Corning Cable Systems

Rodney Throckmorton

James Phillip Luther

Thomas Theuerkorn

David Lee Dean, Jr

Michael De Jong

Karl M Wagner

Jeffrey D Palmer

Mark W Spriggle

A universal ferrule for use within a plurality of optical fiber connector types includes a longitudinally extending ferrule body having an opposing end face and base. The ferrule body defines an internal passageway at the base and at least one bore at the end face. The base is sized and shaped to engage an internal chamber within the housing of each connector type to rotationally, radially and longitudinally position the at least one bore relative to the connector housing. The ferrule body has a cylindrical external surface that includes at least one longitudinal groove. A first groove portion adjacent the end face is sized and shaped to position the universal ferrule relative to a mating ferrule. A second groove portion adjacent the base is larger than the first groove portion. A chamfered edge between the end face and the external surface of the ferrule body facilitates interconnection of mating ferrules.

Universal ferrule

A ferrule boot for attachment to an optical fiber ribbon has a channel extending therethrough. The channel has at its distal end a first tapered lead-in section sized and dimensioned such that the optical fiber ribbon with the internal optical fibers stripped and exposed is insertable through the ferrule boot. The first tapered lead-in section is connected to a second tapered section, and the second tapered section prevents adhesives used to affix the optical fiber ribbon to a ferrule from wicking to the outside of the ferrule boot. The channel has a substantially straight section fitting intimately over the outside of the optical fiber ribbon to center and guide the exposed optical fibers to the center of the proximal end of the channel. In an embodiment, the ferrule boot also has a lip member disposed proximate to the proximal end of the channel to help seal the adhesive and ease insertion. Additionally, the lip may also prevent withdrawal of the optical fiber ribbon. In another embodiment, the ferrule boot also has a vent hole to allow air or other gases trapped in the ferrule boot cavity to vent to the ambient atmosphere.

Ferrule boot for optical connectors

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

Growing community of inventors

Newton, NC, United States of America

Rodney Throckmorton