Field termination kit

• US 7,676,134 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2008
• Issued: 03/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/13/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bison Patent Licensing, LLC
• Original Assignee: ADC Telecommunications Incorporated (TE Connectivity Limited)
• Inventors: Kachmar, Wayne M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy; Brian M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson; Guy G
• Application Number:
  US12/101,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20080285922A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 385134-137, 385/76, 385/85
• US Class Current: 385/134
• CPC Class Codes: B24B 19/226 of the ends of optical fibres
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/25 Preparing the ends of light guides for coupling, e.g. cutting
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3807 Dismountable connectors, i.e. comprising plugs
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3846 with fibre stubs
• 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 6/3863 fabricated by using polishing techniques grinding of the fibre ends B24B19/226
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3866 Devices, tools or methods for cleaning connectors cleaning in general B08B

Abstract

A field termination kit includes an optical fiber preparation device for preparing an end of an optical fiber, an optical inspection device for inspecting the end of the optical fiber, and a termination assembly for terminating the end of the optical fiber. A method of using a field termination kit includes rotating an end of a first optical fiber about a center of an abrasive portion of an optical fiber preparation tool. The end is pressed against an adhesive portion of the optical fiber preparation tool to clean contaminants from the end. The end is inserted into an inner passage of an optical fiber inspection device for viewing. The end is inserted into a termination assembly. The end is terminated to an end of a second optical fiber in a termination region of the termination assembly.

Claims

1. A field termination kit comprising:

an optical fiber preparation device for preparing an end of an optical fiber, the optical fiber preparation device including an adhesive portion and an abrasive portion, the abrasive portion including a polishing portion that is sized to contact only an outer diameter portion of an end of an optical fiber;

an optical fiber inspection device for inspecting the end of the optical fiber; and

a termination assembly for terminating the end of the optical fiber, the termination assembly including a first end, an oppositely disposed second end and a termination region disposed between the first and second ends, wherein the termination region serves as a location for connecting the end of the optical fiber to a cleaved optical fiber of a fiber optic cable.

2. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion is annular.

3. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the protrusion defines an orifice located at or about the center of the polishing portion.

4. A field termination kit comprising:

an optical fiber preparation device for Preparing an end of an optical fiber;

an optical fiber inspection device for inspecting the end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber inspection device including a housing having an opening disposed on an end portion and a lens disposed in the housing, the opening and the lens defining an axis of viewing, the housing defining an inner passage for presenting an optical fiber into a field of view of the lens, the inner passage being disposed in the housing such that a longitudinal axis of the inner passage is about perpendicular to the axis of viewing; and

a termination assembly for terminating the end of the optical fiber, the termination assembly including a first end, an oppositely disposed second end and a termination region disposed between the first and second ends, wherein the termination region serves as a location for connecting the end of the optical fiber to a cleaved optical fiber of a fiber optic cable.

5. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the termination assembly includes at least one heat responsive adhesive element disposed in the termination region.

6. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 5, wherein the heat responsive adhesive element defines channels disposed on a surface for receiving an optical fiber.

7. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the carrier includes a fiber support region disposed between the first end and the termination region and a take-up region disposed between the first end and the fiber support region, the take-up region being adapted for axial movement of a ferrule assembly in a fiber optic connector engaged with the first end of the carrier.

8. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the take-up region is adapted to receive a dust boot disposed over the optical fiber.

9. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 4, wherein a V-groove chip is disposed in the termination region of the carrier.

10. A field termination kit comprising:

an optical fiber preparation device having an adhesive portion and an abrasive portion for preparing an end of an optical fiber, the abrasive portion including a polishing portion that is sized to contact only an outer diameter portion of an end of an optical fiber;

an optical fiber inspection device for inspecting the end of the optical fiber, the optical fiber inspection device including a housing having an opening disposed on an end portion and a lens disposed in the housing, the opening and the lens defining an axis of viewing, the housing defining an inner passage for presenting an optical fiber into a field of view of the lens, the inner passage being disposed in the housing such that a longitudinal axis of the inner passage is about perpendicular to the axis of viewing; and

a termination assembly for terminating the end of the optical fiber, the termination assembly including;

a connector having a main body with a ferrule assembly disposed in the main body, the ferrule assembly being adapted for axial movement within the main body; and

a carrier having a connector end engaged with the connector and an oppositely disposed cable end, a termination region disposed between the connector end and the cable end, and a take-up region disposed between the connector end and the termination region.

11. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 10, wherein the connector includes a passage.

12. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 11, wherein an inner diameter of the passage increases as the passage extends away from the ferrule assembly.

13. A field termination kit as claimed in claim 12, wherein the passage is defined by a tube disposed in a longitudinal bore of the connector.

14. A method of using a field termination kit comprising:

rotating an end of a first optical fiber about a center of an abrasive portion of an optical fiber preparation tool, wherein the abrasive portion is sized to contact only an outer diameter portion of an end of an optical fiber;

pressing the end against an adhesive portion of the optical fiber preparation tool to clean contaminants from the end;

inserting the end into an inner passage of an optical fiber inspection device for viewing, wherein a longitudinal axis of the inner passage is about perpendicular to an axis of viewing of the optical fiber inspective device;

inserting the end into a termination assembly; and

terminating the end of the first optical fiber with an end of a second optical fiber in a termination region of the termination assembly.