about 8 lbs and may include a plurality of retaining tabs for engaging the guide pin in more than one location. The ferrule may be provided with an external feature to position the pin retainer on the ferrule.

Pin retainer for fiber optic connector and associated fabrication method

An interconnection enclosure comprising at least one connector port operable for receiving a connector pair and a preterminated optical connector received in the at least one connector port, wherein the preterminated optical connector is adapted to be withdrawn from the exterior of the enclosure without entering the enclosure. The enclosure further comprising a tether means, a bend radius control means and a sealing means. An interconnection enclosure comprised of two halves held together by a fastening means, the enclosure defining an end wall and defining at least one connector port opening through the end wall for receiving a preterminated optical connector, the enclosure housing further defining an opening for receiving a distribution cable extending therethrough, wherein the preterminated optical connector is adapted to be withdrawn from the exterior of the enclosure without entering the enclosure.

Interconnection enclosure having a connector port and preterminated optical connector

A method for assembling a population of ferrules to minimize the eccentricity of the fibers typically includes the steps of selecting a set of ferrules, determining the eccentricity of the ferrules, selecting a fiber, inserting the fiber within the ferrule bore, orienting the fiber within the ferrule, and securing the fiber in place. The result is a population of ferrules that can be mated with little or no insertion loss.

Low-loss intermatable ferrules for optical fibers and a method of fabrication thereof

The challenge of pulling an optical fiber having a connector at its terminal end without incurring damage to the fiber or connector due to excessive pulling or bending is met by introducing a breakaway feature that disconnects the connectorized fiber from the pulling mechanism upon detecting excessive force. The breakaway feature may be positioned at several locations along the pathway connecting the optical fiber and the pulling force. In one embodiment the breakaway feature is disposed on a cover over the connectorized front end of the optical fiber. In other embodiments the breakaway element is inserted along the cord connecting the connectorized optical fiber to the pulling force.

Optical fiber breakaway apparatus and method

The fiber optic interconnection enclosure, such as a fiber optic distribution frame or the like, effectively limits the entry of particles, such as dust and other contaminants, into the enclosure. For example, the fiber optic interconnection enclosure can maintain a greater pressure, i.e., a positive pressure, within the internal cavity defined by the enclosure than outside of the internal cavity so as to effectively limit the entry of particles into the internal cavity, even as the door of the fiber optic interconnection enclosure is repeatedly opened and closed. The fiber optic interconnection enclosure generally includes at least one fan to draw air into the internal cavity through an air inlet port defined by the cabinet and to circulate the air through the internal cavity in order to reduce the number of particles that settle upon or are transferred to the end faces of the optical fibers or other surfaces within the internal cavity. By filtering the air drawn into the internal cavity, at least some of the particles are removed from the air drawn into the internal cavity. In addition, by expelling at least some of the air that has circulated within the internal cavity through a vent, a number of the particles that may have been otherwise trapped within the internal cavity can also be expelled prior to settling upon the end face of an optical fiber or other surfaces within the internal cavity.

Fiber optic interconnection enclosure having a forced air system

An optical fiber connector includes a longitudinally extending ferrule having fusion access means defined therein such that an optical fiber stub and a second optical fiber can be fused in the field during installation of the optical fiber connector. In one embodiment, the fusion access means includes a fusion access slot which extends transversely across the ferrule from a first side of the ferrule to a bottom portion of the fusion access slot such that a bore defined longitudinally through the ferrule opens into the fusion access slot. In this embodiment, the radial distance between the bottom portion of the fusion access slot and the second side of the ferrule, opposite the first side, is greater than a predetermined radial distance such that the fusion access slot does not significantly weaken the ferrule so that the ferrule remains structurally intact during use. In another embodiment, the fusion access means includes a fusion access port defined transversely through the ferrule such that the fusion access port is in communication with the longitudinal bore and thereby defines an internal splice cavity in which the end portions of the optical fiber stub and the second optical fiber can also be fused to form an integral optical fiber. By carefully defining the fusion access means within the ferrule, however, the structural integrity of the ferrule can be maintained such that the resulting optical fiber connector is durable and strong.

Field installable optical fiber connector and an associated method of

An applicator for inserting guide pins in the corresponding apertures of a fiber optic connector includes a carrier body defining a number of bores and a number of guide pins disposed at least partially within respective ones of the bores, the guide pins extending outwardly from a first surface of the carrier body. The outwardly extending ends of the guide pins are then inserted into and captured by the fiber optic connector and remain therein after removal of the carrier body. In order to further increase the numbers of guide pins that are simultaneously inserted, a plurality of fiber optic connectors can be maintained in a predetermined aligned relationship by an alignment shell having a releasably connected sidewall for receiving the fiber optic connectors.

Applicator and associated method for inserting guide pins in a fiber

Disclosed is a method of treating light waveguide ends in which the light waveguide is mechanically polished and thereafter the reflectance of the light waveguide is reduced by vaporizing at least some glass at the light waveguide end by the use of a laser beam.

Laser removal of altered index of refraction layer on glass fibers

Disclosed is an improved method for polishing fiber optic connectors. After a light waveguide distal end is mechanically ground and/or polished, the distal end is slightly melted in order to reduce reflectance. Melting may be induced by a laser, microtorch, or electric arc.

Method of laser polishing fiber optic connectors

A biconic optical fiber connector adapted to introduce in an optical fiber transmission line a predetermined amount of attenuation comprising: a frustroconical shaped male and socket member adapted to be fitted into one another, a first optical fiber having a free end disposed in and terminated on a surface of the frustroconical shaped male member and a second optical fiber in alignment with the first optical fiber having a free end disposed and terminated in the socket. A shim or sleeve with an aperture having inside and outside frustroconical surfaces delimiting a predetermined wall thickness between them disposed over the frustroconical member and between the socket and frustroconical male member, the wall thickness of the shim causing the free ends of the first and second optical fibers to be separated one from another a predetermined distance so as to introduce into the optical fiber transmission line a predetermined amount of attenuation that is a function of the shim's wall thickness.

Biconic optical fiber connector/attenuator

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for quickly joining one set of optical fibers to another set followed by permanent repair. The basic apparatus comprises two frames, each having a cross member containing a plurality of spaced apart optical fiber connectors; optical fibers optically connecting one connector in one frame to a corresponding connector in the other frame; at least one means in each frame to anchor a cable to the frame; and a bracket means attached to each frame between that frame's connectors and anchor means. A bare fiber adapter is also disclosed adapted to removably receive an optical fiber coaxially. On one end of the bare fiber adapter is a means affixed thereto for removably securing an optical fiber within the adapter. The repair method of a severed fiber optic cable involves the use of the above described apparatus as follows: Cable ends to be joined are stripped and secured in each frame. Bare fiber adapters are then removably secured to the terminal portions of the optical fibers of both cable ends sought to be optically connected to one another. Thereafter, the bare fiber adapters of one cable end are connected to the connectors of one frame and a like procedure carried out with the bare fiber adapters of the other cable end and frame to restore optical communication. After first routing traffic over other fibers, bare fiber adapters of a given fiber are removed and the fibers optically joined together in a more permanent fashion. When there is not enough slack in the damaged cable to join the fibers directly, a piece of spare cable has to be stripped and adhered to the frames to carry out permanent joining. Subsequently, the bare fiber adapters of the corresponding fiber sought to be permanently connected are removed and the fibers are permanently joined to each other in a predetermined manner.

Method and apparatus for repairing fiber optic cable

A splicing tray for optical fibers and fiber optic cable comprising a base, optical fiber storage facilities disposed on the periphery of the base and an optical fiber receiving means attached to the base, the receiving means including a plurality of slots and a holding means, the slots formed by longitudinally upstanding sidewalls and the holding means, disposed along a terminal portion of the receiving means, having first and second communicating slots, the first slot having a transverse dimension larger than a like dimension of said second slot, both of said first and second slots of the holding means communicating with one of the first mentioned slots.

Growing community of inventors

Hickory, NC, United States of America

Otto I Szentesi