Methods for Forming Connectorized Fiber Optic Cabling

• US 20100254659A1
• Filed: 06/18/2010
• Published: 10/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Commscope Inc of North Carolina (CommScope Holding Company, Inc.)
• Inventors: Case, Richard L., Anderson, Timothy W.
• Granted Patent: US 8,992,098 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/54
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3834 Means for centering or aligning the light guide within the ferrule
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3882 using rods, pins or balls to align a pair of ferrule ends
• 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 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3898 Tools, e.g. handheld; Tuning wrenches; Jigs used with connectors, e.g. for extracting, removing or inserting in a panel, for engaging or coupling connectors, for assembling or disassembling components within the connector, for applying clips to hold two connectors together or for crimping tools for cleaning, G02B6/3866; tools in general B25B

Abstract

A connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly includes a loose tube fiber optic cable and a connector assembly. The cable has a termination end and includes: an optical fiber bundle including a plurality of optical fibers; at least one strength member; and a jacket surrounding the optical fiber bundle and the at least one strength member. The connector assembly includes a rigid portion and defines a fiber passage. The connector assembly is mounted on the termination end of the cable such that the optical fiber bundle extends through at least a portion of the fiber passage. The plurality of optical fibers of the optical fiber bundle have a ribbonized configuration in the rigid portion of the connector assembly and a loose, non-ribbonized configuration outside the rigid portion. The plurality of optical fibers undergo a transition from the ribbonized configuration to the loose, non-ribbonized configuration in the rigid portion of the connector assembly. According to some embodiments, the rigid portion of the connector assembly includes a rigid connector housing.

Claims

1. A connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly comprising:

a loose tube fiber optic cable that includes a plurality of optical fibers and at least one strength member; and

a connector assembly defining at least one fiber passage, wherein the connector assembly is mounted on an end of the cable such that the plurality of optical fibers extend through at least a portion of the at least one fiber passage, the connector assembly including a connector housing and a strain relief boot mounted to the connector housing, the strain relief boot having a boot passage through which the cable extends, wherein the boot passage includes a front section proximate the connector housing and a rear section distal from the connector housing that receives the loose tube fiber optic cable;

wherein the plurality of optical fibers have a ribbonized configuration within at least part of the connector assembly and have a loose configuration outside the connector assembly.

2. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 1, the loose tube fiber optic cable further comprising a jacket that surrounds the plurality of optical fibers and the strength member.

3. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 2, wherein at least one of the jacket and the strength member is secured to the connector assembly.

4. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 3, wherein the jacket and the strength member are each directly secured to the connector housing by a crimp ring.

5. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 2, wherein the strength member completely surrounds all of the optical fibers that are within the jacket.

6. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 2, wherein the optical fibers are loose with respect to all optical fibers surrounded by the jacket so that they have no particular fixed relative orientation.

7. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 1, further comprising a tape and/or adhesive that bonds together portions of the plurality of optical fibers in the ribbonized configuration.

8. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 2, wherein the jacket defines a passage through which the strength member and the optical fibers extend, and wherein at least 30% of the volume of the passage is not filled by the optical fibers or the strength member.

9. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 2, wherein the optical fibers float within the strength member.

10. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 9, wherein the strength member floats within the jacket.

11. The connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly of claim 1, wherein the strength member is secured to the connector assembly to provide strain relief between the loose tube optical fiber cable and the connector assembly.

12. A method for forming a connectorized fiber optic cabling assembly, the method comprising:

providing a loose tube fiber optic cable that includes an optical fiber bundle that has a plurality of optical fibers having a loose, non-ribbonized configuration, at least one strength member and a jacket surrounding the optical fiber bundle and the at least one strength member; and

aligning end portions of the plurality of optical fibers in a ribbonized configuration with a fiber alignment tool; and

mounting a ferrule that has a fiber passage therethrough on the end portions of the plurality of optical fibers that are aligned in the ribbonized configuration.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying an epoxy securing the plurality of optical fibers in the ribbonized configuration within the ferrule.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the ferrule is part of a connector assembly that includes a connector housing and a strain relief boot that is attached to the connector housing.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising securing at least one of the jacket and the strength member to the connector housing.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising applying a tape and/or adhesive onto the ribbonized segment of the optical fiber bundle to retain the plurality of optical fibers in the ribbonized configuration.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising removing the fiber alignment tool after the epoxy is cured.