Round multi-fiber cable assembly and a method of forming same

• US 7,149,392 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Molex Incorporated
• Inventors: Schiltz, Thomas, Chen, Wenzong, Grois, Igor
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, John D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Peace, Rhonda S.
• Application Number:
  US10/930,022
• Publication Number:
  US 20060045429A1
• Time in Patent Office: 834 Days
• Field of Search: 385 50- 76, 385/87, 385/88, 385/100, 385/114, 385/134, 385/138, 385 89- 95
• US Class Current: 385/100
• 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 6/4476 with heat-shrinkable elements

Abstract

A method of forming a round multi-fiber cable assembly is provided which includes the following steps: providing a round multi-fiber cable, a heat shrinkable tube, a tubing, a boot, a crimp tubing, and a multi-fiber connector; threading the heat shrinkable tube onto the multi-fiber cable; stripping off inner and outer jackets of the multi-fiber cable to pre-determined lengths; ribbonizing the fibers of the multi-fiber cable, if necessary; preparing the tubing as required; threading the fibers and strength members of the multi-fiber cable through the tubing; placing the boot and the crimp tubing on the tubing, assembling the multi-fiber connector to the ribbon; crimping the crimp tubing around the tubing, the strength members and the multi-fiber connector; heat shrinking the heat-shrinkable tubing to the round multi-fiber cable and the tubing; and sliding the boot to attach it to the multi-fiber connector to provide a round multi-fiber cable assembly.

Claims

1. A round multi-fiber cable assembly comprising:

a round multi-fiber cable, wherein said round multi-fiber cable includes a plurality of fibers, a first jacket layer wrapped around said plurality of fibers, a second jacket layer wrapped around said first jacket layer, and a plurality of strength members sandwiched between said first and second jacket layers, said first and second jacket layers being stripped off at said first end of said round multi-fiber cable to expose said plurality of fibers and said plurality of strength members;

a connector configured to receive a flat multi-fiber cable; and

means for connecting said round multi-fiber cable to said connector, wherein said connecting means includes a heat shrinkable member, a crimp member, and a member, said member having first and second ends, said first end of said member configured to fit over at least one of said first and second jacket layers of said round multi-fiber cable, said second end of said member configured to connect to said connector, said heat shrinkable member being heat shrunk over a portion of said round multi-fiber cable and said member in order to secure said round multi-fiber cable to said member, said crimp member being crimped over said second end of said member in order to secure said member to said end of said connector.

2. A round multi-fiber cable assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said exposed plurality of fibers are ribbonized at said first end of said round multi-fiber cable.

3. A round multi-fiber cable assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said heat shrinkable member, said crimp member and said member are generally in the form of a tube.

4. A round multi-fiber cable assembly as defined in claim 1, further including a boot, said boot being positioned around said crimp member and being attached to said connector.

5. A round multi-fiber cable assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said first end of said member is provided with a slit, said slit being configured to assist in fitting said first end of said member over said at least one of said first and second jacket layers of said round multi-fiber cable.

6. A round multi-fiber cable assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said end of said connector has a generally flat top side and a generally flat bottom side, said second end of said member having a top extending portion and a bottom extending portion, said top extending portion being positioned over said generally top flat portion of said end of said connector, said bottom extending portion being positioned under said generally bottom flat portion of said end of said connector.

7. A round multi-fiber cable assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of said exposed plurality of strength members is positioned between said top extending portion of said member and said generally flat top portion of said end of said connector.

8. A round multi-fiber cable assembly as defined in claim 6, wherein at least one of said exposed plurality of strength members is positioned between said bottom extending portion of said member and said generally flat bottom portion of said end of said connector.

9. A method of terminating a round multi-fiber cable to a connector configured to receive a flat multi-fiber cable, said method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a round multi-fiber cable which has a plurality of fibers, a first jacket layer wrapped around said plurality of fibers, a second jacket layer wrapped around said first jacket layer, and a plurality of strength members sandwiched between said first and second jacket layers;

b) placing a heat shrinkable member onto the round multi-fiber cable;

c) stripping off inner and outer jackets of the round multi-fiber cable in order to expose a predetermined length of the plurality of fibers and the plurality of strength members;

d) providing a member having a first end, a second end, and an passageway which extends therethrough from said first end thereof to said second end thereof;

e) providing a slit in said first end of the member;

f) positioning said slit first end of said member over at least one of said inner and outer jackets of the round multi-fiber cable;

g) cutting a second end of said member in order to provide a top extending portion and a bottom extending portion;

h) passing said exposed plurality of fibers and said exposed plurality of strength members through said member from said first end thereof to said second end thereof;

i) placing a boot around said member;

j) placing a crimp member around said member;

k) providing a connector configured to receive a flat multi-fiber cable having an opening at an end thereof, said end having a top side and a bottom side;

l) inserting ends of said exposed plurality of fibers into said opening of said end of said connector in order to connect said plurality of fibers to said connector;

m) positioning ends of said exposed plurality of strength members against said end of said connector;

n) positioning said top extending portion over a top side of said end of said connector;

o) positioning said bottom extending portion under a bottom side of said end of said connector;

p) sliding said crimp member along said member toward said connector in order to position said crimp member around said top and bottom extending portions of said member;

q) crimping said crimp member, thereby sandwiching said top and bottom extending portions of said member and said ends of said exposed plurality of strength members between said crimp member and said end of said connector;

r) heat shrinking said heat shrinkable member to said round multi-fiber cable and said member in order to secure said round multi-fiber cable to said member; and

s) sliding said boot along said member and over said crimp member in order to connect said boot to said connector.