FLEXIBLE, MULTI-FIBER FIBER OPTIC JUMPER

• US 20040126069A1
• Filed: 12/30/2002
• Published: 07/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Melton, Stuart R., Jong, Michael de
• Granted Patent: US 6,764,221 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/109
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3885 Multicore or multichannel optical connectors, i.e. one single ferrule containing more than one fibre, e.g. ribbon type optical ribbon cable G02B6/4403, G02B6/448
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/38875 Protection from bending or twisting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. A flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper comprising:

a plurality of optical fibers, the plurality of optical fibers having a first end and a second end;

a multifiber ferrule mounted to the first end of the plurality of optical fibers;

at least one ferrule mounted to the second end of the plurality of optical fibers; and

a protective covering over at least a portion of the plurality of optical fibers, the plurality of optical fibers being free to move relative to one another within the protective covering.

2. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 1, wherein the at least one ferrule mounted to the second end of the plurality of fibers is a multifiber ferrule.

3. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 1, wherein the at least one ferrule mounted to the second end of the plurality of fibers is a plurality of multifiber ferrules.

4. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 1, wherein the multifiber ferrule mounted to the first end of the plurality of fibers is a v-groove array.

5. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 1, wherein the at least one ferrule comprises a plurality of single fiber ferrules, one of the plurality of single fiber ferrules mounted to each of the plurality of optical fibers.

6. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 2, wherein each of the multifiber ferrules have a plurality of microholes that correspond to the plurality of optical fibers.

7. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 1, wherein a portion of the first end of the plurality of optical fibers is ribbonized.

8. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 2, wherein a portion of the first and second ends of the plurality of optical fibers are ribbonized.

9. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 1, further comprising a transition boot engaging a portion of the multi fiber ferrule and a portion of the protective covering.

10. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 9, wherein the transition boot bends through an angle of about 90°

.

11. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 1, wherein the protective covering is round in cross section.

12. A flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper comprising:

a length of fiber optic ribbon, the fiber optic ribbon having a plurality of optical fibers, the fiber optic ribbon having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion, the fiber optic ribbon also having a ribbon matrix;

the intermediate portion of the fiber optic ribbon having the ribbon matrix stripped from the plurality of optical fibers;

a multifiber ferrule mounted to the first end of the length of fiber optic ribbon;

at least one ferrule mounted to the second end of the fiber optic ribbon; and

a protective covering over at least a portion of the fiber optic ribbon, the portion of the fiber optic ribbon including the intermediate portion, and the plurality of optical fibers being free to move relative to one another within the protective covering.

13. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 12, wherein the at least one ferrule mounted to the second end of the fiber optic ribbon is a multifiber ferrule.

14. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 12, wherein the ribbon matrix is stripped from the second end of the fiber optic ribbon and at least one ferrule comprises at least two ferrules mounted to the fibers at the second end.

15. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 12, further comprising a transition boot attached to a portion of the multifiber ferrule and a portion of the protective covering.

16. A flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper comprising:

a plurality of optical fibers, the plurality of optical fibers having a first end and a second end;

a multifiber ferrule mounted to the first end of the plurality of optical fibers;

at least two ferrules mounted to the second end of the plurality of optical fibers;

a first protective covering over the plurality of optical fibers that extends from the multifiber ferrule to a furcation point, the plurality of optical fibers being free to move relative to one another within the first protective covering; and

at least two second protective coverings, each second protective covering covering at least one of the plurality of optical fibers, and each of the at least two second protective coverings extending from the furcation point to the at least two ferrules.

17. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the plurality of optical fibers is ribbonized.

18. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 16, further comprising a furcation body disposed at the furcation point.

19. The flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 16, wherein the at least two second protective coverings comprise a plurality of second protective coverings, each of the plurality of second protective coverings covering at least one of the plurality of optical fibers between the furcation point and the ferrule.

20. A method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper comprising the step of:

providing a plurality of bare optical fibers, the plurality of optical fibers having a first end and a second end;

connectorizing the first end of the plurality of optical fibers with a multifiber ferrule;

disposing a protective covering on at least a portion of the plurality of optical fibers, the protective covering having a configuration to allow the plurality of optical fibers to move relative to one another within the protective covering; and

connectorizing the second end of the plurality of fibers.

21. The method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 20, where in the step of disposing the protective covering occurs before the step of connectorizing the first end of the plurality of optical fibers.

22. The method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 20, wherein the connectorizing the first end includes securing the multifiber ferrule onto the plurality of optical fibers and polishing the ferrule to have a polished ferrule on the end of the optical fibers.

23. The method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 20, wherein each of the fibers has a color coating and the step of connectorizing the first end of the plurality of optical fibers further comprises the substeps of:

ribbonizing the fibers in a predetermined order based on the color coating;

stripping the color coating off the fibers;

inserting the fibers into the ferrule;

securing the optical fibers within the ferrule; and

polishing the ferrule.

24. The method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 20, further comprising the step of attaching connector hardware to the ferrule.

25. The method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 24, wherein the connector hardware includes a ferrule retainer.

26. The method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 24, wherein the connector hardware includes a spring and a spring retainer.

27. A method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper comprising the step of:

providing a length of fiber optic ribbon, the fiber optic ribbon having a first end, a second end, and an intermediate portion;

stripping ribbon matrix off the intermediate portion of the fiber optic ribbon to expose a plurality of optical fibers;

disposing a protective covering on the fiber optic ribbon to cover at least a portion of the fiber optic ribbon, the at least a portion of the fiber optic ribbon including the plurality of optical fibers, the protective covering having a configuration to allow the plurality of optical fibers to move relative to one another within the protective covering; and

connectorizing the first end of the fiber optic ribbon with a multifiber ferrule; and

connectorizing the second end of the plurality of the optical fibers.

28. The method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 27, further comprising the step of stripping ribbon matrix off the second end before the step of disposing the protective covering on the fiber optic ribbon.

29. The method for assembling a flexible multifiber fiber optic jumper of claim 27, wherein the fiber optic ribbon has a predetermined width and the protective covering has a diameter that is smaller than the predetermined width.