Fiber breakout with integral connector

• US 20060233506A1
• Filed: 04/19/2006
• Published: 10/19/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CommScope Technologies, LLC (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Reagan, Randy, Lu, Yu, Noonan, Michael, Gniadek, Jeff
• Granted Patent: US 7,349,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: G01M 11/33 with a light emitter being disposed at one fibre or waveguide end-face, and a light receiver at the other end-face
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3823 containing surplus lengths, internal fibre loops provisionally see also G02B6/444
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3827 Wrap-back connectors, i.e. containing a fibre having an U shape
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3849 using mechanical protective elements, e.g. caps, hoods, sealing membranes G02B6/3816 takes precedence; provisionally see H01R13/44
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/385 Accessories for testing or observation of connectors means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule with auxiliary facilities for movably aligning or adjusting the fibre within its ferrule, measuring position, eccentricity G02B6/3843; mechanical features associated with the optical testing of optical fibres G01M11/088
• 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 6/3895 identification of connection, e.g. right plug to the right socket or full engagement of the mating parts keying element on the plug or adapter G02B6/3831; keying element on the ferrule G02B6/3851; keying element for electrical connection H01R13/64
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3897 Connectors fixed to housings, casing, frames or circuit boards G02B6/44528 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4472 Manifolds
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4473 Three-way systems
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4475 with provision for lateral branching G02B6/4431 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/562 locatable, e.g. using magnetic means

Abstract

A fiber breakout for connecting a branch cable to a fiber optic distribution cable is disclosed. The fiber breakout can include an optical ribbon separated from the distribution cable at a breakout location. An overmold is formed over the optical ribbon and a portion of the distribution cable at the breakout location. An optical fiber breakout connector is also disclosed. The breakout connector has first and second ends, the first end having a multifiber connector for an optical ribbon, and the second end having a plurality of single port connectors. A fiber breakout separates the optical ribbon into a plurality of fibers.

Claims

1. A fiber breakout for connecting a branch cable to a fiber optic distribution cable, the fiber breakout comprising:

(a) an optical fiber separated from the distribution cable at a breakout location;

(b) an over-mold formed over the optical fiber and a portion of the distribution cable at the breakout location;

(c) a connector terminating the optical fiber, the connector embedded within the overmold.

2. The fiber breakout of claim 1, wherein the over-mold environmentally seals the exposed ribbon.

3. The fiber breakout of claim 1, wherein the connector is an MT female connector.

4. The fiber breakout of claim 1, further comprising a jacket installed over the the optical fiber such that the over-mold is coupled to the jacket.

5. The fiber breakout of claim 4, wherein the jacket comprises structural shrink-tubing.

6. The fiber breakout of claim 4, further comprising a cable sheath placed over the optical fiber.

7. The fiber breakout of claim 6, wherein the jacket is attached over the cable sheath.

8. The fiber breakout of claim 1, wherein the over-mold produces a weather-tight seal around the distribution cable and the optical fiber.

9. A fiber breakout for connecting a branch cable to a fiber optic distribution cable, the fiber breakout comprising:

(a) an optical fiber separated from the distribution cable at a breakout location;

(b) an over-mold formed over the optical fiber and a portion of the distribution cable at the breakout location;

(c) a radio frequency identification device positioned at the breakout location.

10. The fiber breakout of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification device is a passive RFID tag.

11. The fiber breakout of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification device is an active RFID tag.

12. The fiber breakout of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification device is embedded within a housing that encloses the breakout.

13. The fiber breakout of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification device is encoded with geographic location information related to the breakout location.

14. The fiber breakout of claim 9, wherein the radio frequency identification device is encoded with subscriber information related to the breakout location.

15. An optical fiber breakout connector comprising:

(a) a first end comprising a multifiber connector terminating an optical ribbon;

(b) a fiber breakout connected to the first end via the optical ribbon, the fiber breakout constructed to separate the optical ribbon into a plurality of fibers, each of the plurality of fibers forming a single fiber cable;

(c) a second end comprising a plurality of single port connectors, each of the single port connectors connected to the breakout by a single fiber cable.

16. The optical fiber breakout connector of claim 15, wherein the multifiber connector is configured to optically connect the optical fiber breakout connector to mating connector associated with a factory integrated termination.

17. The optical fiber breakout connector of claim 15, wherein each of the plurality of single port connectors is configured for mating with a single fiber cable connecting the optical fiber to a subscriber location.

18. The optical fiber breakout connector of claim 15, wherein the multifiber connector comprises a ruggedized MT connector.