Patent Application
20200386951
Demand for bandwidth by enterprises and individual consumers continues to experience exponential growth. To meet this demand efficiently and economically, data centers have to achieve ultra-high density cabling with low loss budgets. Fiber optics have become the standard cabling medium used by data centers to meet the growing needs for data volume and transmission speeds. Before installing the connector, the signal strength in decibels needs to be confirmed. A tester with a simplex fiber optic port can accept a ferrule with at least one optical fiber therein is well-known in the industry. An example tester is sold by Fluke® and others and is depicted in
Individual optical fibers are extremely small. For example, even with protective coatings, optical fibers may be only about 250 microns in diameter (only about 4 times the diameter of a human hair). As such, hundreds of fibers can be installed in cables that will take up relatively little space. For connections between cables, however, the fibers are terminated with connectors. Multiple fibers may be arranged within a single connector. For example, multi-fiber connectors such as those using LC type connectors may contain and connect two fibers. An optical fiber transmit data by light, and the strength of the light signal measured in decibels (dB) must meet a standard threshold in order for the light signal to travel from a transceiver to a receiver. Along the route, one or more fiber optic connectors and other dividers or multiplexer devices are installed as part of the network. Securing a tester to a ferrule can measure the signal strength at the fiber optic connector, and if below a specific threshold in dB, the installer may need to check the fiber optic connector for damaged or broken fiber, or a failed connector.
Typically, LC type connectors are joined together to connect the optical transmission path of one fiber optic cable to another fiber optic cable or device, and the connection may be made by inserting the LC type connectors in an LC adapter. LC type connectors may be simplex or duplex, or quad depending on the connector outer housing. An adapter generally includes a housing, or portion of a housing, having at least one port which is configured to receive and hold a LC type connector to facilitate the optical connection of a connector ferrule with a ferrule of another connector or other device that opposes the connector in the first adapter port, thereby establishing an optical connection with a similar optical ferrule inserted into a second adapter port, where the first adapter port opposes the second adapter port. Adapters may be used to facilitate connections contained within a chassis. The term “chassis” as used herein broadly refers to a containment structure for housing electrical components or switching components.
Another test is signal strength for connector having polarity. Polarity is determined during manufacturing of the connector and associated cable. For installations where the polarity may need to be changed for one reason or another, such as a renovation or installation of a new optical component, the polarity of typical connectors is not changeable or only changeable after disassembly and reassembly in the opposite designation. For example, some LC type connectors include a modular housing configured such that the position of the fibers terminated within the connector can be reversed, thus changing the polarity of the connector. However, this can be a time-sensitive procedure and, based upon the abilities of the person changing the connector, may be prone to error.
So therefore, there remains a need to use existing testing equipment for duplex LC-type fiber optic connectors. Industry connector models are expanding so there is a further need to test various models of duplex fiber optic connectors that are configured with two LC type optical ferrules, with a first ferrule designated top transmit (Tx) and a second ferrule designated to receiver (Rx). So when a duplex fiber optic connector is inserted into the first port, it must be inserted with the polarity correctly opposing the second opposing duplex fiber optic connector, but only after the Tx and Rx signal delivered and received by at least optical fiber embedded in the ferrule is confirmed as passing the minimum threshold in dB for proper operation.
In a first embodiment, a converted has an outer housing similarly constructed as an adapter housing. The converter housing has a first end and a second end that forms a longitudinal channel therebetween. The first end has a LC-type male fiber optic connector configured to be interfaced with a port on test equipment. The test equipment measures signal strength in decibels transmitted by an optical fiber contained within the fiber optic connector. The optical fiber is in communication with an incoming optical fiber from a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable is terminated at a second end within a fiber optic communications network or connected to transceiver that delivers an optical signal. The second end of the converter outer housing is open with an internal adapter inserted or formed within the converter housing. The adapter hook is formed to accept and secure an optical fiber connector. A pair of opposing latch arms may form the adapter hook and accept a first optical fiber connector as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,281,668B2, Takano, which is fully incorporated by reference. The adapter hook may be an anchor device to accept a second optical fiber connector as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 10,185,100B2, to Takano, which is fully incorporated by reference. Alternatively, no adapter hook may be formed or secured within the second end to form one or more ports. One or more openings or recesses formed within outer housing wall may accept a third optical fiber connector with a latch formed on the outside of the optical fiber connector.
As disclosed, the optical fiber connector is a fiber optic connector with at least two optical ferrules. Each ferrule has at least one optical fiber therein, and the optical fiber is spliced to an incoming optical fiber provided by a fiber optic cable. The optical fiber connector further comprises an inner body, backbody, outer housing, pull tab or cable boot release, ferrule flange may hold the ferrule and a bias spring.
In operation, the converter is configured to accept the optical fiber connector, and is inserted in a first test position “A”. The first end is attached to the test port of the tester. And the user operates the test equipment to measure optical signal strength in decibels. The user then (i) rotates the optical fiber connector one-hundred and eighty (180) degrees or (ii) removes the optical fiber connector and reinserts the connector into a second port to performed test “B”. Test “A” is measuring signal strength of a first optical fiber and test “B” is measuring signal strength of a second optical fiber. Each optical fiber connector has at least two optical fibers. There could a third test “C” without departing from the scope of the invention.
In another embodiment, the first end male LC-type optical connector may be secured within a female simplex adapter or the first end of the converter may be formed of a female simplex adapter. This depends on what type of external network configuration the converter is connected with. At the second end of the converter three ports are formed with two inactive ports and a middle active port. The middle port is in optical communication with a first optical fiber ferrule or a second optical fiber ferrule for determining signal strength as described herein. The inactive port holds the second optical fiber ferrule during testing. The inactive port is sometimes called the dummy port.
Corresponding reference numbers indicate corresponding part numbers throughout the drawings;
This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices and methods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.
As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construed as an admission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.”
The following terms shall have, for the purposes of this application, the respective meanings set forth below.
A connector, as used herein, refers to a device and/or component thereof that connects a first module or cable to a second module or cable. The connector may be configured for fiber optic transmission or electrical signal transmission. The connector may be any suitable type now known or later developed, such as, for example, a ferrule connector (FC), a fiber distributed data interface (FDDI) connector, an LC connector, a mechanical transfer (MT) connector, a square connector (SC) connector, an SC duplex connector, or a straight tip (ST) connector. The connector may generally be defined by a connector housing body. In some embodiments, the housing body may incorporate any or all of the components described herein.
A “fiber optic cable” or an “optical cable” refers to a cable containing one or more optical fibers for conducting optical signals in beams of light. The optical fibers can be constructed from any suitable transparent material, including glass, fiberglass, and plastic. The cable can include a jacket or sheathing material surrounding the optical fibers. In addition, the cable can be connected to a connector on one end or on both ends of the cable.
Various parts, components or configurations described with respect to any one embodiment above may also be adapted to any others of the embodiments provided.
Referring to
This disclosure is not limited to the particular systems, devices and methods described, as these may vary. The terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope.
In the above detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof. In the drawings, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, drawings, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be used, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, separated, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated herein.
As used in this document, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construed as an admission that the embodiments described in this disclosure are not entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention. As used in this document, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.”
While various compositions, methods, and devices are described in terms of “comprising” various components or steps (interpreted as meaning “including, but not limited to”), the compositions, methods, and devices can also “consist essentially of” or “consist of” the various components and steps, and such terminology should be interpreted as defining essentially closed-member groups.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open” terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “having at least,” the term “includes” should be interpreted as “includes but is not limited to,” etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles “a” or “an” limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to embodiments containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and indefinite articles such as “a” or “an” (e.g., “a” and/or “an” should be interpreted to mean “at least one” or “one or more”); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In those instances where a convention analogous to “at least one of A, B, or C, etc.” is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., “a system having at least one of A, B, or C” would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A” or “B” or “A and B.”
Various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art, each of which is also intended to be encompassed by the disclosed embodiments.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/857,907 filed on Jun. 6, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62857907 | Jun 2019 | US |
