Fiber optic cable assemblies with fiber access apertures and methods of assembly

• US 8,267,596 B2
• Filed: 08/23/2010
• Issued: 09/18/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Theuerkorn, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Healy, Brian M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anderson, Guy
• Application Number:
  US12/861,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20120045179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 757 Days
• Field of Search: 385 53- 94, 385/114
• US Class Current: 385/81
• 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 6/3888 Protection from over-extension or over-compression
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49908 Joining by deforming

Abstract

A fiber optic connector assembly includes a fiber optic cable with one or more optical fiber ribbons attached to a fiber optic connector. The connector includes a ferrule assembly and a crimp body with a fiber access aperture. The aperture has at least two walls defining a first width and a second width defining a predetermined delta and a predetermined aspect ratio. The delta and aspect ratio provide optical fiber access for alignment of the optical fiber ribbon to the optical fiber ferrule assembly. A method of making the fiber optic connector assembly is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

a fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber ribbon;

a fiber optic connector, the connector comprising;

at least one optical fiber ferrule assembly;

a crimp body, the crimp body defining a through passage, and a fiber access aperture having at least two walls defining a first width and a second width, wherein the fiber access aperture defines a predetermined delta and a predetermined aspect ratio providing optical fiber ribbon access for alignment of the optical fiber ribbon to the optical fiber ferrule assembly, the delta being defined as a distance on each side of the optical fiber ribbon between one of the at least two walls and the optical fiber ribbon, wherein the delta is from about 0.0 mm to about 3.0 mm; and

a crimp band for holding a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector.

2. The connector assembly of claim 1, wherein the delta is from about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm.

3. The connector assembly of claim 1, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of the first width to the second width.

4. The connector assembly of claim 3, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio from about 0.5 to about 1.4.

5. The connector assembly of claim 3, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio of about 1.33.

6. The connector assembly of claim 1, the connector assembly further including a fiber guide insert, wherein the fiber guide insert defines a tapered passage therethrough.

7. The connector assembly of claim 6, the crimp body further defining an insert receiving area at the second end.

8. A crimp body for a fiber optic connector, the crimp body comprising:

a first end and a second end and a passage therethrough;

a fiber access aperture adjacent to the first end, generally perpendicular to the passage, the fiber access aperture having a first width and a second width, wherein the fiber access aperture defines an aspect ratio, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of the first width to the second width, the aspect ratio being from about 0.5 to about 1.4;

an insert receiving area at the second end.

9. The connector assembly of claim 8, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio of about 1.33.

10. A method of assembling a fiber optic cable assembly, comprising;

providing a fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber;

providing a fiber optic connector assembly, the connector assembly including a crimp body defining a first end and a second end and a passage therethrough, the crimp body further defining a fiber access aperture, and at least one ferrule near the first end of the crimp body;

preparing the at least one optical fiber for insertion into the connector assembly;

introducing an adhesive into the second end of the crimp body assembly;

inserting the at least one optical fiber into the second end of the connector assembly;

observing the at least one optical fiber through the fiber access aperture;

manipulating the at least one optical fiber through the fiber access aperture; and

securing the optical fiber to the ferrule.

11. The method of claim 10, including the step of providing a fiber guide insert to insert into the crimp body.

12. The method of claim 10, including the step of providing a crimp band to secure the cable to the crimp body.

13. The method of claim 12, including the step of crimping the crimp band.

14. A fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

a fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber ribbon;

a fiber optic connector, the connector comprising;

at least one optical fiber ferrule assembly;

a crimp body, the crimp body defining a through passage, and a fiber access aperture having at least two walls defining a first width and a second width, wherein the fiber access aperture defines a predetermined delta and a predetermined aspect ratio providing optical fiber ribbon access for alignment of the optical fiber ribbon to the optical fiber fenule assembly, the delta being defined as a distance on each side of the optical fiber ribbon between one of the at least two walls and the optical fiber ribbon, the delta being about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm; and

a crimp band for holding a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector.

15. The connector assembly of claim 14, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of the first width to the second width.

16. The connector assembly of claim 15, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio from about 0.5 to about 1.4.

17. The connector assembly of claim 15, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio of about 1.33.

18. The connector assembly of claim 14, the connector assembly further including a fiber guide insert, wherein the fiber guide insert defines a tapered passage therethrough.

19. The connector assembly of claim 18, the crimp body further defining an insert receiving area at the second end.

20. A fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

a fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber ribbon;

a fiber optic connector, the connector comprising;

at least one optical fiber ferrule assembly;

a crimp body, the crimp body defining a through passage, and a fiber access aperture having at least two walls defining a first width and a second width, wherein the fiber access aperture defines a predetermined delta and a predetermined aspect ratio providing optical fiber ribbon access for alignment of the optical fiber ribbon to the optical fiber ferrule assembly, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of the first width to the second width, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio from about 0.5 to about 1.4; and

a crimp band for holding a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector.

21. The connector assembly of claim 20, the delta being defined as a distance on each side of the optical fiber ribbon between one of the at least two walls and the optical fiber ribbon.

22. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the delta is from about 0.0 mm to about 3.0 mm.

23. The connector assembly of claim 21, wherein the delta is from about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm.

24. The connector assembly of claim 20, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio of about 1.33.

25. The connector assembly of claim 20, the connector assembly further including a fiber guide insert, wherein the fiber guide insert defines a tapered passage therethrough.

26. The connector assembly of claim 25, the crimp body further defining an insert receiving area at the second end.

27. A fiber optic connector assembly, comprising:

a fiber optic cable, the fiber optic cable having at least one optical fiber ribbon;

a fiber optic connector, the connector comprising;

at least one optical fiber ferrule assembly;

a crimp body, the crimp body defining a through passage, and a fiber access aperture having at least two walls defining a first width and a second width, wherein the fiber access aperture defines a predetermined delta and a predetermined aspect ratio providing optical fiber ribbon access for alignment of the optical fiber ribbon to the optical fiber ferrule assembly, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of the first width to the second width, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio of about 1.33; and

a crimp band for holding a fiber optic cable to the fiber optic connector.

28. The connector assembly of claim 27, the delta being defined as a distance on each side of the optical fiber ribbon between one of the at least two walls and the optical fiber ribbon.

29. The connector assembly of claim 28, wherein the delta is from about 0.0 mm to about 3.0 mm.

30. The connector assembly of claim 28, wherein the delta is from about 0.5 mm to about 1.0 mm.

31. The connector assembly of claim 27, the connector assembly further including a fiber guide insert, wherein the fiber guide insert defines a tapered passage therethrough.

32. The connector assembly of claim 31, the crimp body further defining an insert receiving area at the second end.

33. A crimp body for a fiber optic connector, the crimp body comprising:

a first end and a second end and a passage therethrough;

a fiber access aperture adjacent to the first end, generally perpendicular to the passage, the fiber access aperture having a first width and a second width, wherein the fiber access aperture defines an aspect ratio, the aspect ratio being defined as a ratio of the first width to the second width, the fiber access aperture having an aspect ratio of about 1.33;

an insert receiving area at the second end.