Optical fiber assemblies, optical fiber organizers and methods of fabricating optical fiber assemblies

• US 8,534,928 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2011
• Issued: 09/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Corning Cable Systems LLC (Corning Incorporated)
• Inventors: Cooke, Terry L., Klavuhn, Tory A., Smith, Matthew W., Yates, Wesley Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullah, Akm Enayet
• Application Number:
  US13/304,982
• Publication Number:
  US 20130136401A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 385 80- 90, 385/92, 385/147
• US Class Current: 385/78
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3636 the mechanical coupling means being grooves G02B6/3652 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3676 Stacked arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3821 with axial spring biasing or loading means G02B6/3847 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3861 Adhesive bonding adhesives in general C09J
• CPC Class Codes: G02B 6/3882 using rods, pins or balls to align a pair of ferrule ends
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

A ferrule assembly includes a ferrule comprising a ferrule boot insertion end and a ferrule boot. The ferrule boot includes a lower component and an upper component. The lower component of the ferrule boot includes a first grooved surface that includes a plurality of first grooves that are dimensioned to receive a plurality of optical fibers. The upper component includes a second grooved surface that includes a plurality of second grooves that are dimensioned to receive the plurality of optical fibers. In one embodiment, the lower component is coupled to the upper component such that individual ones of the plurality of first grooves are substantially aligned with individual ones of the plurality of second grooves. The lower component and the upper component also define a fiber insertion end and a ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot. The ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot is at least partially positioned within the ferrule at the ferrule boot insertion end.

Claims

1. A ferrule assembly comprising:

a ferrule comprising a ferrule boot insertion end; and

a ferrule boot comprising;

a lower component comprising a first grooved surface, wherein the first grooved surface comprises a plurality of first grooves that are dimensioned to receive a plurality of optical fibers; and

an upper component comprising a second grooved surface, wherein the second grooved surface comprises a plurality of second grooves that are dimensioned to receive the plurality of optical fibers, wherein;

the lower component is coupled to the upper component such that individual ones of the plurality of first grooves are substantially aligned with individual ones of the plurality of second grooves;

the lower component and the upper component define a fiber insertion end and a ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot; and

the ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot is at least partially positioned within the ferrule at the ferrule boot insertion end.

2. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of first grooves and the plurality of second grooves are scalloped-shaped and form a plurality of fiber receiving channels extending lengthwise through the ferrule boot.

3. The ferrule assembly of claim 2, wherein individual ones of the plurality of fiber receiving channels have a diameter such that the plurality of optical fibers are maintained within the plurality of fiber receiving channels by a pressure fit.

4. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the first grooved surface comprises between two and 24 first grooves and the second grooved surface comprises two and 24 second grooves.

5. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the lower component is coupled to the upper component by a hinge at an edge portion of the lower component and an edge portion of the upper component.

6. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the individual ones of the plurality of the first grooves and/or the individual ones of the plurality of second grooves are color-coded such that a color of an individual first groove and/or a corresponding individual second groove is associated with a color of a corresponding optical fiber.

7. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the fiber insertion end has a width and a height in cross section that is greater than a width and a height of the ferrule insertion end in cross section.

8. The ferrule assembly of claim 7, wherein the fiber insertion end of the ferrule boot contacts the ferrule when the ferrule boot is positioned within the ferrule.

9. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, further comprising an intermediate optical fiber holder comprising a third grooved surface and a fourth grooved surface, wherein:

the third grooved surface comprises a plurality of third grooves;

the fourth grooved surface comprises a plurality of fourth grooves;

the intermediate optical fiber holder is positioned between the lower component and the upper component such that;

the individual ones of the plurality of first grooves are substantially aligned with the individual ones of the plurality of third grooves, thereby forming a first plurality of fiber receiving channels positioned in a first plane; and

the individual ones of the plurality of second grooves are substantially aligned with the individual ones of the plurality of fourth grooves, thereby forming a second plurality of fiber receiving channels positioned in a second plane.

10. The ferrule assembly of claim 9 further comprising one or more additional intermediate optical fiber holders that define one or more additional plurality of fiber receiving channels.

11. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the ferrule boot inhibits an epoxy inserted into the ferrule from escaping the ferrule boot insertion end when the ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot is positioned within the ferrule boot insertion end of the ferrule and the epoxy is applied to the ferrule.

12. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot is maintained within the ferrule boot insertion end of the ferrule by a snap fit, an interference fit or an adhesive.

13. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the ferrule boot further comprises a rear spring centering protrusion.

14. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the ferrule boot further comprises a spring cup interfacing portion.

15. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the upper component is secured to the lower component by a coupling pin, an adhesive, a snap fit, or tacking.

16. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein the ferrule assembly is a portion of a connector or a cable assembly.

17. The ferrule assembly of claim 1, wherein a geometry of the upper component is symmetrical with respect to a geometry of the lower component.

18. The ferrule assembly of claim 1 further comprising an intermediate fiber holder comprising a third grooved surface and a fourth grooved surface, wherein:

the third grooved surface comprises a plurality of third grooves;

the fourth grooved surface comprises a plurality of fourth grooves;

the intermediate fiber holder is positioned between the lower component and the upper component such that;

the individual ones of the plurality of first grooves are substantially aligned with individual ones of the plurality of third grooves, thereby forming a first plurality of fiber receiving channels positioned in a first plane; and

the individual ones of the plurality of second grooves are substantially aligned with individual ones of the plurality of fourth grooves, thereby forming a second plurality of fiber receiving channels positioned in a second plane.

19. The ferrule assembly of claim 14 further comprising one or more additional intermediate fiber holders that define one or more additional plurality of fiber receiving channels.

20. An optical fiber organizer comprising:

a lower component comprising a first grooved surface, wherein the first grooved surface comprises a plurality of first scalloped-shaped grooves that are dimensioned to receive a first plurality of optical fibers; and

an upper component comprising a second grooved surface, wherein the second grooved surface comprises a plurality of second scalloped-shaped grooves that are dimensioned to receive a second plurality of optical fibers; and

an intermediate fiber holder comprising a third grooved surface and a fourth grooved surface, wherein the third grooved surface comprises a plurality of third scalloped-shaped grooves that are dimensioned to receive the first plurality of optical fibers, and the fourth grooved surface comprises a plurality of fourth scalloped-shaped grooves that are dimensioned to receive the second plurality of optical fibers;

wherein the first grooved surface of the lower component is coupled to the third grooved surface of the intermediate fiber holder, and the second grooved surface of the upper component is coupled to the fourth grooved surface of the intermediate fiber holder, such that;

the intermediate fiber holder is positioned between the lower component and the upper component;

individual ones of the plurality of first scalloped-shaped grooves are substantially aligned with individual ones of the plurality of third scalloped-shaped grooves, thereby forming a first plurality of fiber receiving channels positioned in a first plane; and

individual ones of the plurality of second scalloped-shaped grooves are substantially aligned with individual ones of the plurality of fourth scalloped-shaped grooves, thereby forming a second plurality of fiber receiving channels positioned in a second plane.

21. The optical fiber organizer of claim 20, further comprising one or more additional intermediate fiber holders that define one or more additional plurality of fiber receiving channels.

22. An optical fiber assembly comprising:

a plurality of optical fibers having an insertion end;

a ferrule boot comprising;

a lower component comprising a first grooved surface, wherein the first grooved surface comprises a plurality of first scalloped-shaped grooves; and

an upper component comprising a second grooved surface, wherein the second grooved surface comprises a plurality of second scalloped-shaped grooves;

wherein;

the lower component is coupled to the upper component such that individual ones of the plurality of first scalloped-shaped grooves are substantially aligned with individual ones of the plurality of second scalloped-shaped grooves, thereby forming a plurality of fiber receiving channels extending lengthwise through the ferrule boot;

the plurality of optical fibers are secured within the plurality of fiber receiving channels; and

the lower component and the upper component define a fiber insertion end and a ferrule insertion end;

a ferrule comprising a ferrule channel therein and a ferrule boot insertion end, wherein;

the ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot is positioned within the ferrule channel at the ferrule boot insertion end of the ferrule; and

the plurality of optical fibers is secured within the ferrule.

23. A method of fabricating an optical fiber assembly comprising:

positioning a plurality of optical fibers onto a portion of a ferrule boot in a desired sequence such that an exposed portion of the plurality of optical fibers extend beyond an edge of the ferrule boot, the ferrule boot comprising;

a lower component comprising a first grooved surface, wherein the first grooved surface comprises a plurality of first grooves; and

an upper component coupled to the lower component, the upper component comprising a second grooved surface, wherein the second grooved surface comprises a plurality of second grooves;

wherein;

individual ones of the plurality of first grooves are substantially aligned with individual ones of the plurality of second grooves, thereby forming a plurality of fiber receiving channels extending lengthwise through the ferrule boot; and

the lower component and the upper component define a fiber insertion end and a ferrule insertion end of the ferrule boot;

securing the upper component to the lower component such that the plurality of optical fibers are positioned within the plurality of fiber receiving channels by a pressure fit;

positioning the exposed portion of the plurality of optical fibers into a ferrule; and

securing the plurality of optical fibers to the ferrule.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising removing a protective cover of individual ones of the plurality of optical fibers, thereby forming a stripped region of the plurality of optical fibers at the exposed portion.