TRACEABLE FIBER OPTIC CABLE ASSEMBLY WITH ILLUMINATION STRUCTURE AND TRACING OPTICAL FIBERS FOR CARRYING LIGHT RECEIVED FROM A LIGHT LAUNCH DEVICE

• US 20180172923A1
• Filed: 01/20/2017
• Published: 06/21/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bauco, Anthony Sebastian, Butler, Douglas Llewellyn, Jones, Ashley Wesley, Lail, Jason Clay, ten Have, Eric Stephan
• Granted Patent: US 10,545,298 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0006 Coupling light into the fibre in general G02B6/4298
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/0008 the light being emitted at the end of the fibre
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/245 Removing protective coverings of light guides before coupling
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/262 Optical details of coupling light into, or out of, or between fibre ends, e.g. special fibre end shapes or associated optical elements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3809 without a ferrule embedding the fibre end, i.e. with bare fibre end
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3855 characterised by the method of anchoring or fixing the fibre within the ferrule G02B6/3854 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3873 Connectors using guide surfaces for aligning ferrule ends, e.g. tubes, sleeves, V-grooves, rods, pins, balls
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3878 comprising a plurality of ferrules, branching and break-out means
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3893 Push-pull type, e.g. snap-in, push-on
• 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 6/4292 the light guide being disconnectable from the opto-electronic element, e.g. mutually self aligning arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/43 Arrangements comprising a plurality of opto-electronic elements and associated optical interconnections
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4416 Heterogeneous cables
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/44529 Optical means for identifying patch-cords
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4459 Ducts; Conduits; Hollow tubes for air blown fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/4482 Code or colour marking
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/562 locatable, e.g. using magnetic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 1/136 having patch field management or physical layer management arrangements

Abstract

A traceable fiber optic cable assembly with an illumination structure and tracing optical fibers for carrying light received from a light launch device is disclosed herein. The traceable fiber optic cable assembly and light launch device provide easy tracing of the traceable fiber optic cable assembly using fiber optic tracing signals. Further, the launch connector is easily attached to and removed from the fiber optic connector with repeatable and reliable alignment of optic fibers, even when the fiber optic connector is mechanically and/or optically engaged with a network component. The fiber optic connectors are configured to efficiently illuminate an exterior of the connector for effective visibility for a user to quickly locate the fiber optic connector.

Claims

1. A cable tracing system, comprising:

a fiber optic connector comprising;

a housing defining an interior and comprising a launch opening;

a translucent internal illumination structure positioned within the interior of the housing;

at least one data transmission element, at least a portion of the at least one data transmission element positioned within the interior of the housing for communication of an optical data signal;

a first launch end of a first tracing optical fiber positioned within the launch opening of the housing and accessible from an exterior of the housing for receiving a first optical tracing signal from a launch optical fiber to direct the first optical tracing signal to a first emission end of the first tracing optical fiber; and

a second emission end of a second tracing optical fiber positioned within the housing;

the translucent internal illumination structure configured to redirect at least a primary portion of a second optical tracing signal when emitted from the second emission end.

2. The cable tracing system of claim 1, further comprising a launch connector removably attachable to the fiber optic connector, the launch connector configured to direct the first optical tracing signal to the first launch end of the first tracing optical fiber when mechanically engaged with the fiber optic connector.

3. The cable tracing system of claim 2, wherein the launch connector comprises a body having a central channel with an open bottom, at least a portion of the fiber optic connector positionable within the central channel and removable therefrom.

4. The cable tracing system of claim 2, wherein the launch connector is configured to be attachable to and removable from the fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is mechanically engaged with a fiber optic component.

5. The cable tracing system of claim 1, wherein the fiber optic connector comprises no electrically conducting devices.

6. The cable tracing system of claim 1, wherein the redirected at least a primary portion of the second optical tracing signal is redirected by total internal reflection.

7. The cable tracing system of claim 1, further comprising a translucent external illumination structure positioned outside the housing, the translucent external illumination structure configured to redirect at least a secondary portion of the redirected at least a primary portion of the second optical tracing signal.

8. The cable tracing system of claim 7, wherein the redirected at least a secondary portion of the second optical tracing signal is redirected by total internal reflection.

9. The cable tracing system of claim 1, wherein the translucent internal illumination structure comprises a lock feature to prevent disengagement of the fiber optic connector with a fiber optic component.

10. The cable tracing system of claim 9, wherein the lock feature is configured to translate relative to the housing between a lock orientation preventing disengagement of the fiber optic connector from the fiber optic component and an unlock orientation allowing disengagement of the fiber optic connector from the fiber optic component.

11. The cable tracing system of claim 1, wherein the second emission end is configured to emit a second optical tracing signal received from a second launch end of the second tracing optical fiber into the interior of the housing.

12. The cable tracing system of claim 11, wherein the first optical tracing signal and the second optical tracing signal are not transmitted simultaneously.

13. A cable tracing system, comprising:

a traceable fiber optic cable assembly, comprising;

a traceable fiber optic cable, comprising;

at least one data transmission element for communication of an optical data signal;

a first tracing optical fiber comprising a first launch end and a first emission end; and

a second tracing optical fiber comprising a second launch end and a second emission end;

a first fiber optic connector at a first end of the traceable fiber optic cable, the first fiber optic connector comprising a first housing defining a first interior and comprising a first launch opening;

a translucent first internal illumination structure positioned within the first interior of the first housing;

a second fiber optic connector at a second end of the traceable fiber optic cable, the second fiber optic connector comprising a second housing defining a second interior and comprising a second launch opening; and

a translucent second internal illumination structure positioned within the second interior of the second housing;

the first launch end of the first tracing optical fiber positioned within the first launch opening of the first housing of the first fiber optic connector and the first emission end of the first tracing optical fiber is positioned within the second housing of the second fiber optic connector;

the second launch end of the second tracing optical fiber positioned within the second launch opening of the second housing of the second fiber optic connector and the second emission end of the second tracing optical fiber is positioned within the first housing of the first fiber optic connector;

the first launch end accessible from an exterior of the first housing for receiving a first optical tracing signal from a launch optical fiber for direction of the first optical tracing signal to the first emission end of the first tracing optical fiber;

the second launch end accessible from an exterior of the second housing for receiving a second optical tracing signal from the launch optical fiber for direction of the second optical tracing signal to the second emission end of the second tracing optical fiber;

the translucent first internal illumination structure configured to redirect at least a primary portion of the first optical tracing signal when emitted from the second launch end; and

the translucent second internal illumination structure configured to redirect at least a primary portion of the second optical tracing signal when emitted from the first launch end.

14. The cable tracing system of claim 13, further comprising:

a launch connector removably attachable to the first fiber optic connector;

wherein the launch connector is configured to direct the first optical tracing signal to the first launch end of the first tracing optical fiber when mechanically engaged with the first fiber optic connector; and

wherein the launch connector is configured to direct the second optical tracing signal to the second launch end of the second tracing optical fiber when mechanically engaged with the second fiber optic connector.

15. The cable tracing system of claim 14, wherein:

the launch connector comprises a body having a central channel with an open bottom;

at least a portion of the first fiber optic connector is positionable within the central channel and removable therefrom; and

at least a portion of the second fiber optic connector is positionable within the central channel and removable therefrom.

16. The cable tracing system of claim 14, wherein:

the launch connector is configured to be attachable to and removable from the first fiber optic connector when the first fiber optic connector is mechanically engaged with a first fiber optic component, and

the launch connector is configured to be attachable to and removable from the second fiber optic connector when the second fiber optic connector is mechanically engaged with a second fiber optic component.

17. The cable tracing system of claim 13, wherein the traceable fiber optic cable assembly comprise no electrically conducting devices.

18. The cable tracing system of claim 13, wherein:

the redirected primary portion of the second optical tracing signal is redirected by total internal reflection; and

the redirected primary portion of the first optical tracing signal is redirected by total internal reflection.

19. The cable tracing system of claim 13, further comprising:

a translucent first external illumination structure positioned outside the first housing, the translucent first external illumination structure configured to redirect at least a secondary portion of the redirected primary portion of the second optical tracing signal, and

a translucent second external illumination structure positioned outside the second housing, the translucent second external illumination structure configured to redirect at least a secondary portion of the redirected primary portion of the first optical tracing signal.

20. The cable tracing system of claim 19, wherein:

the redirected secondary portion of the second optical tracing signal is redirected by total internal reflection; and

the redirected secondary portion of the second optical tracing signal is redirected by total internal reflection.

21. The cable tracing system of claim 13, wherein:

the translucent first external illumination structure comprises a first lock feature to prevent disengagement of the first fiber optic connector from a fiber optic component; and

the translucent second external illumination structure comprises a second lock feature to prevent disengagement of the second fiber optic connector from a fiber optic component.

22. The cable tracing system of claim 21, wherein, the first lock feature and the second lock feature are translatable along a central axis of the at least one data transmission element.

23. A cable tracing system, comprising:

a fiber optic connector comprising;

a housing defining an interior;

a translucent internal illumination structure positioned within the interior of the housing;

at least one data transmission element, at least a portion of the at least one data transmission element positioned within the interior of the housing for communication of an optical data signal;

a first end of a tracing optical fiber positioned within the housing and accessible from an exterior of the housing for receiving an optical tracing signal from a launch optical fiber to direct the optical tracing signal to a second end of the tracing optical fiber; and

the translucent internal illumination structure configured to redirect at least a primary portion of the second optical tracing signal when emitted from the first end.

24. The cable tracing system of claim 23, further comprising a launch connector removably attachable to the fiber optic connector, the launch connector configured to direct the optical tracing signal to the first end of the tracing optical fiber when mechanically engaged with the fiber optic connector.

25. The cable tracing system of claim 24, wherein the launch connector comprises a body having a central channel with an open bottom, at least a portion of the fiber optic connector positionable within the central channel and removable therefrom.

26. The cable tracing system of claim 24, wherein the launch connector is configured to be attachable to and removable from the fiber optic connector when the fiber optic connector is mechanically engaged with a fiber optic component.

27. The cable tracing system of claim 23, wherein the fiber optic connector comprises no electrically conducting devices.

28. The cable tracing system of claim 23, wherein the redirected primary portion of the optical tracing signal is redirected by total internal reflection.

29. The cable tracing system of claim 23, further comprising a translucent external illumination structure positioned outside the housing, the translucent external illumination structure configured to redirect at least a secondary portion of the redirected primary portion of the optical tracing signal.

30. The cable tracing system of claim 29, wherein the redirected secondary portion of the optical tracing signal is redirected by total internal reflection.

31. The cable tracing system of claim 23, wherein the illumination structure comprises a lock feature to prevent disengagement of the fiber optic connector with a fiber optic component.

32. The cable tracing system of claim 31, wherein the lock feature is configured to translate relative to the housing between a lock orientation preventing disengagement of the fiber optic connector from the fiber optic component and an unlock orientation allowing disengagement of the fiber optic connector from the fiber optic component.