Fiber Optic Connectors and Structures for Large Core Optical Fibers and Methods for Making the Same

• US 20110091166A1
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Published: 04/21/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Corning Incorporated, Microvention Incorporated (Terumo Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microvention Incorporated (Terumo Corporation)
• Inventors: McClure, Randy LaRue, Jong, Michael de, Knecht, Dennis Michael, Luther, James Phillip, Isenhour, Micah Colen, Hall, Radawan, Benjamin, Seldon David
• Application Number:
  US12/901,720
• Publication Number:
  US 20110091166A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 385/81
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/02033 Core or cladding made from organic material, e.g. polymeric material G02B1/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/25 Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/382 with index-matching medium between light guides provisionally see G02B6/4212
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3825 with an intermediate part, e.g. adapter, receptacle, linking two plugs
• 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 6/3858 Clamping, i.e. with only elastic deformation
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression

Abstract

Fiber optic connectors and other structures that can be easily and quickly prepared by the craft for termination and/or connectorization in the field are disclosed. More specifically, the fiber optic connectors and other structures disclosed are intended for use with glass optical fibers having a large core. In one embodiment, the fiber optic connector includes a a body having a portion with a retaining structure for securing an optical fiber and a front portion having a passageway sized to receive an optical fiber and a buffer layer through a front end. Methods of making the fiber optic connectors and other structures are also disclosed. The methods disclosed allow “rough cutting” of the optical fibers with a buffer layer thereon by the craft.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector, comprising:

a body of the fiber optic connector having a portion with a retaining structure for securing an optical fiber and a front portion having a passageway sized to receive an optical fiber and a buffer layer through a front end, wherein the fiber optic connector allows the optical fiber and the buffer layer to extend to a mating front face of the fiber optic connector.

2. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, further including an optical fiber with a buffer layer, wherein the buffer layer is secured by the retaining structure.

3. The fiber optic connector of claim 2, wherein optical fiber is a silica-based optical fiber

4. The fiber optic connector of claim 2, wherein optical fiber is not polished to a fine finish.

5. The fiber optic connector of claim 2, further including a boot, wherein the boot applies a forward biasing force to the optical fiber.

6. The fiber optic connector of claim 2, wherein optical fiber has a core that is 80 microns or greater.

7. The fiber optic connector of claim 2, wherein the optical fiber has a protective coating with a Young'"'"'s modulus greater than 700 MPa and a thickness of 15 microns or less.

8. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure is formed by one or more cantilevered arms and a clamping structure for biasing the one or more cantilevered arms toward each other.

9. The fiber optic connector of claim 8, wherein the clamping structure includes a boot, a crimp, or a cam, or a cantilever arm structure with a threaded compression nut.

10. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the retaining structure is reversible.

11. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, wherein the passageway has a diameter of about 250 microns or greater.

12. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, further including a dust cap that acts as a stop for insertion of the optical fiber.

13. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, further including a dust cap having an index matching gel therein.

14. The fiber optic connector of claim 1, the inner housing further including a grommet at the front end.

15. A method for making a fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

providing a body having a portion with a retaining structure and a passageway therethrough;

providing an optical fiber having a core and a protective layer; and

inserting the optical fiber into the passageway of the body so that the core and the protective layer extend to a mating front face of the fiber optic connector; and

securing the optical fiber to the fiber optic connector.

16. The method of claim 15, further including the step of securing a boot to the inner housing.

17. The method of claim 15, the retaining structure including one or more cantilevered arms.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein optical fiber is a silica-based optical fiber and not polished.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein optical fiber has a core that is 80 microns or greater.

20. The method of claim 15, the step of inserting further including abutting the optical fiber to a dust cap that includes an index matching gel.

21. The method of claim 15, the fiber optic connector further including a latching mechanism.

22. The method according to claim 15, further comprising inserting said cleaved or cut fiber in a connector without stripping said buffer.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein said method includes at least one of the following:

no polishing of fiber end surface, no stripping of any coatings;

no curing of adhesive(s).

24. The method according to claim 22, wherein said method includes placing said cut or cleaved fiber into an optical connector;

placing anther fiber in said connector, wherein said cut or cleaved fiber is optically coupled to said another fiber.

25. The method according to claim 22, including placing a quantity of gel between said fibers.

26. The method according to claim 25, wherein said fibers are not attached to one another by an adhesive.

27. A mechanical splice body, comprising:

a tube having a having a passageway between a first end and a second end, the passageway sized for receiving a first optical fiber having a buffer layer into the first end and a second optical fiber having a buffer layer into the second end; and

a first retaining structure; and

a second retaining structure.

28. A method for making a fiber optic connection, comprising:

providing a mechanical splice body having a first end, a second end, and a bore therethrough;

providing a first optical fiber having a core and a protective layer;

providing a second optical fiber having a core and a protective layer;

inserting the first optical fiber into the bore from the first end so that the core and the protective layer are disposed within the bore; and

inserting the second optical fiber into the bore from the second end so that the core and the protective layer are disposed within the bore and the second optical fiber abuts the first optical fiber, thereby making an optical connection.